1 Samuel 1:12 As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.

◄ 1 Samuel 1:12 ►

New International Version
As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.

New Living Translation
As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her.

English Standard Version
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.

Berean Standard Bible
As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.

King James Bible
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

New King James Version
And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth.

New American Standard Bible
Now it came about, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.

NASB 1995
Now it came about, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.

NASB 1977
Now it came about, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened, as she multiplied her praying before Yahweh, that Eli was watching her mouth.

Amplified Bible
Now it happened as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.

Christian Standard Bible
While she continued praying in the LORD’s presence, Eli watched her mouth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
While she continued praying in the LORD’s presence, Eli watched her lips.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
While Hannah was praying a long time in front of the LORD, Eli was watching her mouth.

Good News Translation
Hannah continued to pray to the LORD for a long time, and Eli watched her lips.

International Standard Version
As she continued to pray in the LORD's presence, Eli was watching her mouth.

Majority Standard Bible
As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.

NET Bible
As she continued praying to the LORD, Eli was watching her mouth.

New Heart English Bible
It happened, as she multiplied prayers before the LORD, that Eli saw her mouth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli observed her mouth.

World English Bible
As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw her mouth.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it has been, when she multiplied praying before YHWH, that Eli is watching her mouth,

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath been, when she multiplied praying before Jehovah, that Eli is watching her mouth,

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was when she multiplied to pray before Jehovah, and Eli watched her mouth.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass, as she multiplied prayers before the Lord, that Heli observed her mouth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then it happened that, while she multiplied prayers before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

New American Bible
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth,

New Revised Standard Version
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it was that when she continued to pray before LORD JEHOVAH and Eli was watching her mouth

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, as she prayed long before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass, while she was long praying before the Lord, that Heli the priest marked her mouth.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Hannah Prays for a Son
…11And she made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.” 12 As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth. 13Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

Luke 11:9-10
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,

Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Psalm 55:17
Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.

Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.

Jeremiah 29:12
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

Luke 11:8-10
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth…

Luke 18:1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

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Continued Eli Kept Marked Mouth Multiplied Observed Prayed Prayer Praying Time Watched Watching

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Continued Eli Kept Marked Mouth Multiplied Observed Prayed Prayer Praying Time Watched Watching

1 Samuel 1

1. Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worships yearly at Shiloh
4. He cherishes Hannah, though barren, and provoked by Peninnah
9. Hannah in grief prays for a child
12. Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesses her
19. Hannah, having born Samuel, stays at home till he is weaned
24. She presents him, according to her vow, to the Lord

Berean Study Bible

As she kept on praying
The Hebrew root for "praying" is "palal," which means to intercede or to mediate. This word conveys a deep, earnest communication with God, highlighting Hannah's persistent and heartfelt supplication. In the historical context, prayer was a central part of Hebrew worship, and Hannah's continuous prayer reflects her unwavering faith and desperation for divine intervention. Her persistence is a model of faithfulness, demonstrating that true prayer is not a momentary act but a continual, fervent seeking of God's presence and will.

before the LORD
The phrase "before the LORD" indicates that Hannah's prayer was directed towards Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This underscores the personal relationship between Hannah and God, as she brings her deepest desires and sorrows directly to Him. In the ancient Near Eastern context, approaching a deity was often seen as a formal and reverent act, yet Hannah's prayer is intimate and personal, reflecting the unique relationship the Israelites had with their God. This phrase reminds believers of the privilege of coming before God with their petitions, knowing He is attentive and compassionate.

Eli watched her mouth
Eli, the high priest, observed Hannah's silent prayer, which was unusual in a culture where prayers were typically spoken aloud. The Hebrew word for "watched" is "shamar," meaning to keep, guard, or observe. Eli's observation suggests a careful scrutiny, perhaps due to the unusual nature of her silent prayer. Historically, this moment highlights the misunderstanding that can occur when outward appearances are judged without understanding the heart's intent. Eli's initial misjudgment of Hannah as being drunk (as seen in the following verses) serves as a caution against superficial assessments of others' spiritual expressions. This phrase encourages believers to look beyond external appearances and seek to understand the true intentions of the heart.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 12-18. - She continued praying. Hannah's prayer was long and earnest, but in silence. She spake not in, but "to her heart," to herself. It was an inward supplication, which only her own heart and God heard. Eli watched, and was displeased. Possibly silent prayer was something unusual. It requires a certain advance in civilisation and refinement to enable a supplicant to separate the petition from the outward expression of it in spoken words, and a strong faith before any one can feel that God hears and knows the silent utterances of the heart (comp. Matthew 8:8-10). Naturally men think that they shall be heard for their much speaking, and for speaking aloud. Unused then to such real prayer, Eli, as he marked the quivering lips, the prostrate form, the face flushed with earnestness, came to the coarse conclusion that she was drunken, and with equal coarseness bids her "put away her wine from her," that is, go and sleep off the effects of her debauch. Hannah answers indignantly, "No, my lord." She is "a woman hard of spirit;' (see marg.), heavy hearted, as we should say, and she had been lightening her heart by pouring out her troubles before Jehovah. She is no "worthless woman;" for Belial is not a proper name, though gradually it became one (2 Corinthians 6:15), but means worthlessness, and "a daughter of worthlessness" means a bad woman. "Grief" is rather provocation, vexation. Hannah cannot forget the triumph of her rival, exulting over her many portions, while for her there had been only one. Convinced by the modesty and earnestness of her answer, Eli retracts his accusation, gives her his blessing, and prays that her petition may be granted. And Hannah, comforted by such words spoken by the high priest (John 11:51), returned to the sacrificial feast, which apparently was not yet finished, and joined in it, for "she did eat, and her countenance was to her no more," that is, the grieved and depressed look which she had so long borne had now departed from her. There is no reason for the insertion of the word sad. HANNAH'S PRAYER ANSWERED (vers. 19, 20).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

As
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

[Hannah] kept on
הִרְבְּתָ֔ה (hir·bə·ṯāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

praying
לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל (lə·hiṯ·pal·lêl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6419: To judge, to intercede, pray

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Eli
וְעֵלִ֖י (wə·‘ê·lî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh

watched
שֹׁמֵ֥ר (šō·mêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

her mouth.
פִּֽיהָ׃ (pî·hā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

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OT History: 1 Samuel 1:12 It happened as she continued praying before (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)