English Standard Version

New King James Version

The Birth of Samuel

There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.

1

The Family of Elkanah

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of [a]Elihu, the son of [b]Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2

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.

2

And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3

Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.

3

This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

4

On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.

4

And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.

5

But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.a

5

But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.

6

And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.

6

And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb.

7

So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

7

So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.

8

And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

8

Hannah’s Vow

Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.

9

So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the [c]tabernacle of the Lord.

10

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

10

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and [d]wept in anguish.

11

And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

11

Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

12

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

12

And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.

13

Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.

13

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

14

And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”

14

So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”

15

But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.

15

But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

16

Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”

16

Do not consider your maidservant a wicked[e] woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”

17

Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”

17

Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”

18

And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

18

And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

19

Samuel Is Born and Dedicated

Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

20

And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”b

20

So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name [f]Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”

21

Samuel Given to the Lord

The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.

21

Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow.

22

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.”

22

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.”

23

Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

23

So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord [g]establish [h]His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,c an ephahd of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young.

24

Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with [i]three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.

25

Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.

25

Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli.

26

And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord.

26

And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord.

27

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.

27

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.

28

Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”
And he worshiped the Lord there.

28

Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be [j]lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.

Parallel

English Standard Version

New King James Version

1 Samuel 1

1 Samuel 1