1 Samuel 1:10

And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

And she was in bitterness {H4751} of soul {H5315}, and prayed {H6419} unto the LORD {H3068}, and wept {H1058} sore {H1058}.

In deep depression she prayed to ADONAI and cried.

In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore.

Commentary

1 Samuel 1:10 vividly portrays the profound emotional distress of Hannah, one of Elkanah's wives, as she pours out her heart before the Lord. This pivotal moment sets the stage for the birth of Samuel, a key figure in Israel's history.

Context

This verse is set during one of Elkanah's annual pilgrimages to Shiloh, where the tabernacle of the Lord was located. Hannah's "bitterness of soul" stemmed primarily from her inability to bear children, a deeply distressing condition in ancient Israelite society, often seen as a curse or a sign of divine disfavor. Her sorrow was compounded by the constant provocation and taunting from Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, who had children (1 Samuel 1:6-7). In this state of deep anguish, Hannah turns directly to God, making her plea at the very place of worship.

Key Themes

  • Profound Suffering and Lament: Hannah's condition of "bitterness of soul" and "wept sore" speaks to the depth of her personal anguish and the cultural pressure she faced. It highlights the biblical theme of human suffering and the freedom to express raw emotion before God.
  • Heartfelt Prayer: Despite her pain, Hannah's response is to pray to the Lord. This demonstrates a deep trust in God's ability to intervene, even when circumstances seem hopeless. Her prayer is not merely a request but a passionate outpouring of her inner being.
  • Faith in Adversity: Even in her desolation, Hannah directs her plea to God, embodying a faith that seeks divine intervention rather than succumbing to despair. This act of seeking God in her deepest need is a powerful example of reliance on the Almighty.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "bitterness of soul" translates the Hebrew mar nephesh (מַר נֶפֶשׁ). Mar means "bitter" and nephesh refers to the "soul," "self," or "inner being." This combination powerfully conveys an intense, deep-seated sorrow or anguish that affects one's entire person. Similarly, "wept sore" uses a repetitive verbal construction in Hebrew (bakoh tibkeh), emphasizing the intensity and continuous nature of her weeping, indicating a profound and inconsolable grief.

Related Scriptures

Hannah's intense suffering and subsequent prayer are reminiscent of other biblical figures who cried out to God in their distress, such as Rachel in her barrenness (Genesis 30:1). Her turning to the Lord in her affliction serves as a model for all who are burdened, echoing the sentiment of Psalm 50:15: "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Her profound prayer leads to a significant vow to the Lord in the next verse, and ultimately, to God's miraculous answer to her prayer (1 Samuel 1:27).

Practical Application

Hannah's story in 1 Samuel 1:10 offers profound lessons for believers today. It assures us that it is acceptable, even necessary, to bring our deepest sorrows and most raw emotions directly to God in prayer. There is no need to sanitize our pain; God welcomes our honest lament. Her example encourages us to persist in prayer, even when the answer is not immediately apparent, trusting that God hears the cries of His children and is able to intervene in seemingly impossible situations. Her willingness to express her "bitterness of soul" openly before the Lord demonstrates the intimacy and trust we can have with our Heavenly Father.

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Cross-References

  • Job 7:11 (12 votes)

    Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

  • Luke 22:44 (9 votes)

    And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

  • Job 10:1 (9 votes)

    ¶ My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

  • Psalms 91:15 (8 votes)

    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

  • Hebrews 5:7 (7 votes)

    Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

  • Isaiah 54:6 (4 votes)

    ¶ For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

  • Judges 21:2 (4 votes)

    And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;