1 Samuel 1:16

KJV

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

KJV (with Strong's)

Count {H5414} not thine handmaid {H519} for {H6440} a daughter {H1323} of Belial {H1100}: for out of the abundance {H7230} of my complaint {H7879} and grief {H3708} have I spoken {H1696} hitherto.

Complete Jewish Bible

Don't think of your servant as a worthless woman; because I have been speaking from the depth of my distress and anger."

Berean Standard Bible

Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”

American Standard Version

Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 1 Samuel 1:16, Hannah, a woman burdened by deep sorrow and the societal shame of barrenness, passionately defends her character and the sincerity of her fervent prayer to Eli the High Priest. Having been mistakenly accused of drunkenness due to her silent, intense supplication, Hannah clarifies that her unusual behavior stems not from inebriation, but from an overwhelming "abundance of my complaint and grief," revealing the profound depth of her anguish and her earnest appeal to God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climax of a brief but potent exchange between Hannah and Eli, immediately following Eli's misjudgment. Earlier in the chapter, Hannah's profound distress over her barrenness and Peninnah's constant provocation is vividly portrayed ([1 Samuel 1:6-7](/1-samuel/1-6 "1 Samuel 1:6-7 - Peninnah's Provocation")). Her response to this anguish is to pour out her soul before the Lord at the tabernacle in Shiloh, praying with such intensity that her lips moved but no sound was heard ([1 Samuel 1:10-13](/1-samuel/1-10 "1 Samuel 1:10-13 - Hannah's Bitter Prayer")). Eli, observing her, rashly concludes she is drunk and rebukes her ([1 Samuel 1:14](/1-samuel/1-14 "1 Samuel 1:14 - Eli's Misjudgment")). Hannah's powerful and respectful rebuttal in verse 16 serves to correct Eli's perception, leading to his eventual blessing and a turning point in her narrative ([1 Samuel 1:17](/1-samuel/1-17 "1 Samuel 1:17 - Eli's Blessing")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the tabernacle at Shiloh, the central place of worship in Israel before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. In ancient Israelite society, barrenness was a significant source of shame and distress for women, often perceived as a divine curse or a sign of disfavor. Children, especially sons, were seen as a blessing from God, ensuring family lineage and social standing. The High Priest, Eli, held a position of immense spiritual authority, making his accusation particularly grievous. The term "daughter of Belial" was a severe insult, labeling someone as worthless, wicked, or devoted to evil, reflecting a profound moral condemnation within a covenant community that highly valued righteousness and devotion to Yahweh.

* **Key Themes:** The passage powerfully articulates several enduring themes. It highlights the danger of **misjudgment based on outward appearances** without understanding the inner spiritual state, as seen in Eli's initial error. It underscores the **depth of human suffering and the legitimacy of expressing profound grief** before God, illustrated by Hannah's "abundance of my complaint and grief." Furthermore, it champions **sincerity and earnestness in prayer**, demonstrating that God hears and responds to the heartfelt cries of His people, even when those prayers are silent or misunderstood by others. This encounter also foreshadows the broader theme of **God's remembrance and intervention** on behalf of the afflicted, which culminates in the birth of Samuel ([1 Samuel 1:19-20](/1-samuel/1-19 "1 Samuel 1:19-20 - God Remembers Hannah")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Belial (Hebrew, _bĕliyya‘al'_):** This term, often translated as "worthlessness," "wickedness," or "scoundrel," carries a strong negative connotation. It is not a proper name but an abstract noun, frequently used to describe individuals or groups characterized by moral depravity, rebellion, or utter uselessness. To call someone a "daughter of Belial" was to accuse them of being utterly wicked, corrupt, and without moral value, akin to a child of the devil or a person given over to evil. Hannah's vehement denial underscores the severity of Eli's accusation and her deep offense at being associated with such depravity.
* **Complaint (Hebrew, _sîḥî'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to meditate," "to commune," or "to complain," this word denotes a deep, internal outpouring of thought or emotion. In this context, it refers to Hannah's profound lament, her bitter meditation on her sorrow, and her earnest pleading before God. It suggests a sustained, intense inner struggle and a vocalization of her distress, even if silent to human ears.
* **Grief (Hebrew, _ka‘as'_):** This term signifies vexation, anger, provocation, or deep sorrow. It encapsulates the emotional turmoil Hannah experienced, encompassing her distress over barrenness, the provocation from Peninnah, and the overall bitterness of her soul. The combination with "complaint" emphasizes the overwhelming nature of her suffering, which found its outlet in her fervent prayer.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial":** Hannah directly refutes Eli's grave accusation. By calling herself "thine handmaid," she humbly acknowledges Eli's authority and her own subservient position, yet firmly asserts her moral integrity. She rejects the label of "daughter of Belial," a term implying worthlessness, wickedness, or spiritual corruption, thereby defending her character and devotion to God against a deeply offensive and unjust charge. This phrase highlights the stark contrast between Eli's misperception and Hannah's true spiritual state.
* **"for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto":** This clause provides the crucial explanation for Hannah's unusual behavior. She clarifies that her fervent, silent prayer was not a sign of intoxication but a direct consequence of the overwhelming depth of her sorrow and inner turmoil. The phrase "abundance of my complaint and grief" vividly conveys the overflowing nature of her distress, indicating that her prayer was an intense, desperate outpouring of a burdened soul, a direct expression of her profound anguish before God. "Spoken hitherto" refers to her continuous, earnest communication with God up to that point.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Contrast** is central, juxtaposing Eli's erroneous judgment of Hannah as a "daughter of Belial" with her true identity as a devout "handmaid" of the Lord. This highlights the theme of discerning inner truth versus outward appearance. **Hyperbole** is evident in Hannah's phrase "abundance of my complaint and grief," which vividly conveys the overwhelming and overflowing nature of her sorrow, emphasizing the extreme emotional burden she carried. The use of the strong, pejorative term "daughter of Belial" functions as a form of **Invective** from Eli, which Hannah then directly refutes, demonstrating her strength of character and clear conscience. Finally, the entire interaction is imbued with **Dramatic Irony**, as Eli, the spiritual leader, fails to recognize genuine spiritual devotion, mistaking it for depravity, while the reader is fully aware of Hannah's righteous heart.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hannah's encounter with Eli serves as a profound theological lesson on the nature of prayer, divine discernment, and the compassionate heart of God. It teaches us that true prayer is not merely about audible words but about the sincere outpouring of the soul before God, regardless of its outward appearance. God looks upon the heart, not just the external actions, and He is attentive to the cries of the afflicted and the brokenhearted. Hannah's experience affirms that even in our deepest distress and misunderstanding by others, we can confidently bring our burdens to the Lord, trusting in His perfect understanding and ultimate intervention. This narrative reinforces the biblical truth that God is near to those who are crushed in spirit and that He vindicates the righteous.

