But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

But to Anna he gave one portion with sorrow, because he loved Anna. And the Lord had shut up her womb.

but to Hannah he used to give a double portion, for he loved Hannah; but Jehovah had shut up her womb.

But to Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah; but the LORD had rendered her barren.

and to Hannah he giveth a certain portion, double, for he hath loved Hannah, and Jehovah hath shut her womb;

But to Hannah he gave one part, though Hannah was very dear to him, but the Lord had not let her have children.

But to Hannah he gave one portion with sorrow. For he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.

A worthy portion - Probably as in the margin. Naturally she would have had a single portion of the sacrifice (compare 1-Samuel 9:23), but because of his love to her he gave her a double portion, enough for two people (compare Genesis 43:34).

Unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion - The Hebrew here is very obscure, יתן מנה אחת אפים yitten manah achath appayim; he gave her one portion of two faces; which the Syriac renders, he gave her one Double Part; and the Chaldee, he gave her one Chosen part; the Arabic is nearly the same; the Vulgate Annae autem dedit unam partem tristis, but to Anna he being sorrowful gave one part. As the shew-bread that was presented to the Lord was called לחם פנים lechem panim, the bread of faces, because it was placed before the face or appearances of the Lord; probably this was called מנה אפים manah appayim, because it was the portion that belonged to, or was placed before, the person who had offered the sacrifice. On this ground it might be said that Elkanah gave Hannah his own portion or a part of that which was placed before himself. Whatever it was, it was intended as a proof of his especial love to her; for, it is added, he loved Hannah.

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy (c) portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
(c) Some read, a portion with a hearty cheer.

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion,.... Or, one choice portion, as the Targum; the best part or portion in the peace offering, of what the priest had not; he had the breast and the right shoulder, the next best piece he gave to Hannah; and the word being of the dual number, some render it a double portion; others, "one part of two faces" (h); which Jerom interprets, which might be received with a cheerful countenance, it was so good and excellent in its kind; others interpret it that he gave it with a sorrowful (i) and displeased countenance, because of the reason following, that she had no children; but Ben Gersom understands it of a part or portion of meat that had two faces or appearances; that he gave her one of the pieces, one part of which was very fat, and the other had no fat on it, so that she might choose what she liked best:
for he loved Hannah; loved her best, and therefore did everything to please her, and make her comfortable under her affliction for want of children, and to express his tender affection for her:
but the Lord had shut up her womb; restrained her from conception, and bearing children; see Genesis 20:18 or "though the Lord had shut up her womb" (k); this did not abate his love to her.
(h) "unam portionem duarum facicrum", Sanctius Belgae. (i) Sic Stockins, p. 79. (k) "quanquam Jehovah", Piscator.

Shut up her womb - Yet Elkanah did not withdraw his love from her. To abate out just love to any relation, for the sake of any infirmity which they cannot help, is to add affliction to the afflicted.