Elkanah’s Barren Wife
The Bible contains many examples of worship. But perhaps none is as moving as the thanksgiving prayer of Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel. For years, Hannah lived in shame because she was unable to conceive a child. After years of soul-searching and waiting, Hannah was finally granted a child whereupon she joyfully exclaimed: “My heart exults in the Lord… he raises up the poor from the dust” (1 Sam. 2:1,7).
What does Hebrew say about prayer?
In the original Hebrew, the verb for Hannah’s “praying” is hitpalel התפלל.This word contains the root PLL פלל meaning “to judge.” But attached to its front, hitpalel has the reflexive prefix hit, indicating something done to oneself. In Hebrew, praying begins with looking inwards, conducting a rigorous self-evaluation, and ultimately passing judgment on oneself. In Hebrew, only after you are “right with God,” can you begin to make requests.
A Connection Found Only in Hebrew
Hannah’s prayer will go on to have far-reaching effects. When Solomon finished building the Temple, he prayed to God for thanks (1 Kgs. 8). When Jonah was in the belly of the great fish, he prayed to God for deliverance (Jon. 2). In both cases, the word used for prayer is hitpalel. Hannah, a poor housewife, may have taught the greatest kings and prophets how to pray. Enroll in our live online Biblical Hebrew course and find new depths to the stories you thought you already knew.