1 Samuel 1:12

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli observed her mouth.

1 Samuel 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 1:12

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord,
&c.] Being very earnest and importunate with him to grant her request, and therefore repeated her petition, and prolonged her prayer, being unwilling to let the Lord go, until she had a promise, or some satisfaction, that she should have the thing she liked; some think she continued an hour in prayer:

that Eli marked her mouth;
observed the motion of her lips, and no doubt her distorted countenance, and uplifted eyes and hands, but chiefly the former; not knowing what the woman was at, and what could be the meaning of such motions.

1 Samuel 1:12 In-Context

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

11 And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, and remember me and not forget Thine handmaid, but wilt give unto Thine handmaid a manchild, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli observed her mouth.

13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her, "How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee."