1 Samuel 2:5

KJV

[They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

KJV (with Strong's)

They that were full {H7649} have hired out {H7936} themselves for bread {H3899}; and they that were hungry {H7457} ceased {H2308}: so that the barren {H6135} hath born {H3205} seven {H7651}; and she that hath many {H7227} children {H1121} is waxed feeble {H535}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The well-fed hire themselves for bread, while those who were hungry hunger no more. The barren woman has borne seven, while the mother of many wastes away.

Berean Standard Bible

The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.

American Standard Version

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceasedto hunger: Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 2:5, a poignant declaration within Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving, powerfully articulates God's sovereign capacity to orchestrate dramatic reversals of human fortune and societal standing. It encapsulates the divine principle of humbling the self-sufficient and exalting the humble, illustrating how God upends conventional expectations by satisfying the needy and diminishing the seemingly secure, culminating in the miraculous fruitfulness of the barren and the decline of the prolific.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of Hannah's magnificent prayer of thanksgiving and prophecy, recorded in [1 Samuel 2:1-10](/1_samuel/2 "1 Samuel 2 - Hannah's Prayer"). Offered after she had dedicated her long-awaited son, Samuel, to the Lord at the tabernacle in Shiloh, this prayer transcends a mere personal expression of joy. It serves as a profound theological statement, foreshadowing God's future dealings with Israel. The themes of divine reversal and the humbling of the proud directly contrast with the impending judgment upon the corrupt priesthood of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were "full" in their self-indulgence but would soon be "hired out" for their lives, facing divine retribution as described later in [1 Samuel 2:12-17](/1_samuel/2-12 "1 Samuel 2:12-17 - The Wickedness of Eli's Sons") and [1 Samuel 2:34](/1_samuel/2-34 "1 Samuel 2:34 - Prophecy of Eli's Sons' Death"). This prayer thus sets a foundational theological framework for the entire book of [1 Samuel](/1_samuel "The Book of 1 Samuel"), anticipating the rise of a righteous king and the downfall of the wicked.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the concepts of "fullness" and "hunger" were deeply rooted in tangible realities of sustenance, wealth, and social standing. To be "full" often implied prosperity, self-sufficiency, and perhaps even arrogance, while "hungry" denoted poverty, dependence, and vulnerability. Barrenness, as experienced by Hannah for many years, was a profound source of shame and sorrow, often perceived as divine disfavor, making the birth of a child, especially "seven," a miraculous and complete reversal of fortune. The setting at the tabernacle in Shiloh underscores the religious context, where the Lord was believed to directly intervene in the affairs of His people. The societal structure of the time, with its clear distinctions between the privileged and the marginalized, provides the backdrop against which God's justice and sovereignty are dramatically displayed, challenging human hierarchies and expectations.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme of [1 Samuel 2:5](/1_samuel/2-5 "1 Samuel 2:5 - Hannah's Prophetic Prayer") is **Divine Reversal and Sovereignty**. It asserts God's absolute control over all circumstances, demonstrating His power to invert human fortunes—bringing down the mighty and lifting up the lowly. This theme is foundational to understanding God's character throughout Scripture, echoing sentiments found in the Psalms, such as [Psalm 75:7](/psalms/75-7 "Psalm 75:7 - God is the Judge"). Closely related is the theme of **Humbling the Proud, Exalting the Humble**. Those who rely on their own strength, wealth, or status ("they that were full") are brought low, while those who acknowledge their need and depend on God ("they that were hungry") are satisfied. This timeless biblical truth is powerfully reiterated in the New Testament, notably in [Luke 14:11](/luke/14-11 "Luke 14:11 - Humbling and Exalting") and [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Resists the Proud"). Furthermore, the verse highlights **Miraculous Provision**, with the stark image of "the barren hath born seven" serving as a direct reference to Hannah's own experience and a broader metaphor for God's ability to bring life and fruitfulness where there was none. The number "seven" often symbolizes completeness or perfection in Scripture, indicating a full and abundant blessing, paralleling God's miraculous intervention for other barren women like Sarah in [Genesis 21:1-2](/genesis/21-1 "Genesis 21:1-2 - Sarah Gives Birth to Isaac"). Finally, the verse speaks to **Divine Justice and Righteousness**, where imbalances are corrected, and equity is restored by God's hand.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Full (Hebrew, שָׂבֵעַ, _sāḇēaʿ_):** This word describes a state of being completely satisfied or sated, often implying an abundance of food or resources. In this context, it extends beyond mere physical satiety to denote those who are self-sufficient, complacent, or even arrogant due to their prosperity and perceived security. They are depicted as having no need, relying on their own strength and provisions rather than on God.
* **Hungry (Hebrew, רְעֵבִים, _rĕʿēḇîm_):** This term refers to those who are famished, needy, or experiencing lack. It encompasses not only physical hunger but also a spiritual or existential neediness. These are the ones who are dependent, vulnerable, and often marginalized, recognizing their desperate need for external provision and intervention.
* **Barren (Hebrew, עֲקָרָה, _ʿăqārâ_):** In ancient Israelite society, barrenness was a profound personal and social tragedy, often viewed as a curse or divine judgment. It signified an inability to produce offspring, which was considered the ultimate blessing and continuation of the family line. Hannah's own experience of barrenness makes this word particularly poignant, symbolizing a state of hopelessness and unfulfillment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread;":** This clause dramatically illustrates a complete reversal of fortune. Those who once possessed abundance and self-sufficiency are now reduced to the lowest form of labor—hiring themselves out—merely to obtain basic sustenance ("bread"). This signifies a loss of status, wealth, and independence, demonstrating God's power to humble the proud and bring down the mighty from their secure positions.
* **"and [they that were] hungry ceased:":** In stark contrast, those who previously experienced lack and desperation have now found complete satisfaction. Their hunger has not just been alleviated but brought to an end, implying a state of abundant provision and contentment. This highlights God's faithfulness in providing for the needy and elevating the humble, transforming their state of deprivation into one of sufficiency.
* **"so that the barren hath born seven;":** This is a direct, miraculous fulfillment of Hannah's own story, yet it also serves as a universal principle of divine intervention. The "barren" (like Hannah) are granted extraordinary fruitfulness. The number "seven" is symbolic, representing completeness, perfection, or an overflowing, abundant blessing, far exceeding mere expectation. It underscores God's ability to bring life, joy, and fulfillment where there was once only emptiness and despair.
* **"and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.":** This final clause completes the antithetical reversal. The woman who was once prolific and seemingly blessed with many offspring now becomes weak, infertile, or diminished. This can symbolize a decline in her family line, a loss of vitality, or a withdrawal of divine favor, demonstrating that human strength and perceived blessings are ultimately fleeting and dependent on God's sovereign will.

