And Elkanah … said to her: the Hebrew has a connecting word translated as And in many translations (Revised Standard Version, Nueva Biblia Española). Often the connection is left implicit in translation and the Hebrew word is not translated (so Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). But some translations find it natural to use other transition words, like “So” (Contemporary English Version).

Why is your heart sad? The Hebrew verb means “to be evil” or “to be discontented.” In Hebrew thought the heart designates the most inward part of a person, the center of one’s will and thoughts (see 16.7, which states that the LORD looks on a person’s heart).

The question Am I not more to you than ten sons? is translated literally in most versions. The exact sense, however, is not clear. Perhaps the meaning is “Am I not more devoted to you than ten sons?” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). More commonly the sense is understood to be “Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (New International Version). The number ten here, as in Gen 31.7; Num 14.22; Neh 4.6; and Job 19.3, probably has symbolic value, meaning “a large number.” Compare also Ruth 4.15. In many languages the number “ten” will convey the intended meaning. In those cases where Good News Translation or New International Version is accepted as the model, the idea may have to be expressed as “I can surely do more for you than ten sons,” since this question is a rhetorical one, which normally means the same as an emphatic statement.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

She continued praying: the word translated continued is a causative verb that means “to make many,” in the sense of doing something continually. Klein’s translation (“she multiplied her prayers”) is not good English, but it does capture the Hebrew idiom. Both Good News Translation and Bible en français courant add the words “for a long time.” Similarly Revised English Bible says “For a long time she went on praying,” and New American Bible states “she remained long at prayer.” Perhaps the context implies “for a long time,” but one may also translate the Hebrew accurately by stating simply that “she kept on praying” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version) without stating explicitly for how long. In languages that have a verb form indicating continued action, it is quite appropriate to use it here.

Before the LORD is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Hannah was of course praying to God, and many translations say “to the LORD” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible [“to Yahweh”]). But the Hebrew expression often means “in the sanctuary,” “at the sanctuary,” or even “before the covenant box.” Here the focus seems to be on where Hannah was praying, in the sanctuary at Shiloh where God was present, rather than on whom she was praying to.

Her mouth: Revised Standard Version translates literally. A different Hebrew word, which means “lips,” occurs in the next verse. In contemporary English, however, one would more naturally say here “watched her lips,” as in Good News Translation. In some languages it may be more natural to say simply “observed her” (Bible en français courant), without focusing on the specific part of the body involved.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Speaking in her heart is a literal translation of the Hebrew. In Hebrew thought the heart designates the most inward part of a person, the center of one’s will and thoughts. As the context indicates (verses 12 and 15), Hannah was praying. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says she was “praying in her heart.” But the sense of the Hebrew is not that she was praying in her heart rather than in some other part of her body, but rather that she was praying “silently” (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible) or “inwardly” (Bible en français courant). It was customary at that time for people to pray aloud. See also the similar expression in 27.1.

Instead of the conjunction and, in many languages the connecting word between only her lips moved and her voice was not heard will have to be a contrasting conjunction like “but” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), since the normal expeCritique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testamention was that sound should come out of the mouth when the lips are moving. Other versions use words like “although” (Revised English Bible) or “though” (New American Bible) to mark this contrast.

Therefore: this word introduces the logical conclusion Eli made. In the ancient world people prayed and read aloud, so Eli naturally thought Hannah was drunk, since he saw her lips moving but heard no sounds. In some languages it will be more natural to reverse the order of the elements in this verse, using a connecting word like “because.” The following rendering may serve as a model:

• Hannah was praying silently. And Eli thought she was drunk, because her lips were moving but there was no sound coming out of her mouth.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And: in some languages the common Hebrew conjunction found here may be translated as a logical transition marker such as “Therefore” or “So” (New Revised Standard Version). Eli’s reaction was in direct response to what he had observed in the behavior of Hannah. But in several modern versions (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) the conjunction is left untranslated.

Though the Hebrew is literally Eli said to her, Good News Translation substitutes the pronoun “he” in the interest of English style, rather than immediately repeating the noun (see verse 13). But in languages where “he” and “she” are translated by the same word, there may be good reason to retain the proper noun.

