Hannah חַנָּה
The mother of the prophet Samuel.
Who is Hannah in the Bible?
Hannah was the wife of Elkanah and mother of the prophet Samuel, whose life and ministry shaped Israel's history (1 Samuel 1:2, 20). Though barren while Elkanah's other wife had children, Hannah prayed earnestly at the tabernacle in Shiloh, vowing to dedicate any son born to her to the Lord's service (1 Samuel 1:9-11). God answered her prayer, and she gave birth to Samuel, whose name means "heard by God" (1 Samuel 1:20). After weaning him, Hannah fulfilled her vow by bringing the boy to serve under the priest Eli at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:24-28). Hannah's faithful prayer and devoted sacrifice are remembered as a model of trust in God, as her son became one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges.
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, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none."
- 1 Samuel 1:5
"But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb."
- 1 Samuel 1:8
"“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”"
- 1 Samuel 1:9
"So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD."
- 1 Samuel 1:13
"Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | חַנָּה |
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