And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

1 SAMUEL 1:10KJV
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1 Samuel 1:10 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 1:10 mean?

1 Samuel 1:10 describes Hannah as deeply troubled in her spirit, pouring out her heart in prayer to the LORD and crying intensely. The verse shows the depth of her emotional pain and her earnestness as she seeks help from God.

In this scene, Hannah is at the tabernacle in Shiloh, silently praying because she is unable to have children and feels great sorrow. The verse highlights her "bitterness of soul," meaning a deep inner anguish, and shows that her prayer is not casual but comes from a place of real suffering and longing. This moment sets the stage for the story of Samuel’s birth and God’s response to heartfelt prayer.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 1:10

  • The word for "bitterness" is מָרָה (marah), often understood as intense grief or distress, not just mild sadness. This emphasizes how deeply Hannah is hurting.
  • "Soul" is נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh), which refers to the whole inner being or life of a person. Hannah’s pain is not just physical or emotional, but reaches the core of who she is.
  • "Prayed" is פָּלַל (palal), which means to intercede or plead earnestly. Hannah’s prayer is active and intense, not a routine or formal recitation.
  • "Wept" is בָּכָה (bakah), meaning to cry or sob, and the repetition ("wept sore") underlines the strength of her emotion.

Why 1 Samuel 1:10 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that biblical prayer is always calm or formal; it shows that God hears prayers that come from deep pain and honesty.
  • The focus on Hannah’s inner struggle helps readers understand the seriousness of her situation and the significance of her later vow and God’s answer.
  • The verse connects Hannah’s personal suffering to the larger story of Israel, as her prayer leads to the birth of Samuel, a key figure in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“bitterness” Hebrew H4751 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 27:34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
  • 2 Samuel 17:8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
  • Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

“prayed” Hebrew H6419 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
  • 2 Kings 4:33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
  • Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

“wept” Hebrew H1058 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
  • Esther 8:3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.