1 Samuel 1:10

10 She [was] {deeply troubled},^[a] so she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly.

1 Samuel 1:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 1:10

And she was in bitterness of soul
Because of her barrenness, and the taunts and reflections she had met with on that account; her life was bitter to her, she could take no pleasure in any of the comforts of it:

and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore;
her prayer was with strong crying and tears; it was very fervent and affectionate; she prayed most vehemently, and wept bitterly. This perhaps was about the time of the evening sacrifice, about three or four o'clock in the afternoon; seeing it was after dinner that she arose up and went to prayer in the house of God, at the door of the tabernacle, or near it, as it should seem by the notice Eli took of her, who sat there.

1 Samuel 1:10 In-Context

8 So Elkanah her husband would say to her: "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat? And {why are you heartsick}? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

9 Then Hannah got up after eating and drinking at Shiloh. (Now Eli the priest [was] sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh.)

10 She [was] {deeply troubled}, so she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly.

11 She {made a vow} and said: "O Yahweh of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the misery of your female servant, and will remember me, and not forget your female servant, and will give to your female servant {a male child} then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor will never pass over his head."

12 {While} she continued to pray before Yahweh, Eli was observing her mouth.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "bitter of soul"