1 Samuel 3:11

11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Lo! I (shall) make a word, that is, (I shall do) a thing signified by a word, in Israel, which word whoever shall hear, both his ears shall ring, that is, he shall be astonished for wonder and dread.

1 Samuel 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 3:11

And the Lord said to Samuel
The voice of the Lord continued speaking to him: behold,

I will do a thing in Israel;
which may be particularly interpreted of the taking of the ark, and the slaying of the two sons of Eli; and which is elsewhere represented as the Lord's doing, for the sins of Eli's family, ( Psalms 78:61 Psalms 78:62 )

at which both the ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle;
be struck with horror and amazement, and quite stunned, and know not what to think or say, like persons surprised with a violent clap of thunder, which strikes their ears so strongly, that the noise of it is not soon gone from them; this was verified in Eli, and in his daughter-in-law particularly, who, at the news of the above things, the one fell backwards and broke his neck, and the other fell into labour and died; and all Israel were struck with astonishment at these things.

1 Samuel 3:11 In-Context

9 and Eli said to Samuel, Go thou and sleep; and if he calleth thee afterward, thou shalt say, Speak thou, Lord, for thy servant heareth. Then Samuel went and slept in his place.

10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as he had called the second time (and called to him as he had called the other times, saying), Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said, Speak thou, Lord, for thy servant heareth.

11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Lo! I (shall) make a word, that is, (I shall do) a thing signified by a word, in Israel, which word whoever shall hear, both his ears shall ring, that is, he shall be astonished for wonder and dread.

12 In that day I shall raise up against Eli all (the) things that I have spoken upon his house; I shall begin (it), and I shall end (it).

13 For I before-said to him, that I should deem his house without end for the wickedness thereof; for he knew, that his sons did unworthily, and he chastised not them. (For I said to him before, that I would judge his family forevermore for its wickedness; and he knoweth, that his sons have done unworthily, and yet he hath not chastised them.)