And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
1 SAMUEL 1:19KJVWhat does 1 Samuel 1:19 mean?
1 Samuel 1:19 describes how Elkanah and Hannah, after worshipping God early in the morning, returned home to Ramah. There, Elkanah had marital relations with Hannah, and the Lord remembered her, signaling that God was about to answer her prayer for a child.
This verse is set after Hannah’s heartfelt prayer at the tabernacle in Shiloh, where she asked God for a son. The verse marks the turning point in Hannah’s story: she and her husband resume their normal life, and the phrase “the LORD remembered her” means God took notice of her situation and was about to act on her behalf.
The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 1:19
- “Worshipped” (שָׁחָה, shachah): This word means to bow down or prostrate oneself in reverence. Here, it shows that Elkanah and Hannah’s worship was not just routine but involved deep respect and humility before God.
- “Knew” (יָדַע, yada): In this context, “knew” is a common Hebrew way of describing sexual relations between husband and wife. It emphasizes the personal and intimate nature of their relationship.
- “Remembered” (זָכַר, zakar): When the text says “the LORD remembered her,” it does not mean God had forgotten Hannah. Instead, it is a Hebrew way of saying God chose to act kindly toward her, responding to her prayer.
Why 1 Samuel 1:19 matters
- This verse clarifies that Hannah’s prayer was not answered instantly but after she returned home and resumed her daily life, showing that God’s timing can be different from human expectations.
- The phrase “the LORD remembered her” connects directly to Hannah’s earlier distress and prayer, highlighting God’s faithfulness to those who seek Him sincerely.
- The verse sets up the birth of Samuel, a pivotal figure in Israel’s history, and shows how personal faithfulness and God’s intervention can shape larger events.