1 Samuel 1:2

Elkanah and His Wives · 1 Samuel 1:1–8
Read 1 Samuel 1

Translations

Modern
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
Traditional
And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
Literal
And to him were two wives: The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the second Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, and Hannah had no children.
Latin
…et habuit duas uxores, nomen uni Anna, et nomen secundæ Phenenna. Fueruntque Phenennæ filii: Annæ autem non erant liberi.

Original

Hebrew
English
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

Notes

In the Bible, when a man married two wives at the same time, it often led to serious conflict (1 Samuel 1:6–7; Genesis 16; 21; 29).

Theme notes and profiles

Infertility The Priestly Blessing

Parallels

Psalm 113:1–9

People

Hannah: The mother of the prophet Samuel Peninnah: Elkanah's wife, rival of Hannah

Glossary

Eli Elkanah Hannah Joshua, Book of Peninnah Phinehas Rathamin Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Hannah: Her Trials and Prayer, and Promise Peninnah: One of the Wives of Elkanah Polygamy: Elkanah Polygamy: Tolerated Waiting Upon God: Hannah