1 Samuel 3:10

10 And the LORD came , and stood , and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered , Speak ; for thy servant heareth .

1 Samuel 3:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 3:10

And the Lord came, and stood
At the place where Samuel lay; either there was, as Kimchi, a form before his eyes in the vision of prophecy, some visible corporeal shape assumed; or a bright splendour an illustrious appearance of the glory of God; or it may be rather the voice, which before seemed to be at some distance whereabout Eli lay; it now seemed nearer, and was as the voice of one just by him, that sounded in his ears:

and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel:
repeating his name, in order the more to excite his attention:

then Samuel answered, speak, for thy servant heareth;
he leaves out the word Lord, which Eli bid him use; for he might be afraid as yet to make mention of the name of the Lord in the vision of prophecy, as Kimchi speaks; or lest it should be the voice of another, as Jarchi; as yet he might not be quite certain whether it was the voice of the Lord, or the voice of a man; for that he should have any mistrust of its being the voice of a demon or spectre, there is no reason to believe.

1 Samuel 3:10 In-Context

8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said , Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go , lie down : and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say , Speak , LORD; for thy servant heareth . So Samuel went and lay down 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 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle .

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin , I will also make an end .