1 Samuel 1:6

KJV

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

KJV (with Strong's)

And her adversary {H6869} also provoked {H3707} her sore {H3708}, for to make her fret {H7481}, because the LORD {H3068} had shut {H5462} up {H1157} her womb {H7358}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Her rival taunted her and made her feel bad, because ADONAI had kept her from having children.

Berean Standard Bible

Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously.

American Standard Version

And her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Samuel 1:6 vividly portrays the profound distress of Hannah, one of Elkanah's two wives, who suffered from barrenness while her co-wife, Peninnah, bore children. This verse highlights Peninnah's cruel and persistent provocation of Hannah, designed to exacerbate her emotional pain and anxiety. Crucially, it reveals the theological understanding that Hannah's inability to conceive was not a matter of chance or fate, but a sovereign act of the LORD, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention and the birth of Samuel, a pivotal figure in Israel's history.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated early in the book of 1 Samuel, immediately following the introduction of Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. The preceding verses establish Elkanah's annual pilgrimage to Shiloh to worship the LORD of Hosts and offer sacrifices, emphasizing his piety. It also highlights Elkanah's deep affection for Hannah, giving her a double portion of the sacrifice, despite her barrenness. Verse 6 then introduces the central conflict and source of Hannah's anguish: Peninnah's relentless torment, directly linking Hannah's barrenness to divine action. This sets the narrative trajectory for Hannah's desperate prayer, God's eventual answer, and the subsequent dedication of Samuel to the LORD, establishing the prophetic and priestly lineage that will shape Israel's future.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, childbearing, particularly the birth of sons, was considered an immense blessing from God, a sign of divine favor, and essential for family lineage and tribal continuity. Conversely, barrenness was often perceived as a curse, a source of profound personal shame, social stigma, and even divine displeasure. The practice of polygamy, though not ideal, was permitted and often led to domestic strife, especially when one wife was fertile and the other was not, as seen in the rivalry between Rachel and Leah in [Genesis 30](/genesis/30 "Genesis 30 - Jacob's Wives and Children"). Peninnah's actions reflect the harsh realities of such household dynamics, where a fertile wife might use her advantage to assert dominance or inflict pain upon a barren co-wife. The annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, the central place of worship before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, provided the setting for this family drama to unfold before the LORD.
* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within 1 Samuel and the broader Old Testament narrative. First, it underscores the **pain of barrenness** and the societal pressure associated with it, a theme echoed in the stories of Sarah ([Genesis 16:1](/genesis/16-1 "Genesis 16:1 - Sarah's Barrenness")) and Rachel ([Genesis 29:31](/genesis/29-31 "Genesis 29:31 - Rachel's Barrenness")). Second, it highlights the **destructive nature of human jealousy and malice**, as Peninnah actively seeks to "provoke" and "fret" Hannah. Third, and most profoundly, it introduces the theme of **God's sovereignty over life and death, blessing and barrenness**. The explicit statement "because the LORD had shut up her womb" establishes that God is not merely a passive observer but an active agent, even in seemingly negative circumstances. This divine intervention sets the stage for a miraculous birth that will serve God's greater redemptive purposes, ultimately leading to the anointing of kings and the establishment of a new era for Israel, as seen in the broader narrative of [1 Samuel](/1-samuel/1 "1 Samuel - The Rise of Samuel and Saul").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Adversary (Hebrew, _tsarah'_):** This term literally means "straits," "distress," or "trouble," but when used of a person, it refers to a "rival" or "one who causes distress." In this context, it specifically denotes Peninnah as Hannah's rival wife, who actively sought to cause her anguish. The word emphasizes not just a competitive relationship but an intentional, malicious effort to inflict pain.
* **Provoked (Hebrew, _ka'as'_):** This verb signifies "to vex," "to irritate," "to anger," or "to grieve." It implies a deliberate and persistent action aimed at causing emotional turmoil. Peninnah's provocation was not accidental but a calculated and continuous effort to make Hannah miserable, highlighting the depth of her cruelty.
* **Fret (Hebrew, _ragaz'_):** Meaning "to tremble," "to be agitated," "to be disquieted," or "to be in a rage." This word describes the intense internal emotional state Hannah experienced as a result of Peninnah's taunts. It conveys a sense of deep anxiety, distress, and inner turmoil, a constant state of emotional unrest.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And her adversary also provoked her sore":** This clause introduces Peninnah as Hannah's "adversary" or "rival," a term that immediately casts her in a negative light. The Hebrew term implies a source of distress. Peninnah's actions were not merely annoying but deeply painful and persistent, designed to inflict severe emotional suffering upon Hannah, likely through constant reminders of her barrenness and comparisons with Peninnah's own children.
* **"for to make her fret":** This phrase reveals the malicious intent behind Peninnah's actions. Her goal was to cause Hannah deep emotional agitation, anxiety, and distress. The provocation was calculated to keep Hannah in a state of constant inner turmoil, preventing her from finding peace or joy, even during sacred times like the annual pilgrimage.
* **"because the LORD had shut up her womb":** This crucial theological statement provides the ultimate explanation for Hannah's barrenness and, by extension, the context for Peninnah's cruelty. It attributes Hannah's inability to conceive directly to the sovereign will of God. This is not presented as a random biological failing but as a deliberate divine act, setting the stage for God's later intervention and underscoring His ultimate control over life, fertility, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is present in the fact that while Elkanah shows special favor to Hannah, it is God who has "shut up her womb," creating the very condition that leads to her suffering. This divine action, seemingly punitive, will ultimately lead to a greater blessing. **Conflict** is central, established immediately through the "adversary" Peninnah and her deliberate "provocation" of Hannah. This internal family strife mirrors the broader spiritual conflict often present in the lives of God's people. The phrase "shut up her womb" is a powerful **euphemism** for barrenness, but it also functions as a **metonymy** where God's action (shutting the womb) stands for the state of barrenness itself, emphasizing divine agency. The entire verse functions as **foreshadowing**, hinting at the divine purpose behind Hannah's suffering, which will eventually lead to the miraculous birth of Samuel and his pivotal role in Israel's history.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological implications of 1 Samuel 1:6 are profound, particularly in its assertion that Hannah's barrenness was a direct act of the LORD. This concept highlights God's absolute sovereignty, even over the most intimate and painful aspects of human life. It challenges a simplistic view of suffering, suggesting that what appears to be a curse or a deprivation can, in God's hands, be a deliberate part of a larger, redemptive plan. This divine control over fertility is a recurring motif in the Old Testament, often preceding the birth of a significant figure who will play a crucial role in salvation history. Hannah's suffering, therefore, is not meaningless but is integrated into God's unfolding purpose for Israel, demonstrating that His ways are often beyond human comprehension, yet always purposeful.

