Hannah's Prayer for a Son
A barren woman pours out her heart to God in desperate prayer, vowing to dedicate her child to God's service. God hears, and Samuel is born.
1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-11
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The Story
In the hill country of Ephraim lived a man named Elkanah. He had two wives: Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, who had none. Year after year, the family traveled to Shiloh to worship at the tabernacle. And year after year, Peninnah taunted Hannah for her barrenness until Hannah wept and could not eat.
Elkanah tried to comfort her. 'Hannah, why are you weeping? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?' But his words could not ease the ache of her empty arms or the shame of her condition in a culture that measured a woman's worth by her children.
One year at Shiloh, Hannah went to the tabernacle in deep anguish. There, in the presence of God, she wept bitterly and prayed. Not a casual prayer, but a desperate outpouring of her soul. Her lips moved but no sound came forth—so fervent was her prayer that Eli the priest thought she was drunk.
'Not so, my lord,' Hannah explained. 'I am a woman deeply troubled. I have been pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.'
In her prayer, Hannah had made a vow: 'Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.'
This was no small promise. Hannah was asking for a son—but pledging to give him back, dedicating him as a Nazirite to serve in God's house. She wanted a child not merely for her own comfort, but to offer him completely to God's purposes.
Eli blessed her: 'Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.'
Something changed in Hannah. 'She went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.' Before the answer came, faith had already brought peace.
In time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, meaning 'heard by God,' for she said, 'I asked the Lord for him.' The barren woman's prayer had reached heaven.
But Hannah did not forget her vow. When Samuel was weaned—perhaps three years old—she took him to Shiloh. With the boy beside her, she found Eli: 'As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.'
Can you imagine the sacrifice? The child she had longed for, wept for, prayed for—she brought him back and left him at the tabernacle. She would see him only once a year when the family came to worship.
But Hannah's heart overflowed not with grief but with praise. Her prayer of thanksgiving rings through Scripture: 'My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you. The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.'
Hannah had learned what few know: the secret of surrender brings the greatest joy. Each year she came to Shiloh bringing a little robe she had made for Samuel. And God blessed her abundantly—she bore three more sons and two daughters. The woman who gave her first and best to God received back far more than she had sacrificed.
Young Samuel stayed in Shiloh, ministering before the Lord under Eli's care. The boy who was born from desperate prayer would become Israel's greatest prophet, the one who would anoint kings and turn a nation back to God. His life began with a mother's faithful prayer and a promise kept.
Hannah Prays for Baby Samuel
Kids Version
Hannah was very, very sad. She wanted a baby so much, but she didn't have any children. Her husband Elkanah loved her, but that didn't take away her sadness.
Every year, Hannah's family went to God's special tent in Shiloh to worship. One year, Hannah went to pray. She was crying so hard! She prayed, 'God, if you give me a baby boy, I promise to let him serve you all his life.'
Hannah prayed so hard that her lips were moving but no sound came out! The priest Eli thought something was wrong with her. But Hannah said, 'No, I'm just praying really, really hard to God!'
Eli said, 'May God give you what you asked for!'
Guess what? God heard Hannah's prayer! She had a baby boy! She was SO happy! She named him Samuel, which means 'God heard me.'
Hannah loved baby Samuel so much. When Samuel was still a little boy, Hannah remembered her promise to God. Even though it was hard, she took Samuel to live at God's tent with Eli the priest.
Hannah said to Eli, 'I prayed for this child, and God gave him to me. So now I'm giving him back to God. He will serve God his whole life!'
Hannah sang a beautiful song praising God! She was happy because she kept her promise. She visited Samuel every year and brought him a new coat she made.
And guess what? God blessed Hannah with MORE children—three more boys and two girls! God gave Hannah even more than she asked for!
Samuel grew up serving God, and he became one of the most important prophets ever!
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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 for a Son” in the Bible?
A barren woman pours out her heart to God in desperate prayer, vowing to dedicate her child to God's service. God hears, and Samuel is born. This story is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-11.
Where is “Hannah's Prayer for a Son” found in the Bible?
“Hannah's Prayer for a Son” is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-11, in the book of 1 Samuel.
What can children learn from “Hannah's Prayer for a Son”?
This story teaches children about Prayer, Faithfulness, Dedication, God's faithfulness, Answered prayer. Hannah was very sad because she didn't have any children. She prayed and prayed to God. God gave her a baby boy named Samuel!