1 Samuel 1:5

Berean Standard Bible

But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.

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1 Samuel 1:5, which reads in the NIV, “But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb,” is a verse rich with emotional, cultural, and theological significance, encapsulating the complex dynamics of human relationships, divine sovereignty, and the cultural context of ancient Israel. To fully understand this verse, we must explore its place within the narrative of 1 Samuel, the characters involved, the cultural practices it reflects, and the theological implications of God’s role in Hannah’s barrenness. This verse, though brief, sets the stage for the profound story of Hannah’s faith, God’s intervention, and the birth of Samuel, one of Israel’s greatest prophets.

The verse occurs within the opening chapter of 1 Samuel, which introduces the family of Elkanah, a Levite from the hill country of Ephraim, who has two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. The narrative focuses on the annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, where Elkanah’s family goes to worship and offer sacrifices at the sanctuary of the Lord. This context is critical, as it situates the story in a time of religious and moral decline in Israel, during the late period of the judges, when “everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25). The verse’s focus on Hannah, Elkanah’s beloved but barren wife, and the actions of her husband highlight both personal and spiritual tensions that will drive the narrative forward.

The phrase “to Hannah he gave a double portion” refers to Elkanah’s distribution of sacrificial portions during the family’s worship at Shiloh. In ancient Israel, communal meals following sacrifices were significant acts of fellowship and thanksgiving, with portions of the sacrificed animal distributed among family members (Deuteronomy 12:17–18). The “double portion” (Hebrew: ’appayim, literally “two faces” or “a double amount”) suggests that Elkanah gave Hannah a particularly generous share, possibly equivalent to what would be given to two people or a portion of special honor. This act stands out in a polygamous household where favoritism could exacerbate tensions, as seen in Peninnah’s provocation of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:6). Elkanah’s decision to give Hannah a double portion reflects his deep affection for her, as the text explicitly states, “because he loved her.” This detail humanizes Elkanah, portraying him as a compassionate husband who seeks to comfort Hannah in her distress, even if his actions cannot fully alleviate her pain.

The cultural context of polygamy in ancient Israel is essential for understanding the dynamics at play. While polygamy was practiced, it often led to rivalry and emotional strain, as seen in earlier biblical narratives like Sarah and Hagar (Genesis 16) or Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29–30). Hannah’s barrenness, contrasted with Peninnah’s fertility, places her in a vulnerable position, as childlessness in ancient Near Eastern culture was often seen as a source of shame and a sign of divine disfavor. Elkanah’s love for Hannah and his gesture of giving her a double portion can be seen as an attempt to affirm her worth and status within the family, countering the cultural stigma she faced. However, the text also hints at the limitations of human efforts to address deep-seated pain, as Elkanah’s love and generosity cannot fully assuage Hannah’s longing for a child, nor do they shield her from Peninnah’s taunts.

The latter part of the verse, “and the LORD had closed her womb,” introduces a profound theological dimension. In biblical thought, fertility and barrenness were often attributed to divine action (Genesis 20:18; 30:2). The statement that the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb is not merely a biological observation but a theological assertion of God’s sovereignty over life. This phrase sets up the tension that drives the narrative: Hannah’s suffering is not random but under God’s control, yet it is also the source of her anguish. The text does not explain why God closed her womb, but this detail underscores the biblical theme that God works through human weakness and suffering to accomplish His purposes. Hannah’s barrenness, like that of Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel before her, becomes a backdrop for divine intervention, as God will eventually open her womb in response to her faith and prayer (1 Samuel 1:19–20).

The juxtaposition of Elkanah’s love and God’s sovereignty in this verse creates a poignant contrast. Elkanah’s human love, expressed through the double portion, is genuine but limited in its ability to resolve Hannah’s deepest pain. In contrast, God’s sovereign act of closing her womb, while initially a source of suffering, sets the stage for a miraculous demonstration of His power and grace. This tension reflects a broader biblical theme: human efforts, while meaningful, are ultimately insufficient without divine action. Hannah’s story will unfold as a testament to the power of prayer and trust in God, as her eventual conception of Samuel points to God’s ability to bring life out of barrenness and hope out of despair.

