Who Was Hannah in the Bible — In Biblical Context
Hannah was a barren woman who wept and prayed so fervently for a son that she was mistaken for drunk. God answered her prayer with Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord's service — and he became one of Israel's greatest prophets.
Hannah was a barren woman who wept and prayed so fervently for a son that she was mistaken for drunk. God answered her prayer with Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord's service — and he became one of Israel's greatest prophets.
"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition... I have lent him to the LORD." — 1 Samuel 1:27-28 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Hannah's story is told in 1 Samuel 1-2. She was married to Elkanah, who loved her, but she was barren while his other wife Peninnah had children and 'provoked her sore, for to make her fret' (1:6). Hannah was 'in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore' (1:10). Her silent, fervent prayer was so intense that Eli the priest thought she was drunk (1:13). She vowed, 'If thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me... but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life' (1:11). God remembered Hannah, and Samuel was born (1:20). True to her vow, after weaning him she brought Samuel to the tabernacle: 'For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD' (1:27-28). Hannah's prayer of praise (2:1-10) foreshadows Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). God blessed Hannah with five more children (2:21). Her story demonstrates that desperate prayer moves God's heart, and that our greatest gifts — even our children — belong to Him.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, 1 Samuel 1:27-28, sits inside 1 Samuel 1. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition... I have lent him to the LORD."
Supporting Passages
"She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore."
"My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD."
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