The answer is: She was barren

1 Sam 1:4-6

When you dive into the story of Peninnah and Hannah in 1 Samuel, you’re stepping into a time when family lineage and motherhood were pivotal in societal standing. In the ancient world, being barren was seen as a significant misfortune, which explains much of Peninnah’s bitterness towards Hannah. It’s easy to imagine Peninnah's jealousy boiling over - ouch! Not only was Hannah favored by Elkanah, their shared husband, but she also embodied hope and longing for what many women desperately wanted: children.

A fun trivia nugget? The very names of these women play into the tale. "Hannah" means "grace," while Peninnah means "pearl." What a contrast! Grace is often portrayed in a sympathetic light, while pearls are usually missing their metaphorical luster in this story, reflective of Peninnah’s envy and cruelty.

The vibrant emotions in this narrative mirror the struggles faced in other women’s lives throughout the Bible, such as Sarah coping with her barrenness until she bore Isaac, or Rachel’s tragic rivalry with Leah. Overall, Hannah's plight pinlights something powerful: her deep yearning becomes a conduit for spiritual devotion as she fervently prays for a child, showcasing the intersection of faith and human pain.

Additionally, later, we find God answering her heart's desire, which gently reinforces the idea that sometimes, through hardship and emotional turmoil, incredible strength and faith can reveal themselves and lead to miraculous outcomes in one's life.