1 Samuel 1:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Then 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?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Elkanah tries to comfort Hannah, asking why she grieves and whether his love is not better to her than many sons.
What Does 1 Samuel 1:8 Mean?
Elkanah sees his wife's tears and reaches out with tender, if imperfect, words. He asks three gentle questions and then offers himself, wondering whether his love means more to her than ten sons would. He cannot fill the empty place in her heart, but he wants her to know she is loved.
Human comfort, however sincere, often cannot reach the bottom of another's grief. Elkanah's love is genuine, yet it does not silence Hannah's longing, and the text honors both. Sometimes those who love us most still cannot heal our deepest ache, and that very limit turns us toward the One who can. Hannah will take the sorrow her husband cannot lift and pour it out before the Lord, where every unanswerable question finds its true hearer.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 1:8
What does 1 Samuel 1:8 mean?
Elkanah tries to comfort Hannah, asking why she grieves and whether his love is not better to her than many sons.