Chapter Book
Loading
Change Translation
Loading...
  • Recent Translations
  • All Translations

1 Samuel 3:1-8

Share

Settings

The Prophetic Call to Samuel

1 Now 1the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And 2word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent *.
2 It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now 3his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),
3 and 4the 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,
4 that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, "5Here I am."
5 Then he 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 yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he answered, "I did not call, my son, lie down again."
7 6Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.
8 So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy.
Read Chapter Compare

1 Samuel 3:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 3

This chapter gives an account of the Lord's calling to Samuel in the night season, which he first took for the voice of Eli, but being instructed by him, made answer to the voice, 1Sa 3:1-10, and of a message sent from him by Samuel to Eli, foretelling the destruction of his family, 1Sa 3:11-14 and of the delivery of it to him, which Samuel was first fearful of doing, but, encouraged by Eli, he delivered it to him, to which he patiently submitted, 1Sa 3:15-18 and the chapter is closed with the establishment of Samuel as a prophet of the Lord, who continued to appear and reveal himself to him, 1Sa 3:19-21.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 6

  • 1. 1 Samuel 2:11, 18
  • 2. Psalms 74:9; Ezekiel 7:26; Amos 8:11, 12
  • 3. Genesis 27:1; Genesis 48:10; 1 Samuel 4:15
  • 4. Exodus 25:31-37; Leviticus 24:2, 3
  • 5. Isaiah 6:8
  • 6. Acts 19:2; 1 Corinthians 13:11

Footnotes 2

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.