1 Samuel 2:5

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of 1 Samuel 2:5 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“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.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceasedto hunger: Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“The satiated for bread hired themselves, And the hungry have ceased. While the barren hath borne seven, And she abounding with sons hath languished.”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo 1 Samuel 2:5 — 9 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. 1 Samuel 1:6Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously.
  2. 1 Samuel 1:20So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
  3. Psalms 34:10Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
  4. Psalms 113:9He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
  5. Isaiah 54:1“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.
  6. Jeremiah 15:9The mother of seven will grow faint; she will breathe her last breath. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. And the rest I will put to the sword in the presence of their enemies,” declares the LORD.
  7. Luke 1:53He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
  8. Luke 16:25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
  9. Galatians 4:27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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