The question How long will you be drunken? is not to be taken in its literal sense, as if Eli were asking for information. Rather it is a plea for Hannah to stop the presumed bad habit that Eli thought was behind the behavior he had been observing. Like Good News Translation, several modern versions translate it as an exclamation: “Enough of this drunken behavior!” (Revised English Bible); “Stop getting drunk!” (New Century Version).

Put away your wine from you is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Many versions use a more natural expression in the receptor language, such as “go sleep it off” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), “Sober up from your wine!” (New American Bible), “Get rid of your wine!” (New International Version), or simply “Sober up!” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Though the Hebrew is literally “But Hannah answered and said,” in the interest of English style, Good News Translation substitutes the pronoun “she” for the name Hannah and omits the words “and said.”

My lord is a common biblical term expressing politeness. It should be rendered by an equally common and equally polite term in the receptor language. Like Good News Translation, Revised English Bible and New Century Version also use the English equivalent “sir.” Whether such a term is placed at the beginning of the address or later will depend on what is natural in the receptor language.

I am a woman sorely troubled: literally “a woman heavy [or, difficult] of spirit [am] I.” The sense is not so much that she was “desperate” (so Good News Translation) but that she was “a very unhappy woman” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “a heart-broken woman” (Revised English Bible). New American Bible (“an unhappy woman”) is similar to the New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translation, but “very unhappy” or “feel miserable” (Contemporary English Version) seem to capture better the force of the Hebrew.

I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink is a literal translation. Strong drink translates the noun form of a verb that means “be or become drunk,” and in Hebrew the noun refers to an intoxicating drink. Such strong drinks were made from either grains or fruits, and most likely they were fermented drinks rather than distilled liquors. The Hebrew word is therefore better translated as “beer” (New International Version) than as “liquor” (New American Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh appropriately inserts the word “other,” that is, “I have drunk no wine or other strong drink.” Some common language translations compress the two Hebrew nouns wine and strong drink and say simply “I haven’t been drinking” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant).

But I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD is a literal translation. The Hebrew word translated soul has a wide range of meanings. It may refer to the center of spiritual and physical needs and desires. It may also refer to the seat of emotions and experiences such as sadness, grief, pain, distress, and anxiety. In this context “pouring out my troubles” (Good News Translation, New American Bible) is an appropriate translation. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh’s “pouring out my heart” also expresses in contemporary English the meaning of the Hebrew, as does the expression “pouring out my feelings” (Revised English Bible).

As in verse 12 above, before the LORD (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Fox) is a literal translation of a common Hebrew expression. While the word before indicates location, the meaning is that the speaker is in the presence of the person being addressed and is capable of being heard. Many translations say “to the LORD” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Then Eli answered is literally “And Eli answered and said” (see the comments above on verse 15).

Go in peace: the Hebrew word peace means more than the absence of war. It carries the sense of “having a full life with God’s blessings.” The whole phrase is a customary blessing that one person wishes for another. Jethro uses it to bless his son-in-law Moses (Exo 4.18). It is also found in Judges 18.6 and several times elsewhere in the books of Samuel (1 Sam 20.42; 29.7; 2 Sam 3.21, 22, 23; 15.9). In addition to the literal rendering, it has also been translated “Go! I wish you well” (New Century Version), “Go and prosper” (Moffatt), and “You may go home now and stop worrying” (Contemporary English Version).

The God of Israel: this expression occurs frequently in 1 and 2 Samuel (2.30; 5.7, 8, 10, 11; 6.3, 5; 10.18; 2 Sam 7.27; 12.7; and elsewhere). Most translations follow the form of the Hebrew, but in some languages it may be necessary to say something like “the God whom Israel worships [or, serves].”

The form of the verb translated “may he grant” is usually understood to be an expression of a wish (nearly all translations), but the same form may be understood as a statement of fact, that is, “and the God of Israel will grant.” Contemporary English Version seems to adopt this interpretation when it translates “I’m sure the God of Israel will answer your prayer.”

Your petition which you have made to him may be rendered in a variety of ways, including “what you have asked of him” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), “your prayer to him,” or simply “your prayer” (Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .