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1 Samuel 1:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 1:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.
1 Samuel 1:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto Jehovah, were there.
4And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.
6And her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb.
7And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Jehovah, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8And 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?
← 1 Samuel 1:41 Samuel 1:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion, etc.] Or, one choice portion, as the Targum; the best part or portion in the peace offering, of what the priest had not; he had the breast and the right shoulder, the next best piece he gave to Hannah; and the word being of the dual number, some render it a double portion; others, “one part of two faces” f14; which Jerom interprets, which might be received with a cheerful countenance, it was so good and excellent in its kind; others interpret it that he gave it with a sorrowful f15 and displeased countenance, because of the reason following, that she had no children; but Ben Gersom understands it of a part or portion of meat that had two faces or…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A worthy portion - Probably as in the margin. Naturally she would have had a single portion of the sacrifice (compare 1 Samuel 9:23), but because of his love to her he gave her a double portion, enough for two people (compare Genesis 43:34). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Shut up her womb - Yet Elkanah did not withdraw his love from her. To abate out just love to any relation, for the sake of any infirmity which they cannot help, is to add affliction to the afflicted. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 1:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a worthy portion: or, a double portion, The Hebrew phrase, manah achath appayim, is correctly rendered by Gesenius, ein Stud fur zwei personen, doppelle Portion, "a portion for two persons, a double portion;" for aph in Hebrew, and προσωπον in Greek, which literally mean a face, are used for a person. Gen 43:34, Gen 45:22 he loved: Gen 29:30, Gen 29:31; Deu 21:15 shut up: Gen 20:18, Gen 30:2 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 1:6”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification