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People of the Bible
Who Was Hannah?
In short
Hannah was a woman who longed for a child and, in deep grief, poured out her heart to God in the temple, so earnestly that the priest thought she was drunk.
God answered her prayer with a son, Samuel, whom she gave back to the Lord's service. Her prayer of praise is one of the great songs of Scripture.
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him”
1 Samuel 1:27 · King James Version (public domain)
Hannah at a glance
| Name | Hannah |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | 1 Samuel |
| Key passage on this page | 1 Samuel 1:27 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 7 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Scripture explains Scripture. These passages are linked to this one most often by readers.
- 1 John 5:15
- Psalms 118:5
- Matthew 7:7
- Psalms 66:19-20
- 1 Samuel 1:11-13
- Psalms 6:9
- Psalms 116:1-5
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Hannah in the Bible?
Hannah appears in 1 Samuel. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside 1 Samuel 1:27?
Readers most often set it next to 1 John 5:15, Psalms 118:5, Matthew 7:7, Psalms 66:19-20.
Why does Hannah matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Hannah is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Jesus, our Shepherd, nothing about Hannah is hidden from you. We bring you Hannah, 1 Samuel. Let your Body in that place love one another and be one. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Read the key passage, 1 Samuel 1:27, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Hannah's story says about God, not only about Hannah.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read the story of Hannah
You can read the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
