1 samuel 1:15 - Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 1:15

What does "1 samuel 1:15" mean?


This verse from 1 Samuel 1:15 reveals a crucial moment in Hannah's story, and it's packed with meaning:

"Hannah answered, 'No, my lord...": Hannah is responding to Eli the priest. He had observed her praying silently but with great emotion and had assumed she was drunk. This shows Hannah's respect for authority, even though she is deeply distressed and wrongly accused.

"...I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit...": This is the core of the verse. Hannah is describing her inner state. "Sorrowful spirit" signifies deep sadness, grief, and pain. Her barrenness, the inability to conceive a child, was a source of profound anguish in that time and culture. It carried social stigma and a feeling of personal inadequacy.

"...I have not been drinking wine or strong drink...": She is directly refuting Eli's accusation. She is sober and in full control of her faculties. This is important because it emphasizes that her emotional display is not due to intoxication but to the intensity of her heartfelt prayer.

"...but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.": This is the most powerful and significant part of the verse. "Pouring out her soul" means she was completely vulnerable and honest in her prayer. She was expressing the full extent of her emotions – her pain, her longing, her desperation – to God. This suggests a deep and personal relationship with God. The phrase "before Yahweh" reinforces that her prayer was directed to God by name, a covenant name indicating a special relationship.

In summary, the verse reveals:

Hannah's deep sorrow and anguish over her barrenness.
Her piety and respect for authority, even when wrongly accused.
The depth of her personal connection with God, evident in her heartfelt and vulnerable prayer.
Her honesty and transparency in expressing her emotions to God.

It's a pivotal moment in the narrative because it shows Hannah's sincerity and the intensity of her desire for a child, which ultimately leads to God answering her prayer. It also highlights the importance of honest, vulnerable prayer in communicating with God.

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