Hannah's Prayer
A barren woman prays desperately for a child, promising to dedicate him to God. God answers, and Samuel is born.
1 Samuel 1:1-28
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The Story
There was a man named Elkanah who had two wives: Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Year after year, when the family went up to worship at Shiloh, Peninnah would provoke Hannah and irritate her because of her barrenness. Hannah wept and would not eat.
One year at Shiloh, Hannah rose after they had eaten and stood before the Lord in bitterness of soul, weeping much. She made a vow: 'Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, if you will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.'
As she kept praying, her lips moved but no sound came out. Eli the priest, watching from his seat by the doorpost, thought she was drunk. 'How long will you keep getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.'
'Not so, my lord,' Hannah replied. 'I am a woman deeply troubled. I have not been drinking. I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. I have been praying out of my great anguish and grief.'
Eli answered, 'Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant what you have asked.'
Hannah went her way, ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. She believed.
In the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I asked the Lord for him.'
When the boy was weaned, Hannah took him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 'I prayed for this child,' she told Eli, 'and the Lord has granted what I asked. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.'
Hannah worshipped the Lord there, then went home, leaving her precious son to serve in the temple. Her prayer of dedication became one of the most beautiful songs in Scripture, later echoed by Mary the mother of Jesus.
Hannah's Special Prayer
Kids Version
Hannah was very, very sad. She wanted a baby SO much, but she couldn't have one. Every year when her family went to worship God, she would cry and cry.
One day, Hannah was so sad she couldn't even eat. She went to God's house and prayed. She prayed SO hard—her lips were moving, but no sound came out. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
'God, please, PLEASE give me a baby boy! If You do, I promise—I'll give him back to You. He'll serve You his whole life!'
The priest Eli saw her crying and thought something was wrong. Hannah explained, 'I'm not drunk. I'm just SO sad. I'm pouring my heart out to God.'
Eli said kindly, 'Go in peace. May God give you what you asked for.'
Something changed in Hannah's heart. She believed God heard her. She ate dinner and wasn't sad anymore.
And guess what? God answered her prayer! Hannah had a baby boy! She named him Samuel, which sounds like the Hebrew words for 'asked of God.'
Hannah loved Samuel so much. But she remembered her promise. When Samuel was old enough, she took him to God's house.
'I prayed for this child,' she told Eli. 'God gave him to me. Now I'm giving him back to God.'
Hannah left Samuel there to help Eli and serve God. It must have been hard! But Hannah trusted God. She visited Samuel every year and brought him a new coat she made.
God blessed Hannah with more children. And Samuel grew up to be one of the most important people in the whole Bible!
God hears our prayers, even when we're crying too hard to speak out loud.
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Characters in This Story
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Scripture — 1 Samuel 1:1-28 (KJV)
1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. yearly: Heb. from year to year
4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. worthy: or, double
6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. provoked: Heb. angered
7And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. when: or, from the time that she, etc: Heb. from her going up
8Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. in: Heb. bitter of soul
11And 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 man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. a man: Heb. seed of men
12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. continued: Heb. multiplied to pray
13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. of a sorrowful: Heb. hard of spirit
16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. complaint: or, meditation
17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
19And 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.
20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. when: Heb. in revolution of days Samuel: that is, Asked of God
21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. lent him: or, returned him, whom I have obtained by petition he shall: or, he whom I have obtained by petition shall be returned
Memory Verse
“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:”
— 1 Samuel 1:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Hannah's Prayer” in the Bible?
A barren woman prays desperately for a child, promising to dedicate him to God. God answers, and Samuel is born. This story is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-28.
Where is “Hannah's Prayer” found in the Bible?
“Hannah's Prayer” is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-28, in the book of 1 Samuel.
What can children learn from “Hannah's Prayer”?
This story teaches children about Prayer, Faithfulness, Dedication to God. Hannah wanted a baby more than anything. She prayed and cried and promised God she would give her child back to Him. God heard her prayer and gave her baby Samuel!