Bible Characters
Hannah, Mother of Samuel: The Mother's Prayer That Became a Model (+Quiz)
Tears at the Tabernacle, a vow fulfilled, and a song of thanksgiving.
Hannah, the mother of Samuel the prophet, gave the world the model of prayer - prayer from the heart, whispered, out of pain and faith. Her story, which opens the Book of First Samuel, is one of the most moving in Bible quizzes.
▶ Play now: the Hannah quiz — 50 questions per level
The Barren Mother
Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, was beloved but barren, while Peninnah tormented her. Year after year she went up to the Tabernacle in Shiloh, her heart aching - "but Hannah had no children."
The Silent Prayer
In the Tabernacle Hannah poured out her heart in prayer - her lips moving but her voice not heard. Eli the priest thought she was drunk, but she answered: "I am a woman of sorrowful spirit... I have poured out my soul before the Lord." From this the sages derived the laws of prayer.
The Vow
Hannah made a vow: if she were given a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord all his days, and no razor would come upon his head. Her prayer was answered - "and the Lord remembered her."
The Birth of Samuel
A son was born, and Hannah named him Samuel - "because I asked him of the Lord." When he was weaned, she fulfilled her vow and brought him to Eli at the Tabernacle: "I have lent him to the Lord all his days."
The Song of Hannah
As she brought her son, Hannah sang a sublime song of thanksgiving: "My heart rejoices in the Lord... there is none holy like the Lord." The song praises the Lord who raises up the poor and humbles the proud - and it is read as the haftarah alongside the story of Hannah.
The Legacy of Prayer
Hannah did not only merit a son - she gave rise to a prophet who anointed kings, and in effect gave rise to the very form of Jewish prayer. Her figure is a symbol of the power of sincere prayer and of giving.
Play the Hannah quiz
Bible Quiz now has a dedicated Hannah quiz — real questions from the bank across five difficulty levels, 50 questions per level, from the easy questions up to the "Super-Rabbi" level with exact verses and numbers. You can also reach it from the character area or the game screen, via the "by hero" button.
FAQ
Who was Hannah?
The wife of Elkanah and mother of Samuel the prophet, who prayed at the Tabernacle in Shiloh after years of barrenness.
Why did Eli think Hannah was drunk?
Because she prayed in her heart - her lips moving but her voice not heard - a new form of prayer.
What did Hannah vow?
That if she were given a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord all his days.
Why is Hannah considered a model of prayer?
The sages derived many laws of heartfelt prayer from her silent prayer.