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1 Samuel 1:8

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 1:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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?
1 Samuel 1:8 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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?
9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah.
10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore.
11And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
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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
“Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? etc.] Since it was a time of rejoicing, as every festival was, especially at the ingathering of the fruits of the earth: and why eatest thou not? since they were at a feast, and she had the best part and portion of the provision: and why is thy heart grieved? to such a degree that she could neither eat nor drink: am not I better to thee than ten sons? which, as Jarchi says, Peninnah had borne to him; his meaning is, that the share she had in his love and affections ought to have been esteemed by her more than if she had ten or many children by him; and it suggests that Peninnah would have been glad to have such a share in his…”
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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
“Ten sons - Oughtest thou not to value my hearty love to thee, more than the having of as many sons as Penninah hath? She would willingly change conditions with thee. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 1:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“why weepest: Sa2 12:16, Sa2 12:17; Kg2 8:12; Job 6:14; Joh 20:13, Joh 20:15; Th1 5:14 am not: Rut 4:15; Psa 43:4; Isa 54:1, Isa 54:6 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 1:9”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 1 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification