Speaking in her heart is a literal translation of the Hebrew. In Hebrew thought the heart designates the most inward part of a person, the center of one’s will and thoughts. As the context indicates (verses 12 and 15), Hannah was praying. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says she was “praying in her heart.” But the sense of the Hebrew is not that she was praying in her heart rather than in some other part of her body, but rather that she was praying “silently” (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible) or “inwardly” (Bible en français courant). It was customary at that time for people to pray aloud. See also the similar expression in 27.1.

Instead of the conjunction and, in many languages the connecting word between only her lips moved and her voice was not heard will have to be a contrasting conjunction like “but” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), since the normal expeCritique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testamention was that sound should come out of the mouth when the lips are moving. Other versions use words like “although” (Revised English Bible) or “though” (New American Bible) to mark this contrast.

Therefore: this word introduces the logical conclusion Eli made. In the ancient world people prayed and read aloud, so Eli naturally thought Hannah was drunk, since he saw her lips moving but heard no sounds. In some languages it will be more natural to reverse the order of the elements in this verse, using a connecting word like “because.” The following rendering may serve as a model:

• Hannah was praying silently. And Eli thought she was drunk, because her lips were moving but there was no sound coming out of her mouth.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .