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The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...

Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University
from 2006 Bible Literary project

Hannah

Picture description: Hannah praying for a son
Picture copyright: V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers

Bible Verse

1 Samuel 1:2

Meaning

It came from the Hebrew name חַנָּה (Channah) which stands for several meanings including “favour”, “grace”, “beauty” or “passion”. As recounted in the Books of Samuel of the Old Testament, Hannah was the wife of Elkanah and could not bear him a child. She prayed to God for a son and promised that she would give him to the Lord for all his life. God answered her prayer and Hannah kept her promise. Her son turned out to be the prophet Samuel.

Gender

Female

Example

Keywords

beauty Elkanah favour grace Hannah passion prayer Samuel

Related Information

NIV official site
Chinese Bible (???)

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