* [Genesis 20:18](/genesis/20-18 "Genesis 20:18 - God Closes Wombs")
* [Genesis 30:2](/genesis/30-2 "Genesis 30:2 - Rachel's Barrenness and God's Control")
* [Psalm 127:3](/psalm/127-3 "Psalm 127:3 - Children as a Heritage from the LORD")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of Hannah's suffering in 1 Samuel 1:6 resonates deeply with the human experience of adversity and the mystery of God's providence. We often encounter "adversaries" in our lives, whether individuals who intentionally cause us pain, or circumstances that feel like relentless provocation. Hannah's story reminds us that even when our pain is exacerbated by others, and even when God seems to have "shut up" a door in our lives, His hand is ultimately sovereign. This verse calls us to move beyond superficial explanations for suffering and to trust in God's deeper purposes, even when they are initially obscure and painful. It challenges us to consider how our trials, rather than being mere obstacles, might be divinely appointed catalysts for a greater work in our lives and through us. Our response to such "provocation" and "fretting" should, like Hannah's, ultimately lead us to a deeper reliance on God and fervent prayer, rather than despair or retaliation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when you feel "provoked" or "fretted" by others or by difficult circumstances?**
* **What does it mean to truly believe that God is sovereign, even when He "shuts up" a door or allows a painful situation in your life?**
* **Can you identify a time when a seemingly closed door or a period of suffering ultimately led to a greater blessing or a clearer understanding of God's plan?**

### FAQ
**Why would the LORD "shut up" Hannah's womb and cause her such distress?**

Answer: The biblical narrative frequently portrays God as sovereign over all aspects of life, including fertility. When the text states "the LORD had shut up her womb," it emphasizes that Hannah's barrenness was not a random biological event but part of God's deliberate plan. This divine action served several purposes: first, it drove Hannah to desperate, fervent prayer, revealing the depth of her desire for a child and her absolute dependence on God ([1 Samuel 1:10-11](/1-samuel/1-10 "1 Samuel 1:10-11 - Hannah's Prayer")); second, it ensured that the child, Samuel, would be seen as a miraculous gift from God, a direct answer to prayer, rather than a natural occurrence. This miraculous birth underscored Samuel's unique calling and prepared him for his pivotal role as prophet, judge, and king-maker in Israel. God often uses periods of waiting, suffering, and apparent deprivation to prepare individuals for a special purpose and to demonstrate His power and faithfulness in ways that would not be possible otherwise, as seen in other barren matriarchs like Sarah and Rachel, whose children also played vital roles in salvation history.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Hannah's barrenness and God's sovereign hand in 1 Samuel 1:6 finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the broader biblical story of God bringing life out of barrenness and hope out of despair. Just as God "shut up" Hannah's womb only to open it miraculously for the birth of Samuel, a deliverer and prophet, so too did God allow humanity to fall into a state of spiritual barrenness and death through sin, only to bring forth ultimate life through Christ. The suffering of Hannah, provoked by her adversary, foreshadows the ultimate suffering of Christ, who was "provoked" and reviled by His adversaries, yet through His anguish brought forth spiritual children for God. The "shutting up" of Hannah's womb points to the seemingly impossible situation of humanity, unable to produce spiritual fruit or righteousness on its own. Yet, through the virgin birth of Jesus, God supernaturally opened the "womb" of salvation, bringing forth the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Hannah's eventual joy and song of praise in [1 Samuel 2](/1-samuel/2 "1 Samuel 2 - Hannah's Prayer of Thanksgiving") echo the ultimate triumph of Christ over death and the barrenness of sin, bringing forth a multitude of spiritual offspring for God's glory, as promised in [Isaiah 54:1](/isaiah/54-1 "Isaiah 54:1 - Rejoice, O Barren One") and fulfilled in the church, the spiritual children of God through faith in Christ Jesus ([Galatians 3:26](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26 - Children of God through Faith")).

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

Job 6:14

¶ To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

Job 24:21

He evil entreateth the barren [that] beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

Leviticus 18:18

Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex [her], to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life [time].