1 Samuel 2:5

Translations

Modern

The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.

Traditional

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

Literal

The satisfied have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased. Even The barren woman has borne seven, and she who has many sons has languished.

Latin

Repleti prius, pro panibus se locaverunt: et famelici saturati sunt, donec sterilis peperit plurimos: et quæ multos habebat filios, infirmata est.

Original

Hebrew

English

The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.

Notes

1 Samuel 2:5

Those who were hungry now have enough to eat (see 1 Samuel 1:7, 18).
The phrase seven children poetically means that a woman without children would be blessed with a home full of children (see 1 Samuel 2:21).

1 Samuel 2:4–8

Hannah celebrated God's power to completely change people's situations.

1 Samuel 2:1–10

Hannah’s Prayer of Praise celebrates Samuel's dedication to serving God. It highlights God's:

Uniqueness (1 Samuel 2:1–2)
Power to change fortunes (1 Samuel 2:3–9)
Ability to strengthen his chosen king (1 Samuel 2:10)

Like Mary’s Song of Praise in Luke 1:46–55, Hannah’s prayer emphasizes God bringing down the rich and powerful and lifting up the poor and oppressed (1 Samuel 2:7–8; Luke 1:52–53). David’s prayer in 2 Samuel 22 is another beautiful statement of God’s saving power for his chosen king (1 Samuel 2:10). God will bring down the rich, unrighteous rulers (like Eli, Saul, or Herod). Leaders who follow God's will like Samuel, David or Jesus will be lifted up to a higher position or status.

Theme notes and profiles

Samuel Infertility The Priestly Blessing

Related verses

Luke 1:53
He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
Jeremiah 15:9
The mother of seven will grow faint; she will breathe her last breath. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. And the rest I will put to the sword in the presence of their enemies,” declares the LORD.
Psalm 113:9
He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Psalm 34:10
Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
1 Samuel 1:6
Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her.
Luke 16:25
But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
Isaiah 54:1
“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.
1 Samuel 1:20
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
Galatians 4:27
For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”

1 Samuel 2:5

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