1 Samuel 1:8

KJV

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?

KJV (with Strong's)

Then said {H559} Elkanah {H511} her husband {H376} to her, Hannah {H2584}, why weepest {H1058} thou? and why eatest {H398} thou not? and why is thy heart {H3824} grieved {H3415}? am not I better {H2896} to thee than ten {H6235} sons {H1121}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why are you crying, and why aren't you eating? Why be so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

Berean Standard Bible

“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

American Standard Version

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 1:8 captures a poignant moment where Elkanah, Hannah's devoted husband, attempts to alleviate her profound grief and refusal to eat during their annual pilgrimage to Shiloh. Observing her deep distress, Elkanah poses rhetorical questions concerning her sorrow, culminating in the assertion, "Am not I better to thee than ten sons?" This verse powerfully illustrates the tension between genuine human affection and a spiritual longing that transcends earthly comfort, highlighting the immense cultural value placed on sons in ancient Israel while foreshadowing the divine intervention Hannah desperately sought.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the opening chapter of 1 Samuel, immediately following the description of Hannah's barrenness and the constant provocation she endured from Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife, especially during their annual journey to Shiloh for sacrifices. The preceding verses establish Hannah's deep sorrow and her inability to bear children, which was a source of great anguish. Elkanah's words in [1 Samuel 1:8](/1_samuel/1-8 "1 Samuel 1:8 - Elkanah's Comfort to Hannah") serve as a pivotal moment before Hannah's desperate prayer and vow to the Lord, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention and the birth of Samuel. It underscores the depth of her suffering, which even her loving husband could not fully comprehend or alleviate.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, children, particularly sons, were considered an indispensable blessing from God, crucial for continuing the family lineage, inheriting property, and ensuring social standing. Barrenness was often perceived as a curse or divine disfavor, leading to immense personal shame and societal reproach for women. The annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, where the tabernacle was located, was a significant religious event involving communal worship and sacrificial meals. Hannah's refusal to eat during this festive occasion (as noted in [1 Samuel 1:7](/1_samuel/1-7 "1 Samuel 1:7 - Peninnah's Provocation and Hannah's Grief")) was a clear sign of her profound despair, indicating that her grief was so overwhelming it superseded even the joy of religious observance and family fellowship. Elkanah's perspective, though loving, reflects the patriarchal societal norms where a husband's affection was expected to be a woman's primary source of comfort and fulfillment.
* **Key Themes:** The verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in 1 Samuel. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **profound grief and barrenness**, a recurring motif in biblical narratives (e.g., [Genesis 16:1](/genesis/16-1 "Genesis 16:1 - Sarah's Barrenness") and [Genesis 30:1](/genesis/30-1 "Genesis 30:1 - Rachel's Barrenness")), which often serves as a prelude to divine intervention and miraculous birth. Secondly, it explores the **limitations of human comfort and understanding** in the face of deep, spiritual longing. While Elkanah's love for Hannah is evident and exceptional (he gave her a double portion, as seen in [1 Samuel 1:5](/1_samuel/1-5 "1 Samuel 1:5 - Elkanah's Love for Hannah")), his words, though well-intentioned, fall short of addressing the spiritual and cultural depth of Hannah's pain, which ultimately only God could resolve. Lastly, the phrase "better to thee than ten sons" powerfully underscores the **immense cultural value of sons** in ancient Israel, where male offspring were seen as the ultimate blessing and security, a theme also echoed in [Psalm 127:3](/psalms/127-3 "Psalm 127:3 - Children, a Heritage from the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Weepest (Hebrew, _bakah'_):** This verb (בָּכָה) signifies a deep, often uncontrollable, emotional crying, indicative of profound sorrow or distress. It's not merely shedding tears but an intense expression of grief, reflecting the anguish that had consumed Hannah to the point of losing her appetite and being unable to participate in the festive meal.
* **Grieved (Hebrew, _marar'_):** The root (מָרַר) means "to be bitter" or "to be distressed." When applied to the heart, as here, it denotes a state of deep anguish, sorrow, or bitterness that permeates one's inner being. Hannah's grief was not superficial but a profound affliction of her spirit, making her heart "bitter."
* **Better (Hebrew, _tov'_):** This common Hebrew adjective (טוֹב) means "good," "pleasant," "agreeable," or "superior." Elkanah's rhetorical question, "Am not I _tov_ to thee than ten sons?" asserts his perceived sufficiency and superiority as a source of comfort and value, attempting to reassure Hannah that his love should outweigh her desire for children, particularly sons, who represented the pinnacle of blessing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou?":** Elkanah initiates the conversation, directly addressing Hannah by name, indicating his personal concern and affection. His opening question immediately highlights his observation of her outward manifestation of sorrow—her persistent weeping—and seeks to understand its cause. This shows his attentiveness to her emotional state.
* **"and why eatest thou not?":** This second question points to a tangible symptom of Hannah's deep distress. Refusing to eat, especially during a celebratory sacrificial meal, was a clear sign of profound grief or protest. Elkanah recognizes that her sorrow has affected her physical well-being and participation in communal life.
* **"and why is thy heart grieved?":** Elkanah probes beyond the outward signs of weeping and not eating, seeking to understand the internal source of her anguish. He perceives that her sorrow is not superficial but originates from a deeply troubled or "bitter" heart, indicating a spiritual or emotional wound.
* **"[am] not I better to thee than ten sons?":** This rhetorical question is Elkanah's attempt at consolation and reassurance. By comparing himself to "ten sons," he invokes the highest cultural standard of blessing and value in ancient Israel. His intention is to convey the immense depth of his love and devotion, suggesting that his affection should be more than enough to fill any void in her life, even the profound longing for male offspring. It underscores his genuine love but also his limited understanding of the specific, God-directed nature of Hannah's yearning.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant **Literary Devices**. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, particularly in Elkanah's concluding statement, "Am not I better to thee than ten sons?" This is not a question seeking a factual answer, but rather a statement of affirmation intended to convey Elkanah's deep love and his belief in its sufficiency. It serves to comfort and reassure Hannah, though it ultimately falls short. The phrase "ten sons" functions as **Hyperbole**, an exaggeration used for emphasis. It underscores the immense societal and personal value placed on male offspring in ancient Israel, representing the epitome of blessing and family continuity. Elkanah uses this hyperbole as a **Metaphor** for the ultimate fulfillment and joy he believes his love should provide. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** between Elkanah's well-intentioned, human-centered comfort and the deeper, God-directed spiritual longing that Hannah experiences. His words, though loving, highlight the limitations of human affection in addressing a need that only divine intervention can satisfy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the human condition of seeking fulfillment in earthly relationships and possessions, often failing to recognize the deeper, spiritual longings that only God can satisfy. Elkanah's genuine love, while commendable, could not assuage Hannah's specific, God-given desire for a child, particularly a son, which was tied to her identity, societal standing, and a sense of divine favor. Theologically, Hannah's barrenness and intense grief serve as a backdrop for demonstrating God's sovereignty over life and death, His attentiveness to the cries of the afflicted, and His ability to open the womb (or provide any blessing) in His perfect timing. It highlights that true blessing and ultimate comfort come not from human provision, however loving, but from divine intervention and relationship with the Almighty.

