A character in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. One of the wives of Elkanah along with Peninnah. Hannah is very upset because she is barren, and she refused to eat. She silently prayed to the Lord for a child, which made her husband think she was drunk. Finally her prayers where answered and she had a son whom she named Samuel. She "lent" Samuel to the Lord (i.e. had him serve in the temple) as she had promised in her prayers. In return she had 3 more sons and 2 daughters.