* [Psalm 34:18](/psalm/34-18 "Psalm 34:18 - God is near the brokenhearted")
* [Psalm 62:8](/psalm/62-8 "Psalm 62:8 - Pour out your heart before Him")
* [Luke 18:9-14](/luke/18-9 "Luke 18:9-14 - Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hannah's dignified yet passionate defense in 1 Samuel 1:16 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It calls us to cultivate a posture of humility and discernment, guarding against hasty judgments of others based on superficial observations. Just as Eli misread Hannah's profound spiritual agony, we too can easily misinterpret the actions or expressions of those around us, failing to see the underlying pain or sincere devotion. This verse encourages us to extend grace and seek understanding, remembering that outward appearances can be deceptive. Furthermore, Hannah's example powerfully affirms the validity and efficacy of pouring out our deepest sorrows, complaints, and griefs before God. Our prayers do not need to be eloquent or perfectly articulated; what matters is the sincerity and depth of our heart's cry. God hears the silent groans and understands the unspoken anguish, responding to genuine faith. In moments of false accusation or misunderstanding, Hannah also models a response of respectful clarity, defending her character without resorting to anger or bitterness, trusting that God sees and will ultimately vindicate.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How often do I make quick judgments about others based on their outward behavior, rather than seeking to understand their inner state or circumstances?**
* **In what ways can I become more empathetic and discerning, allowing for the possibility that someone's unusual actions might stem from deep "complaint and grief"?**
* **Am I truly honest and vulnerable with God in my prayers, pouring out my deepest sorrows and frustrations, or do I hold back?**
* **How can Hannah's example encourage me to respond with grace and clarity when I am misunderstood or falsely accused?**

### FAQ
**What does "daughter of Belial" mean, and why was it such a severe accusation?**

Answer: The term "Belial" (Hebrew: בְלִיַּעַל, _bĕliyya‘al_) literally means "worthlessness" or "wickedness." It's not a proper name but an abstract noun used to describe someone utterly devoid of moral value, corrupt, or rebellious. To call someone a "daughter of Belial" was a profound insult, accusing them of being a wicked, worthless person, devoted to evil, or a scoundrel. It implied a complete lack of righteousness and devotion to God, akin to being an enemy of all that is good. For Hannah, a devout woman praying earnestly to God, this accusation was not only false but deeply offensive, impugning her character and spiritual integrity in the most severe way. Examples of its use can be found in [Deuteronomy 13:13](/deuteronomy/13-13 "Deuteronomy 13:13 - Worthless men") and [Judges 19:22](/judges/19-22 "Judges 19:22 - Sons of Belial").

**Why did Eli think Hannah was drunk, and what does this tell us about his discernment?**

Answer: Eli observed Hannah praying with such intense emotion that her lips moved, but no sound came forth ([1 Samuel 1:13](/1-samuel/1-13 "1 Samuel 1:13 - Hannah's Silent Prayer")). This unusual behavior, perhaps combined with her disheveled appearance due to deep distress, led him to the hasty and incorrect conclusion that she was intoxicated. In ancient Israel, public drunkenness, especially in a sacred space, was a serious offense. Eli's misjudgment reveals a lack of spiritual discernment and empathy, a failure to look beyond the superficial and perceive the genuine spiritual agony of Hannah's heart. It highlights a common human failing: to judge by outward appearances rather than seeking to understand the underlying truth, a theme later addressed by Jesus in [Matthew 7:1-5](/matthew/7-1 "Matthew 7:1-5 - Judging Others").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hannah's profound "complaint and grief" and her earnest, misunderstood prayer find their ultimate echo and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Hannah suffered from barrenness and societal shame, Christ bore the ultimate "griefs" and "sorrows" of humanity, becoming the [Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Man of Sorrows"). Unlike Eli, who misjudged Hannah, Jesus perfectly discerns the heart, knowing the true intentions and deepest pains of humanity. He is the High Priest who does not accuse but intercedes, one who can [sympathize with our weaknesses](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our High Priest Understands"), having Himself experienced profound suffering and misunderstanding, even to the point of being [numbered with the transgressors](/isaiah/53-12 "Isaiah 53:12 - Numbered with Transgressors"). Hannah's longing for a son, a seed, is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, the true "seed" who brings forth spiritual children for God's kingdom ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed is Christ")). Her earnest prayer for fruitfulness, answered by God, foreshadows the spiritual fruitfulness that comes through faith in Christ, who enables believers to bear [fruit of the Spirit](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit of the Spirit") and become part of God's eternal family, a lineage far surpassing any earthly one.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 2:12

Now the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

Job 10:1

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

Job 10:2

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Matthew 12:34

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:35

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Job 6:2

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

Job 6:3

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.