Lexical Summary Peninnah: Peninnah Original Word: פְנִנָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Peninnah Probably feminine from paniyn contr.; Peninnah, an Israelitess -- Peninnah. see HEBREW paniyn NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as pinnah Definition wife of Elkanah NASB Translation Peninnah (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְּנִנָּה proper name, feminine (properly singular of foregoing ?) wife of Elkanah 1 Samuel 1:2 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 1:4, Φεννανα. Topical Lexicon Name and Setting Peninnah appears exclusively in the opening verses of 1 Samuel, where the house of Elkanah of Ramathaim‐zophim is introduced (1 Samuel 1:1-2). Her name, evocative of something precious and glittering, contrasts sharply with the tension she brings into the narrative. Biblical Narrative 1 Samuel 1 presents Elkanah with “two wives; the name of the one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none” (1 Samuel 1:2). Year after year the family traveled to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice. Peninnah’s fertility is underscored by her children receiving portions of the sacrificial meal (1 Samuel 1:4), while Hannah received a double portion from Elkanah because of his special love for her. The text then highlights Peninnah’s repeated provocations: “Her rival would provoke her and taunt her severely” (1 Samuel 1:6). No words of Peninnah are recorded, yet her actions are forceful enough to drive Hannah to tears and to prayer in the tabernacle. Character and Motives 1. Rivalry in the household—Peninnah serves as the narrative foil to Hannah. Her provocations expose Hannah’s anguish and bring to light Elkanah’s partiality. Historical Background Polygamy appears in several Old Testament households (Genesis 29-30; Judges 8:30). Peninnah’s role shows both the social pressure for offspring and the familial tension such arrangements created. The scene unfolds during the late judges period, when the tabernacle rested at Shiloh and the priesthood of Eli presided—an era marked by spiritual decline, yet fertile ground for the rise of Samuel the prophet. Theological Themes 1. Providence and barrenness—Peninnah’s fruitfulness highlights the sovereignty of God in opening and closing wombs (1 Samuel 1:5-6). Lessons for Ministry • Guarding speech: Peninnah’s unrecorded words still wound; ministry leaders should teach the power of the tongue (James 3:5-10). Later Jewish and Christian Tradition Rabbinic midrash often portrays Peninnah as well-intentioned, claiming her provocations were meant to spur Hannah to prayer. While unverified by the biblical text, the notion underscores how God can weave even ill motives into His redemptive design. Early Christian commentators, such as Jerome, cite Peninnah as a type of the synagogue contrasted with Hannah as the church—one rich in external rites yet without the spiritual fruit that issues from faith. Key References 1 Samuel 1:2; 1 Samuel 1:4; 1 Samuel 1:6-7 Forms and Transliterations לִפְנִנָּ֣ה לִפְנִנָּה֙ לפננה פְּנִנָּ֑ה פננה lifninNah lip̄·nin·nāh lip̄ninnāh pə·nin·nāh peninNah pəninnāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 1:2 HEB: וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פְּנִנָּ֑ה וַיְהִ֤י לִפְנִנָּה֙ NAS: of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah KJV: of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah INT: and the name of the other Peninnah had and Peninnah 1 Samuel 1:2 1 Samuel 1:4 3 Occurrences |
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