They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
Those who once had plenty of food now work just to get bread, while those who were hungry are now satisfied. The woman who couldn't have children has given birth to seven, while the woman who had many children has become weak.
This verse is showing how God completely reverses people's circumstances - the wealthy become poor, the poor become rich, the childless have many children, and those with many children lose their strength.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 1 Samuel, Hannah was a woman who longed for children but was barren, which brought her great shame and sorrow in ancient Israelite culture where fertility was highly valued. After God answered her desperate prayers by giving her a son named Samuel, she responded with a song of praise that celebrated God's ability to reverse human circumstances. This verse specifically highlights the paradoxical ways God upends social norms, such as the wealthy becoming poor and the childless bearing many children.
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