#### Literary Devices
[1 Samuel 2:5](/1_samuel/2-5 "1 Samuel 2:5 - Hannah's Prophetic Song") is rich with literary devices that amplify its theological message. **Antithesis** and **Contrast** are foundational, setting up direct oppositions between "full" and "hungry," and "barren" and "she that hath many children." This stark juxtaposition powerfully illustrates God's ability to invert human circumstances. **Hyperbole** is evident in "the barren hath born seven," which, while rooted in Hannah's miraculous birth of Samuel, uses the symbolic number seven to emphasize the completeness and overwhelming nature of God's blessing, rather than a literal count. This hyperbole underscores the miraculous and divine nature of the reversal. **Symbolism** is also at play, with "bread" representing basic sustenance and survival, and "seven" symbolizing divine perfection and fullness. The entire verse functions as a **prophetic declaration**, moving beyond Hannah's personal experience to articulate a universal truth about God's justice and sovereignty, foreshadowing future events in Israel's history. The structure of reversals also hints at a **chiasm**, where the initial state of the "full" and "hungry" is reversed, mirroring the reversal of the "barren" and "many children."

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly reveals God's character as the sovereign Lord who actively intervenes in human affairs, demonstrating His justice and power to humble the proud and exalt the lowly. It underscores that true security and status are not found in human accumulation or strength, but in humble dependence on the Almighty. Hannah's prayer, encapsulated in this verse, sets a theological precedent for understanding divine judgment and salvation throughout the biblical narrative, affirming that God is the one who establishes and dismantles, controls life and death, and ultimately determines human destiny. It is a testament to His redemptive plan, which often involves overturning the established order to bring about His righteous will.

