The Meaning of 1 Samuel 1:5 Explained

1 Samuel 1:5

KJV: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

YLT: and to Hannah he giveth a certain portion -- double, for he hath loved Hannah, and Jehovah hath shut her womb;

Darby: but to Hannah he used to give a double portion, for he loved Hannah; but Jehovah had shut up her womb.

ASV: but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But unto Hannah  he gave  a  worthy  portion;  for he loved  Hannah:  but the LORD  had shut up  her womb. 

What does 1 Samuel 1:5 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 1:1-11 - Hannah's Prayer And Vow
Elkanah was evidently a kind husband to Hannah; but marriage had suffered from the general relaxation of morals, and the bitter effects of polygamy are illustrated here. Because Hannah was specially loved, Peninnah hated her.
The grief of the childless wife drove Hannah to God. There she found her only resource. When the heart is nigh to breaking, what else can we do than pour out our complaint before the One who is ever ready to hear our cry? We may trust God with our secrets; He will keep sacred our confidence. Elkanah's love may go a long way, but we have for the most part to tread the wine-press alone. After we have eaten and drunk before our friends, "anointing our head and washing our face," that they may not guess what is happening within, we must have a spot where we can unbend and open the sluice-gates of grief. And what place is so good as the Mercy-Seat? We need not vow our vows to bribe God to help us. The gifts of His love are more blessed for Him to give than for us to receive. But out of love we can vow what we will. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 1

1  Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worships yearly at Shiloh
4  He cherishes Hannah, though barren, and provoked by Peninnah
9  Hannah in grief prays for a child
12  Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesses her
19  Hannah, having born Samuel, stays at home till he is weaned
24  She presents him, according to her vow, to the Lord

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 1:5 mean?

but to Hannah he would give portion a double for - Hannah he loved although Yahweh had closed her womb
וּלְחַנָּ֕ה יִתֵּ֛ן מָנָ֥ה אַחַ֖ת אַפָּ֑יִם כִּ֤י אֶת־ חַנָּה֙ אָהֵ֔ב וַֽיהוָ֖ה סָגַ֥ר רַחְמָֽהּ

וּלְחַנָּ֕ה  but  to  Hannah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַנָּה  
Sense: the mother of Samuel, one of the wives of Elkanah.
יִתֵּ֛ן  he  would  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
מָנָ֥ה  portion 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מָנָה  
Sense: part, portion.
אַפָּ֑יִם  double 
Parse: Noun, md
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
חַנָּה֙  Hannah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַנָּה  
Sense: the mother of Samuel, one of the wives of Elkanah.
אָהֵ֔ב  he  loved 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
וַֽיהוָ֖ה  although  Yahweh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
סָגַ֥ר  had  closed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָגוּר 
Sense: to shut, close.
רַחְמָֽהּ  her  womb 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: רֶחֶם  
Sense: womb.