1 Samuel 3: Yahweh calls the boy Samuel at night
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
In days when Yahweh's word is rare, the boy Samuel is lying down in Yahweh's temple at Shiloh, where the ark of God is. Yahweh calls him, and three times Samuel goes to Eli, saying, "Here I am; for you called me." The third time Eli understands that Yahweh is calling the boy, and tells him to answer, "Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears." Yahweh comes and stands, calls "Samuel! Samuel!", and tells him that he will carry out all he has spoken against Eli's house, because Eli's sons brought a curse on themselves and Eli did not restrain them. In the morning Eli makes Samuel tell him everything, and says, "It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him." Samuel grows up, and all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knows that he is a prophet of Yahweh.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 6 of the 21 verses: Yahweh calls "Samuel!" in verses 6 and 10, and speaks to Samuel about Eli's house in verses 11 to 14. In verses 4 and 8 the text says that Yahweh called Samuel, but does not give the words. Samuel answers "Here I am" in verses 4 to 6, 8 and 16, and "Speak, for your servant hears" in verse 10. Eli speaks to Samuel in verses 5, 6, 9, 16 and 17, and his words in verse 18, "It is Yahweh", are his own. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. Yahweh’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then.
In plain English: The boy Samuel served Yahweh before Eli. In those days Yahweh's word was rare (literally: precious), and visions were few (literally: vision did not break out).
The Hebrew words: "Rare" is yaqar, which the dictionary gives as "valuable (objectively or subjectively)": something precious because there was little of it. "There were not many visions" is literally "vision was not breaking out", from parats, "to break out". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no distinct vision".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),
In plain English: One day (literally: on that day), Eli was lying down in his place (his eyes had begun to grow dim, and he could not see),
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in Yahweh’s temple where God’s ark was,
In plain English: and the lamp of God had not yet gone out. Samuel was lying down in Yahweh's temple, where the ark of God was.
Good to know: The law said the lamp in the Tent of Meeting was to burn "from evening to morning before Yahweh" (). So "the lamp of God had not yet gone out" places the call in the night, before morning. The text does not give the hour.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4Yahweh called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.”
In plain English: Yahweh called Samuel. He said, "Here I am."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down.
In plain English: He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, because you called me." Eli said, "I did not call. Go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6Yahweh called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up, went to Eli and said, "Here I am, because you called me." Eli answered, "I did not call, my son. Go back and lie down."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7Now Samuel didn’t yet know Yahweh, neither was Yahweh’s word yet revealed to him.
In plain English: Samuel did not yet know Yahweh, and Yahweh's word had not yet been revealed to him.
Good to know: The same words, "know Yahweh", are used of Eli's sons in : "They didn't know Yahweh." Here the verse itself says what it means for Samuel: Yahweh's word had not yet been revealed to him.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.
In plain English: Yahweh called Samuel again, a third time. He got up, went to Eli and said, "Here I am, because you called me." Then Eli understood that Yahweh was calling the boy.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
In plain English: So Eli said to Samuel, "Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, 'Speak, Yahweh, for your servant is listening (this Bible: hears).'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh came and stood there, and called as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening (this Bible: hears)."
Good to know: The text says Yahweh "came, and stood", and does not say what Samuel saw. calls it "the vision": mar'ah, which the dictionary gives as "a vision; also ... a mirror". In verses 4 and 8 the text says only that Yahweh called; here and in verse 6 it gives his words, "Samuel!", and they are in gold.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11Yahweh said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Samuel, "Look, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.
The Hebrew word: "Tingle" is tsalal, which the dictionary gives as "to tinkle, i.e. rattle together (as the ears in reddening with shame, or the teeth in chattering with fear)". It is in only 4 verses, and this Bible says "tingle" in 3: here, and . In both of those, Yahweh says it of the evil he will bring.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.God speaks
In plain English: On that day I will carry out (this Bible: perform) against Eli all that I have spoken against his house, from beginning to end.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he didn’t restrain them.God speaks
In plain English: For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the wrong (this Bible: iniquity) that he knew about: his sons brought a curse on themselves (or: cursed God), and he did not restrain them.
The Hebrew word: "Brought a curse on themselves" is from qalal, which the dictionary gives as "to be (causatively, make) light ... (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)". It is the word for "those who despise me will be cursed" in .
What changes: Read the way the Hebrew has it, Eli's sons made themselves vile, or brought a curse on themselves. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "his sons spoke evil against God". In Hebrew, "themselves" (lahem) and "God" (elohim) share three letters, and the Greek reads the second. Read that way, the sons cursed God himself. Either way, Yahweh says that Eli knew, and did not restrain them.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.”God speaks
In plain English: So I have sworn to the house of Eli that the wrong of Eli's house will not be atoned for (literally: covered; this Bible: removed) by sacrifice or offering, forever."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of Yahweh’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.
In plain English: Samuel lay there until morning, and then opened the doors of Yahweh's house. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.”
In plain English: Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son!" He said, "Here I am."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don’t hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.”
In plain English: Eli said, "What did he say to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more too, if you hide from me anything of all that he said to you."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.”
In plain English: So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Eli said, "It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him (literally: what is good in his eyes)."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
In plain English: Samuel grew up. Yahweh was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh.
In plain English: All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established (or: confirmed) as a prophet of Yahweh.
Good to know: "From Dan to Beersheba" means the whole land, from Dan in the far north to Beersheba in the south. The same words are used of all Israel gathering at Mizpah in . "Prophet" is nabi, which the dictionary gives as "a prophet or (generally) inspired man".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh; for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by Yahweh’s word.
In plain English: Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh, because Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by Yahweh's word.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.