Peninnah
Elkanah’s other wife, who had children and taunted Hannah, who had none.
Old Testament · c. 1100 BC · 1 Samuel · Also known as Wife of Elkanah
About Peninnah
Peninnah was one of Elkanah’s two wives. "Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children." Each year at Shiloh, Elkanah gave portions "to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters," but a special portion to Hannah, whom he loved. Scripture calls Peninnah Hannah’s "adversary," who "provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb... year by year." Hannah wept and would not eat, and took her grief to God, who gave her Samuel.
Peninnah has no recorded words, so this guide speaks about her. Her name is often said to mean "pearl" or "coral." The rivalry echoes Sarah and Hagar, and Rachel and Leah: households with more than one wife are full of tension in Genesis and Samuel.
The story
Peninnah had children
Elkanah "had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children." At the yearly sacrifice "he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah."
1 Samuel 1:2-5
Her adversary
"And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat."
1 Samuel 1:6-7
The barren hath born seven
Hannah poured out her soul to the LORD, and God gave her Samuel. In her song she said, "My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation," and "the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble."
1 Samuel 1:10-20; 2:1-5
Key moments
- Has children: While Hannah has none. (1 Samuel 1:2)
- Receives portions: For her sons and daughters. (1 Samuel 1:4)
- Provokes Hannah: "Year by year." (1 Samuel 1:6-7)
Questions about Peninnah
Why was Peninnah unkind to Hannah?
Scripture says what she did, "provoked her sore, for to make her fret," but not why. The verses just before give a clue: Elkanah "loved Hannah" and gave her "a worthy portion." Many readers suspect Peninnah, though she had children, felt unloved, and took it out on her rival. It is a picture of how hurt people can hurt others.
Is Peninnah mentioned again?
No. She appears only in 1 Samuel 1. Hannah’s song afterwards says, "the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble," and many readers hear Peninnah in the background, but the song is about how God turns things upside down, not a word about her by name.
What can we learn from Peninnah’s story?
The story shows how cruel words cut deep: Hannah "wept, and did not eat." It also shows what Hannah did with that pain. She didn’t answer back; she "prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore." The one who was taunted became the mother of Samuel, one of Israel’s greatest prophets.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with 1 Samuel 1:1-7.