1 samuel 1:16 - Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 1:16

What does "1 samuel 1:16" mean?


This verse is part of Hannah's response to Eli, the priest, when he sees her praying silently and assumes she is drunk. Let's break it down:

"Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman..." Hannah is pleading with Eli not to judge her harshly. She is trying to defend her character and reputation, insisting she's not a woman of ill repute or moral failing.

"...for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.” This is the key to understanding her behavior. She explains the intense emotions driving her prayer:

"Complaint": This refers to her sorrow, grief, and the deep pain of being barren.
"Provocation": This likely alludes to the torment she faced from Peninnah, her husband's other wife, who taunted her about her inability to have children.

In essence, Hannah is saying: "Please don't think I'm drunk or immoral. My intense prayers are a result of the overwhelming pain and distress I'm experiencing due to my barrenness and the constant taunting I endure."

Meaning and Significance:

Honest Expression of Pain: The verse emphasizes that Hannah's fervent prayer stemmed from genuine suffering. She wasn't trying to be disrespectful, but rather she was pouring out her heart to God because of her deep distress.
Misjudgment: It highlights the potential for misjudgment based on outward appearances. Eli initially assumed the worst, but Hannah clarified the true source of her behavior.
Emotional Overflow: The "abundance" suggests the sheer volume of emotions that Hannah was carrying. Her prayer was an overflow of her pent-up pain.
Biblical Example of Prayer: This passage exemplifies how one can pour out their heart to God in times of distress, even if it appears unconventional to others.

In conclusion, the verse is Hannah's plea for understanding and forgiveness, explaining that her seemingly strange behavior in prayer was a direct result of her intense pain and suffering, not wickedness or drunkenness.