* [Luke 1:52-53](/luke/1-52 "Luke 1:52-53 - Mary's Magnificat") - Mary's Magnificat echoes Hannah's prayer, proclaiming that God "has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty."
* [Psalm 113:7-9](/psalms/113-7 "Psalm 113:7-9 - God Lifts the Poor") - This psalm praises God for raising the poor from the dust and setting the needy among princes, making the barren woman a joyful mother of children.
* [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Resists the Proud") - "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble," a New Testament articulation of the principle of divine reversal.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[1 Samuel 2:5](/1_samuel/2-5 "1 Samuel 2:5 - God's Reversals") offers profound encouragement and a stern warning for believers today. For those who feel overlooked, disadvantaged, or "hungry" in various aspects of life—whether spiritually, emotionally, or materially—it provides immense hope that God sees their plight and can dramatically reverse their circumstances. It calls for a radical humility and unwavering dependence on God, reminding us that true security, lasting satisfaction, and genuine blessing come solely from Him, not from earthly possessions, social status, or self-sufficiency. Conversely, it serves as a potent warning against pride, self-reliance, and exploiting others. Those who are "full" in their own estimation can quickly find themselves in spiritual or material need if they forget their absolute reliance on the Almighty. This verse invites us to trust in God's ultimate plan and His righteous judgment, knowing that He is the one who establishes and dismantles, and that His ways are higher than ours, always working towards justice and the exaltation of His humble servants.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you currently feel "hungry" or lacking, and how might this verse encourage you to trust God for a miraculous reversal?**
* **What might it mean to be "full" in a way that leads to spiritual complacency or feebleness, and how can humility guard against this spiritual danger?**
* **How does Hannah's experience of waiting patiently for God's provision, and then receiving an abundant blessing, strengthen your faith in God's perfect timing and limitless power?**

### FAQ
**Is the "seven" children mentioned in the verse a literal number or symbolic?**

Answer: While Hannah herself bore Samuel and later five more children (three sons and two daughters, as mentioned in [1 Samuel 2:21](/1_samuel/2-21 "1 Samuel 2:21 - God Blesses Hannah with More Children")), making her total six, the "seven" in this verse is widely understood to be symbolic rather than a literal count. In biblical numerology, "seven" frequently represents completeness, perfection, or divine fullness (e.g., the seven days of creation in [Genesis 2:2](/genesis/2-2 "Genesis 2:2 - God Rests on the Seventh Day"), or the seven spirits of God in [Revelation 4:5](/revelation/4-5 "Revelation 4:5 - Seven Spirits of God")). Therefore, "the barren hath born seven" powerfully conveys the idea of a complete, perfect, and overflowing blessing from God, a reversal so profound that it signifies ultimate fruitfulness and divine favor, far beyond human expectation or natural ability.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of social justice?**

Answer: [1 Samuel 2:5](/1_samuel/2-5 "1 Samuel 2:5 - God's Justice and Reversal") is deeply relevant to social justice because it articulates God's active concern for the marginalized, the poor, and the oppressed, and His willingness to overturn established social hierarchies. The reversal of "full" becoming "hungry" and "hungry" becoming "satisfied" speaks to God's inherent justice that corrects imbalances and restores equity. It implies a divine judgment against those who exploit their power or wealth ("full") to the detriment of others, and a divine favor shown to those who are vulnerable and dependent ("hungry"). This theme resonates throughout the Old Testament prophets who consistently called for justice for the poor, widows, and orphans, and finds its ultimate expression in the New Testament, where Jesus himself identifies with the hungry and the needy (e.g., [Matthew 25:35-40](/matthew/25-35 "Matthew 25:35-40 - The Judgment of the Nations")). It reminds us that God's kingdom is one where the last shall be first, and the first last.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[1 Samuel 2:5](/1_samuel/2-5 "1 Samuel 2:5 - Prophetic of Christ") finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hannah's prophetic song, with its themes of divine reversal, the humbling of the proud, and the exaltation of the humble, perfectly foreshadows the incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ. Jesus, though "full" of divine glory and equality with God ([Philippians 2:6](/philippians/2-6 "Philippians 2:6 - Christ's Humility")), "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ Takes the Form of a Servant")), becoming "hungry" and identifying with humanity's deepest needs and brokenness. His earthly ministry consistently demonstrated this reversal: He fed the physically hungry ([Matthew 14:13-21](/matthew/14-13 "Matthew 14:13-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand")), healed the sick, and brought life to the spiritually barren. The Beatitudes in [Matthew 5:3-6](/matthew/5-3 "Matthew 5:3-6 - The Beatitudes") declare blessings upon the "poor in spirit" and those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness," promising them the ultimate "fullness" of God's kingdom. The cross represents the ultimate divine reversal: the innocent Lamb of God became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through His death, the "full" power of sin and death was rendered feeble, and through His resurrection, those who were spiritually barren and dead in transgressions are born anew with abundant, eternal life ([Ephesians 2:1-5](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1-5 - Made Alive in Christ")). Thus, Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to reverse fortunes, bringing true satisfaction and spiritual fruitfulness to all who humble themselves and believe in Him.

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

Psalms 113:9

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, [and to be] a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

Luke 1:53

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Jeremiah 15:9

She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while [it was] yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

Psalms 34:10

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].

Isaiah 54:1

¶ Sing, O barren, thou [that] didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou [that] didst not travail with child: for more [are] the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

1 Samuel 1:6

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

Luke 16:25

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.