Theologically, the verse invites reflection on the mystery of divine providence. The statement that the Lord closed Hannah’s womb raises questions about why God allows suffering, particularly for those who are faithful. While the text does not provide a direct answer, the broader narrative suggests that God’s purposes are often hidden and unfold over time. Hannah’s barrenness, though painful, becomes the catalyst for her fervent prayer and vow (1 Samuel 1:10–11), which lead to the birth of Samuel, a pivotal figure in Israel’s history who will anoint its first kings and guide the nation through a critical transition. This perspective aligns with the biblical pattern where God uses periods of waiting and trial to prepare His people for greater purposes (e.g., Joseph in Genesis 37–50; Israel in the wilderness).

In the broader canonical context, 1 Samuel 1:5 resonates with New Testament themes of God’s sovereignty and grace in human weakness. Hannah’s faith and eventual deliverance prefigure the experiences of figures like Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, whose barrenness was also reversed by God’s intervention (Luke 1:5–25). The verse also points to the sufficiency of God’s grace, as Paul later articulates, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Hannah’s story, beginning with the pain and love captured in this verse, becomes a powerful testimony to God’s ability to transform suffering into blessing.

In conclusion, 1 Samuel 1:5 is a compact yet profound verse that encapsulates the emotional, cultural, and theological complexities of Hannah’s story. It portrays Elkanah’s love and compassion, the cultural challenges of barrenness in a polygamous household, and the mysterious sovereignty of God in human affairs. The verse sets the stage for Hannah’s journey from despair to faith, highlighting the interplay between human love and divine purpose. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that God’s closing of Hannah’s womb is not an act of cruelty but part of a larger plan to bring forth Samuel, whose life will shape Israel’s future. This verse, therefore, invites readers to trust in God’s sovereignty, even in moments of pain, and to recognize that His purposes often unfold through the very circumstances that seem most hopeless.

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Grace and peace to you, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As I reflect upon the living and enduring Word of God, my heart is stirred to write to you concerning a truth found in the story of Hannah, recorded in the first chapter of the book of Samuel. The verse I would bring to your attention today is this: *“But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb”* (1 Samuel 1:5).

Here we encounter a scene charged with both tenderness and pain. Elkanah, a husband who dearly loved his wife Hannah, gave her a special portion at the sacrificial meal, an outward sign of his affection and esteem. Yet, though favored by her husband, Hannah’s heart was burdened with longing and unfulfilled hope—for the Lord had closed her womb.

Beloved, there is a profound mystery here that speaks to us still. Many among you walk in the tension between divine favor and present hardship. You know what it is to be loved and yet unfulfilled; to be chosen and yet waiting; to receive kindness from others while silently carrying the ache of unanswered prayers.

It is vital to grasp that Hannah’s barrenness was not a sign of divine rejection. Scripture says plainly that *“the Lord had closed her womb.”* We must learn to distinguish between the discipline of the Lord and His mysterious providence. Not all trials come to chasten; some come to prepare. Not all delays are denials; some delays are divine appointments, shaping us for what is yet to come.

Hannah’s portion at the table did not erase her sorrow, nor did it fill the emptiness within her. And so it is with many of us. No earthly blessing can satisfy the deepest longings of the soul that is waiting for God’s answer. Yet the double portion is itself a testimony: that we are loved, even as we wait.

You, who are waiting on the Lord—for healing, for reconciliation, for provision, for fruitfulness—know this: His love toward you has not wavered. Though your current season may appear barren, though your prayers seem to return unanswered, the eyes of the Lord are upon you. He sees. He remembers.

Hannah did not cease to pray. Neither must you. Out of her anguish, she poured her soul before the Lord, not with pretense, but with raw honesty. The Lord honored her persistence. In time, He opened her womb, and Samuel—whose name means *“asked of God”*—became a living testimony that God hears and responds.

Take courage, therefore, dear brothers and sisters. There are seasons when the Lord’s love is manifest not in the immediacy of answers but in the sustaining grace that carries us through long waits. The double portion given to Hannah reminds us that God’s favor is upon us even when His timing remains hidden.

Do not let comparison steal your joy. Peninnah, Hannah’s rival, provoked her sorely. There will always be voices—sometimes external, sometimes internal—that seek to magnify your lack and diminish your worth. But your portion comes from the Lord, not from the opinions of others. Rest in His love.

I exhort you: bring your grief to the Lord as Hannah did. We do not serve a God who is indifferent to our tears. The psalmist declares that He *“puts my tears in His bottle”* (Psalm 56:8). Your cries are heard; your waiting is not wasted.

