Hannah was the first wife of Elkanah, a man from the tribe of Ephraim. Though deeply loved by her husband, she bore the weight of barrenness, while his second wife, Peninnah, had children and mocked her continually (1 Samuel 1:6). In ancient Israel, to be barren was seen as a mark of shame and disfavor, though Scripture shows again and again that God often works through barren women to display His power.
Despite her pain, Hannah did not grow bitter—she turned her sorrow into supplication. She is the perfect image of a woman who longed to be a mother—not for vanity or social standing—but to dedicate the fruit of her womb back to the Lord.
Hannah’s Prayer and Vow
In 1 Samuel 1:10-11, we see Hannah’s depth of anguish:
“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, ‘O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…’”
Her prayer was not self-serving. She didn’t ask for a child to silence Peninnah or to boost her esteem—she asked for a son to give him back to the Lord. This vow mirrored the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:5), setting her child apart for lifelong service.
Eli the priest, seeing her lips move but hearing no words, initially misjudged her as drunk. But after hearing her explanation, he blessed her with peace, and she left no longer downcast (1 Samuel 1:17-18). That’s the power of pouring your soul out before God—He meets the brokenhearted.
God’s Answer and Hannah’s Faithfulness
1 Samuel 1:19-20 tells us plainly:
“And the LORD remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the LORD.’”
The name Samuel means “heard by God.” Her testimony is in his name. She didn’t forget her vow—she fulfilled it. After weaning him (likely around age 3 or older), Hannah brought Samuel to the tabernacle in Shiloh. She told Eli,
“For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition… Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28)
She honored God by keeping her word, even though it meant giving up the very gift she had longed for. That is sacrificial worship. She could have kept him, reasoned that she “needed more time,” but instead she brought him back to the Lord’s house, entrusting him to God’s purpose.
Hannah’s Song of Praise
In 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Hannah breaks into a powerful prophetic song.
“My heart rejoices in the LORD… No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You…” (v.1-2)
She praises God’s justice, His authority over life and death, His lifting of the humble and humbling of the proud. This prayer foreshadows the Magnificat, Mary’s praise in Luke 1:46-55. Both are women who saw God’s hand in the womb and declared His glory with their lips.
God’s Faithfulness to Hannah
God did not forget Hannah. After giving Samuel to the Lord, He gave her more children. 1 Samuel 2:21 says,
“And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.”
She gave God her first—and He blessed her with more. That is always His way. Matthew 6:33 rings true here:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
My Final Thoughts
Hannah is not just a woman who wanted a child—she is a woman who wanted her motherhood to glorify God. She cried out from barrenness, vowed from faith, and gave from joy. She reminds us that the heart of motherhood is surrender, and the essence of prayer is trust. She gave back to God what He gave to her—and He multiplied it for generations.
Her son would anoint kings, speak to nations, and walk with God. But it all began with a woman in a quiet place, praying through her tears.
