KJV ORIGINAL
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Her rival wife constantly tormented her and made her deeply upset, trying to make her angry because the LORD had made her unable to have children.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes how Hannah's rival wife cruelly taunted her about being childless, which God had allowed to happen.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, polygamy was practiced, and Hannah shared her husband Elkanah with another wife named Peninnah. Having children, especially sons, was considered essential for a woman's worth and security in society. Childlessness was often viewed as a sign of divine disfavor, making Hannah's situation particularly painful and socially vulnerable.
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