So, you’re asking yourself “How many children did Hannah have?” Yes – the Hannah from the Bible. How many children did she bear in her life time?
How Many Children Did Hannah Have? It’s complicated…
The answer is a little complicated.
Are you asking how many children Hannah had when she was first married (0)?
Or how many children she had when her first son was born (1, of course!)?
Or do you want to know how many children she finally had with her husband at the end of her life (6 total)?
So, I think when most people ask “How Many Children did Hannah have?” they’re really looking for that final number. Hannah had six (6) children by the end of her life.
But if you’re curious as to the details, let’s explore those now!
Where Hannah’s Mentioned in the Bible
References to this woman – Hannah – are found in the Old Testament only.
And within the Old Testament, she appears only in the first and second chapters of the book of 1 Samuel.
Hannah Was One of Two Wives of One Man
According to 1 Samuel 1:1-2 she was one of two wives of a man named Elkanah. He lived in a city called Ramathaim Zophim (or – for short – Ramah). That was in the hill country of the Israelite tribe Ephraim.
In case you’re curious, Hannah’s “co-wife” (weird, I know, but not unheard of in the ancient Near East!) was named Peninah. And she wasn’t very nice to Hannah.
Hannah Had No Children At First
Anyway, since we’re trying to figure out how many children Hannah had – we need to start off by saying that she had none.
Peninah had some (we don’t know how many – but according to 1 Samuel 1:4 she had “sons and daughters”).
But Hannah? She was barren. That’s what 1 Samuel 1:2 tells us.
Hannah Was More Loved
And even though Hannah may have been thought of as “less productive” in her agrarian society – Elkanah loved her very much according to 1 Samuel 1:5 – probably more so than he loved the “fertile” – but rather unkind – Peninah.
Hannah Was Hated by Peninah
And this wicked Peninah would make life miserable for Hannah by mocking her for not being able to have children (1 Samuel 1:7).
Elkanah Tried in Vain to Comfort Hannah
Elkanah would try in vain to comfort Hannah – who had no children at this point (1 Samuel 1:8).
Hannah Seeks Comfort from the Lord
So, Hannah prayed in the Tabernacle in Shiloh (before it was in Jerusalem!) one day for a son (1 Samuel 1:9). She prayed so desperately and fervently that Eli – the priest – thought she was drunk! When he discovered that she was just praying with great vigor, he blessed her.
Hannah Had One Son – Samuel!
She went back home to Ramah with Elkanah. They had marital relations. And the Lord gave her a son named Samuel.
So far then Hannah has one child – a son.
Hannah Gives Up Samuel
Then Hannah and Elkanah brought Samuel back to Shiloh eventually to have him serve the Lord in the Tabernacle there.
It’s there that Hannah breaks into poetic verse and denounces the wicked Peninah indirectly. After that, we interestingly never hear about Peninah again.
Did Hannah Have Seven Children?
Hannah also declared in 1 Samuel 2:5 that the barren woman bears seven children. That’s not to say that she herself actually had seven children – it seems that she’s just using a number to indicate completeness and wholeness – entirety – satisfaction, etc.
Eli Prays that Hannah Would Have More Children
But later on in 1 Samuel 2 we’re told that Hannah and Elkanah would come up to Shiloh to worship the Lord every year. On one such occasion, Eli the priest blesses them and prays that the Lord would give them more children. And that’s just what the Lord did! He caused Hannah to bear three sons and two daughters!
Hannah Ends Up with Six Children Total
So, that’s six children that Hannah ended up bearing, counting Samuel. That’s one less than the seven that she mentioned in her poem. And yet – it’s six more than she had in the beginning. All through God’s gracious actions on her behalf!
And Most Importantly…
One of Hannah’s six children – Samuel – would be used – as she says in 1 Samuel 2:10 – to strengthen the Lord’s king and exalt the power of the Lord’s Anointed.
That is – David – the coming King of Israel in Hannah’s day. And the future ancestor of God’s ultimate Anointed – Jesus Christ.
Explaining The Book 
Like it so much am so excited
LikeLike
Thanks for your feedback.
LikeLike
Thank you so much it was very helpful and clear too. God bless
LikeLike
Not clear why Hannah mentioned 7 children earlier.
LikeLike
You have helped me prove a point to someone dear to me. I let her know that when God brings restoration He restores completely and then some! Hannah’s story is perfect proof of the heart of God.
LikeLike
God is good. Thanks, Ayanda.
LikeLike
Kindly mentioned the rest five of the children’s of Hanna?
LikeLike
Thanks for the information. Thought Anna had only one son ‘ Samuel’s.
LikeLike
Hannah have seven children plus her first fruit she dedicated to God.
LikeLike
Sir,
Thank you so much for this explanation. I fact, I can now understand better why Hannah said she is a mother of seven in 1 Samuel 2:5.
She had totally, six children physically, Four sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 1:20, 2:21), but before then, (even before Samuel), she was carrying barrenness about in her mind, life and spirit, that even when other people didn’t know she was barren, she kept on carrying it about. But when God blessed her, she started carrying motherhood about, that even when people taught she had only six, she was still seing a son called GOD’S PERFECTION in her mind, life and spirit.
LikeLike
liked it. I came across your page, because I wanted to fact-check and back up a spiritual conclusion that you all but arrive at. And this is what I would like to suggest, as a spiritual reading of the passage(s) in question–Hannah did get her seventh child. In a manner of speaking, the child, the son of perfection (7th son), is the promised Messiah Samuel prophesied. The striking parallels in Mary’s song with Hannah’s lend strength to this idea. The culmination of Hannah’s prayer journey that God so used to bless Israel. Hope this blesses you.
LikeLike
Enjoyed the article on Hannah. My question is was she also a grandmother? If so who where her grandchildren?
LikeLike
This is a fantastic summary and a brief commentary. God bless you real good and grant you more grace and more anointing. Shalom
LikeLike
Powerful message with rich lessons. This is what exactly God pays back against Satan’s mockery at God’s faithful through human agents! Heaven would always intervene mightly with divine consolation and tangible blessings. I am humbled
LikeLike
The comments I read concerning how many children Hannah had are all very interesting and I could agree with them all. Whether she had six or seven: I personally believe that she had six. The Lord had shut up her womb. She prayed and ask God for a Son and God granted her request . The seventh Son was like the Son of God. Just like the the three Hebrew boys when they were thrown into the fiery furnace: They said, “ didn’t we throw in three but now we see four.” The fourth one looks like the Son of God.. I believe that Hannah had six children and the seventh child was likened to or was the Son of God! I benefited from reading this article about Hannah. I think I grew a notch or two! God bless you and I am glad you published and shared your post!
LikeLike
Greetings
I still don’t know the names of the children of Hannah
I will be glad to know
Thanks and God bless
Charles Morgan Ede, Nigeria
LikeLike