The big picture
1 Samuel 1 opens in verse 1 with “Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.”, and closes in verse 28 with “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Hannah, Elkanah, child, handmaid. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Samuel · King James Version · 281 Samuel 1:1-7
1–7: There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his…
1 Samuel 1:1–7 opens with “Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the…” and reaches “And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD , so she provoked her…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Hannah praying in deep distress at the sanctuary while Eli observes, followed by the child Samuel presented for service, with particular weight carried by LORD, Hannah, name.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the…” Naming Elihu and Elkanah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
1 Samuel 1:1-7
King James Version1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD , were there.
4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD , so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
1 Samuel 1:8-14
8–14: Said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why…
1 Samuel 1:8–14 opens with “Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why…” and reaches “And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Hannah praying in deep distress at the sanctuary while Eli observes, followed by the child Samuel presented for service, with particular weight carried by LORD, handmaid, Hannah.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Samuel 1:8-14
King James Version8Then 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?
9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD .
10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD , and wept sore.
11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD , that Eli marked her mouth.
13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
1 Samuel 1:15-21
15–21: Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful…
1 Samuel 1:15–21 opens with “And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk…” and reaches “And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Hannah praying in deep distress at the sanctuary while Eli observes, followed by the child Samuel presented for service, with particular weight carried by LORD, Hannah, asked.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong…” Naming Hannah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken…” Naming Belial and Count keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 1:15-21
King James Version15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD .
16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD , and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD .
21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
1 Samuel 1:22-28
22–28: Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up…
1 Samuel 1:22–28 opens with “But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be…” and reaches “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD …” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Hannah praying in deep distress at the sanctuary while Eli observes, followed by the child Samuel presented for service, with particular weight carried by LORD, child, weaned.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will…” Naming Hannah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD…” Naming Elkanah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 1:22-28
King James Version22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD , and there abide for ever.
23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD .
27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD . And he worshipped the LORD there.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Samuel 1:1 begins with “Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Samuel 1:14 forms a natural hinge: “And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.”
The final note
1 Samuel 1:28 leaves the reader with “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD . And he worshipped the LORD there.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Hannah, Elkanah, child, handmaid, house help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives the image and the blessing?
Both male and female in verses 27-28. Human worth precedes achievement.
What limits human dominion?
The world belongs to its Creator and is already declared good. Compare the charge to tend and keep in 2:15.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.