Hannah חַנָּה
The mother of the prophet Samuel.
Biography
Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, an Ephraimite, and the mother of the prophet Samuel (1Sa.1.1-2). She was one of Elkanah's two wives, the other being Peninnah. While Peninnah had children, Hannah was barren, which caused her great distress (1Sa.1.2, 6-7). During an annual visit to the tabernacle at Shiloh, Hannah prayed fervently to the Lord, asking for a son and vowing to dedicate him to the Lord's service (1Sa.1.9-11). Eli, the high priest, initially mistook her intense prayer for drunkenness but later blessed her when he understood her situation (1Sa.1.12-18). In due time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel, meaning "heard by God" (1Sa.1.19-20). After weaning him, Hannah fulfilled her vow and brought Samuel to the tabernacle to serve under Eli (1Sa.1.24-28). Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving (1Sa.2.1-10) expresses her joy and gratitude for God's answer to her prayers and her recognition of God's sovereignty. The Bible also records that Hannah had three more sons and two daughters after dedicating Samuel to the Lord (1Sa.2.21). Hannah's story illustrates the power of prayer, faith, and dedication to God.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Samuel 5 verses
- 1 Samuel 1:2
"He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children."
- 1 Samuel 1:5
"but to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb."
- 1 Samuel 1:8
"Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”"
- 1 Samuel 1:9
"So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple."
- 1 Samuel 1:13
"Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | חַנָּה | H2584 |
Hannah
ocated. She was greatly distressed because they had no children. She therefore prayed earnestly for a male child whom she promised to dedicate to the Lord from his birth. The prayer was heard, and she called her son's name Samuel ("God hears"). When he was weaned he was carried to Shiloh to be trained by Eli, the priest (1Sa 1). Hannah became the mother of five other children, three sons and two daughters (1Sa 2:2). Her devotion in sending Samuel a little robe every year is one of the tenderest recorded instances of maternal love (1Sa 2:19). She was a prophetess of no ordinary talent, as is evident from her elevated poetic deliverance elicited by God's answer to her prayer (1Sa 2:1-10).
Byron H. Dement
han'-a-thon (channathon): A city on the northern boundary of Zebulun (Jos 19:14). It is probably identical with Kefar Hananyah, which the Mishna gives as marking the northern li