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Psalm 113 · a question people ask

Is the barren woman of 113:9 Hannah?

In the text

The psalm doesn't name her: "He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children" (113:9) (tap barren). Hannah's prayer shares words with the psalm, as the go-deeper sets out, and it has the psalm's Hebrew word for barren: "Yes, the barren has borne seven" (1 Samuel 2:5). But the account of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 doesn't use that word for her. It says "Hannah had no children" (1 Samuel 1:2), and "the LORD had shut up her womb" (1 Samuel 1:5). The word is used of Sarai, "Sarai was barren" (Genesis 11:30), of Rebekah and Rachel (Genesis 25:21, 29:31), and of Manoah's wife (Judges 13:2). Psalm 113 praises what the LORD does and names no one, and these notes don't name her for it.

The verses

“He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 113:9 · World English Bible
“Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry are satisfied. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes.”
1 Samuel 2:5 · World English Bible
“He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.”
1 Samuel 1:2 · World English Bible
“but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had shut up her womb.”
1 Samuel 1:5 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 113

Psalm 113: Who stoops down to see

In Hebrew the LORD who "has his seat on high" (113:5) is the one who will "set him with princes" (113:8) and who "settles the barren woman in her home" (113:9): seat, set and settles are one verb. And "He raises up the poor out of the dust" (113:7) is Hannah's prayer, word for word in the WEB (1 Samuel 2:8).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions