1 Samuel 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Activity
3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.(A)
2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;(B) 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.(C) 4 Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!”[a] and he said, “Here I am!”(D) 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.(E) 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.(F) 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.(G) 13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God,[b] and he did not restrain them.(H) 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.”(I)
15 Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” 17 Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.”(J) 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”(K)
19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.(L) 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.(M) 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.(N)
1 Samuel 3
1599 Geneva Bible
3 1 There was no manifest vision in the time of Eli. 4 The Lord calleth Samuel three times, 11 And showeth what shall come upon Eli and his house. 18 The same declareth Samuel to Eli.
1 Now the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord [a]before Eli: and the word of the Lord was [b]precious in those days: for there was no manifest vision.
2 And at that time, as Eli lay in his [c]place, his eyes began to wax dim that he could not see.
3 And yer the [d]light of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the Ark of God was.
4 Then the Lord [e]called Samuel: and he said, Here I am.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I, for thou calledst me. But he said, I called thee not: go again and sleep. And he went and slept.
6 And the Lord called once again, Samuel. And Samuel arose, and went to Eli, and said, I am here: for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called thee not my son: go again and sleep.
7 Thus did Samuel, before he knew [f]the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time: and he arose, and went to Eli, and said, I am here: for thou hast called me. Then Eli [g]perceived that the Lord had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go and sleep: and if he call thee, then say, Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went, and slept in his place.
10 ¶ And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak, for thy servant heareth.
11 ¶ Then the Lord said unto Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, whereof whosoever shall hear, his two (A)ears shall [h]tingle.
12 In that day I will raise up against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 And I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knoweth, because his sons ran into a slander, and he stayed them not.
14 Now therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the wickedness of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering [i]forever.
15 Afterward Samuel slept until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
16 ¶ Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel my son. And he answered, Here I am.
17 Then he said, What is it, that the Lord said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me. God [j]do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me, of all that he said unto thee.
18 So Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. Then he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.
19 ¶ And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and let none of his words [k]fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew [l]that faithful Samuel was the Lord’s Prophet.
21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by [m]his word.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 3:1 The Chaldea text readeth, while Eli lived.
- 1 Samuel 3:1 Because there were very few Prophets to declare it.
- 1 Samuel 3:2 In the Court next to the Tabernacle.
- 1 Samuel 3:3 That is, the lamps which burnt in the night.
- 1 Samuel 3:4 Josephus writeth that Samuel was 12 years old, when the Lord appeared to him.
- 1 Samuel 3:7 By vision.
- 1 Samuel 3:8 Such was the corruption of those times that the chief Priest was become dull and negligent to understand the Lord’s appearing.
- 1 Samuel 3:11 God declareth what sudden fear shall come upon men, when they shall hear that the Ark is taken, and also see Eli’s house destroyed.
- 1 Samuel 3:14 Meaning that his posterity should never enjoy the chief Priest’s office.
- 1 Samuel 3:17 God punish thee after this and that sort, except thou tell me truth, Ruth 1:17.
- 1 Samuel 3:19 The Lord accomplished whatsoever he had said.
- 1 Samuel 3:20 Or, that Samuel was the faithful Prophet of the Lord.
- 1 Samuel 3:21 Hebrew, by the word of the Lord.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