Finally, when the Lord answers—as He surely will, in His perfect wisdom and timing—do not forget to return and give Him praise. Hannah did not cling to the gift; she dedicated Samuel to the Lord. So too, when your prayers are answered, let your thanksgiving be as fervent as your petition. Remember always that the Giver is greater than the gift.

May the peace of Christ guard your hearts as you wait. May the grace of the Holy Spirit strengthen you to persevere. And may the love of the Father be your portion, sufficient for every day, until your joy is made full.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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O God of all grace, Sovereign Lord over heaven and earth, whose love endures forever and whose purposes unfold through the tapestry of human lives, we approach Your throne with reverence and awe, seeking Your face and the comfort of Your Spirit. You have spoken through Your Word, revealing Your heart in the story of Hannah, as recorded in 1 Samuel, chapter one, verse five: “But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.” In these words, we see the tender interplay of human love and divine providence, the pain of unfulfilled longing, and the mystery of Your sovereign will. We lift our hearts to You, O Lord, pleading for Your mercy, trusting in Your wisdom, and asking that You draw us near to Your heart, that we may rest in Your love and find hope in Your unchanging purposes.

You, O God, are the giver of every good and perfect gift, the One who knows the desires of our hearts before we speak them. In Hannah’s story, we see a woman beloved yet burdened, cherished by her husband Elkanah, who gave her a double portion, yet marked by the sorrow of a barren womb, a grief deepened by Your sovereign hand. We marvel at Your ways, for You are a God who sees the tears of the afflicted, who hears the cries of the brokenhearted, and who works all things for the good of those who love You. We confess, O Lord, that we often struggle to understand Your purposes when our longings go unmet, when our prayers seem unanswered, when our hearts ache under the weight of unfulfilled hopes. Like Hannah, we stand in the tension of human love and divine delay, yet we cling to the truth that Your love is steadfast, Your wisdom unsearchable, and Your plans perfect.

Forgive us, merciful Father, for the times we have doubted Your goodness in the face of disappointment, for the moments we have allowed bitterness to cloud our trust or envy to poison our hearts. Hannah’s pain was real, yet she did not turn from You; her sorrow was deep, yet she poured out her soul before Your altar. Teach us, we pray, to bring our burdens to You, to lay our longings at Your feet, to trust that even when You close a door, Your love remains. You are the God who closed Hannah’s womb yet opened the way for Your redemptive plan, bringing forth Samuel, a prophet for Your people, through her faithfulness. Let this truth anchor us, that Your delays are not denials, Your silence not absence, but a preparation for the unfolding of Your glory in ways we cannot yet see.

Holy Spirit, You who intercede with groans too deep for words, comfort those among us who carry the ache of unfulfilled desires. For those longing for children, provision, healing, or reconciliation, draw near with Your peace that surpasses understanding. Where hearts are weary from waiting, renew their strength, that they may mount up with wings like eagles. Where hope has dimmed, rekindle the flame of faith, that they may see Your hand even in the shadows. Like Elkanah, who loved Hannah with a double portion despite her barrenness, let us love one another with a love that mirrors Your own—generous, steadfast, and unconditioned by circumstances. May our care for one another reflect Your heart, offering compassion to the hurting, encouragement to the weary, and hope to the despairing.

We pray for Your church, the body of Christ, called to be a sanctuary of grace in a world of pain. May we be a people who walk with the broken, who weep with those who weep, who bear one another’s burdens in love. Let us not judge the worth of others by what they possess or lack, but see them as You see them—beloved, created in Your image, destined for Your purposes. Raise up among us those who, like Hannah, will pour out their souls in prayer, trusting You in the midst of sorrow, and offering their lives as a sacrifice of praise. May our communities be places where the afflicted find solace, where the barren find belonging, where the hurting find hope, all because we point them to You, the God who sees and provides.

O God of all hope, we rest in the promise of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who entered our pain, bore our sorrows, and opened the way to eternal life. In Him, we see Your love made manifest, Your purposes fulfilled, Your kingdom revealed. Hannah’s story points us to the greater story of redemption, where You turn mourning into joy, barrenness into fruitfulness, and death into life. Let this hope sustain us, that no matter the trials we face, no matter the longings that linger, You are working all things together for our good and Your glory. May our hearts, like Hannah’s, be poured out before You, trusting that You are the God who hears, who loves, who answers in Your perfect time.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.