1 Samuel

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, 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:

1There was a man named Elkanah. He lived in Ramathaim-zophim, in the hills of Ephraim. His father was Jeroham, and Jeroham's father was Elihu. Elihu's father was Tohu, and Tohu's father was Zuph. Their family came from Ephraim.

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.

2Elkanah had two wives. One was named Hannah, and the other was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

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.

3Every year Elkanah left his town and went to Shiloh. There he worshipped the LORD of hosts and gave him gifts. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests there. Priests are men who serve God at his house.

4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

4When the day came for Elkanah to give his gift, he shared out the food. He gave a share to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

5But he gave Hannah a double share, because he loved her. The LORD had kept her from having babies.

6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

6Peninnah said mean things to Hannah again and again. She did it to hurt her, because the LORD had kept Hannah from having babies.

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.

7This went on year after year. Every time Hannah went to the LORD's house, Peninnah teased her. So Hannah cried and would not eat.

8Then 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?

8Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why is your heart so sad? Am I not better to you 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.

9One time in Shiloh, they finished eating and drinking. Then Hannah got up. Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD's house.

10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

10Hannah was hurting deep inside. She prayed to the LORD and cried and cried.

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.

11She made a promise. She said, "LORD of hosts, please look at how sad I am. Remember me. Do not forget me. If you give me a baby boy, I will give him back to you for his whole life. No razor will ever cut his hair."

12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

12Hannah kept on praying to the LORD. Eli watched 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.

13She was praying inside her heart. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. So Eli thought she had been drinking too much wine.

14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

14Eli said to her, "How long will you stay drunk? Put your wine away."

15And 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.

15Hannah answered, "No, sir. I am a woman with a very sad heart. I have not had wine or any strong drink. I have been telling the LORD everything inside me."

16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

16"Please do not think I am a bad woman. I have been talking to God because I am so sad and hurting."

NoteThe KJV says "a daughter of Belial." That was an old way of saying a worthless or wicked person. Hannah is asking Eli not to think badly of her.

17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

17Eli said, "Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you asked him for."

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.

18Hannah said, "Thank you for being kind to me." Then she went on her way. She ate some food, and her face was not sad anymore.

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.

19Early the next morning they bowed down and worshipped the LORD. Then they went home to Ramah. Elkanah and Hannah slept together as husband and wife. And the LORD remembered Hannah.

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.

20After some time, Hannah had a baby boy. She named him Samuel. She said, "I asked the LORD for him."

21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

21Later Elkanah and his whole family went to give the LORD the yearly gift. He also kept the promise he had made to God.

22But 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.

22But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, "I will wait until the boy stops drinking milk. Then I will bring him to the LORD's house. He will stay there for good."

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.

23Her husband Elkanah said, "Do what you think is best. Stay here until he is ready. May the LORD do what he has said." So Hannah stayed home and fed her son until he was older.

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.

24When Samuel no longer drank milk, Hannah took him with her. She brought a young bull, a basket of flour, and a skin bag of wine. She brought them all to the LORD's house in Shiloh. The boy was still very young.

NoteAn ephah of flour was a measure of about twenty quarts. That is a big amount, more than a large sack.

25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

25They killed the bull as a gift to God. Then they brought the boy 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.

26Hannah said, "Please listen, sir. As surely as you are alive, I am that same woman. I stood here beside you and prayed to the LORD."

27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

27"I prayed for this boy. And the LORD gave me what I asked him for."

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.

28"So now I give him back to the LORD. He will belong to the LORD his whole life." And they worshipped the LORD there.

NoteThe KJV says Hannah "lent" Samuel to the LORD. It does not mean she planned to take him back later. The word means she handed him over for good.