* [Genesis 30:2](/genesis/30-2 "Genesis 30:2 - Rachel's Barrenness and Jacob's Response")
* [Psalm 127:3](/psalms/127-3 "Psalm 127:3 - Children, a Heritage from the Lord")
* [Romans 8:26](/romans/8-26 "Romans 8:26 - The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Elkanah's words in 1 Samuel 1:8 offer a powerful lesson in empathy, the limits of human comfort, and the nature of true fulfillment. While his love for Hannah was undeniable and his attempt to comfort her sincere, he could not fully grasp the spiritual depth of her pain or the societal pressures she faced. This reminds us that even with the best intentions, our human efforts to console others can fall short when faced with profound, God-directed longings or deep-seated grief. It challenges us to move beyond superficial comfort and truly listen to the specific nature of another's pain, recognizing that some sorrows require a divine touch. For those experiencing deep unmet longings, whether for children, a spouse, healing, or purpose, Hannah's story encourages persistent prayer and trust in God's unique provision, understanding that only He can truly satisfy the deepest desires of the heart. It also prompts us to examine what "ten sons" might represent in our own lives—those things we mistakenly believe will bring ultimate satisfaction, when true peace and joy are found only in God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we respond when our well-intentioned comfort falls short of another's deep spiritual need?**
* **What are the "ten sons" in our own lives that we might mistakenly equate with ultimate fulfillment, rather than seeking God's unique provision?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to offer human solutions to problems that require divine intervention and a spiritual answer?**

### FAQ
**Why did Elkanah think his love was "better than ten sons"?**

Answer: Elkanah's statement reflects both his profound love for Hannah and the cultural values of his time. In ancient Israel, sons were considered the ultimate blessing, ensuring family lineage, inheritance, and social standing, as highlighted in [Psalm 127:3](/psalms/127-3 "Psalm 127:3 - Children, a Heritage from the Lord"). By asserting that his love was "better than ten sons," Elkanah was attempting to convey the immeasurable depth of his devotion and affection for Hannah. He genuinely loved her more than Peninnah, giving her a double portion of the sacrifice (as seen in [1 Samuel 1:5](/1_samuel/1-5 "1 Samuel 1:5 - Elkanah's Love for Hannah")), and from his perspective, he believed his love should be sufficient to alleviate her sorrow and fulfill her. It wasn't necessarily insensitivity but a loving husband's attempt to provide ultimate comfort within his understanding, not fully grasping the spiritual and societal weight of Hannah's barrenness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hannah's profound grief over her barrenness and Elkanah's well-intentioned but insufficient comfort in [1 Samuel 1:8](/1_samuel/1-8 "1 Samuel 1:8 - Elkanah's Comfort to Hannah") powerfully foreshadow humanity's spiritual barrenness and its desperate need for a divine solution. Just as Elkanah's love, however great, could not produce the son Hannah longed for, no human effort, earthly possession, or relationship can truly satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart for redemption and spiritual fruitfulness. This narrative points us to Christ, the ultimate "Son" who is infinitely "better" than any earthly blessing. He is the one who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), opens the spiritually barren womb of humanity, and brings forth new life. Where Hannah sought a son to end her reproach, Jesus, through His sacrifice, removes the reproach of sin and offers spiritual adoption, making us children of God ([John 1:12](/john/1-12 "John 1:12 - Becoming Children of God")). He invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for true rest and fulfillment ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")), providing a comfort that transcends human understanding and yields eternal fruitfulness, making us branches connected to the true vine ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Jesus, the True Vine")), bearing fruit that glorifies God.

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

Ruth 4:15

And he shall be unto thee a restorer of [thy] life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

Isaiah 54:6

¶ 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.

Job 6:14

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

Psalms 43:4

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

John 20:13

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

John 20:15

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

1 Thessalonians 5:14

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men].