New International Version So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. New Living Translation So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. English Standard Version Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Berean Standard Bible “Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Berean Literal Bible And Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall come to pass, if He calls to you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, YHWH, for Your servant is listening.’” And Samuel went and lay down in his place. King James Bible 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. New King James Version Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. New American Standard Bible And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. NASB 1995 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. NASB 1977 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Thy servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Legacy Standard Bible And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Yahweh, for Your slave is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Amplified Bible So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall be that if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Berean Annotated Bible “Go and lie down, he (ascension) said to Samuel (his name is El), “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD {YHWH}, for Your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Christian Standard Bible He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Holman Christian Standard Bible He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. American Standard Version Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Jehovah; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Contemporary English Version So he said, "Go back and lie down! If someone speaks to you again, answer, 'I'm listening, LORD. What do you want me to do?'" Once again Samuel went back and lay down. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Go, lie down," Eli told Samuel. "When he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD. I'm listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his room. Good News Translation so he said to him, "Go back to bed; and if he calls you again, say, 'Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went back to bed. International Standard Version so Eli told Samuel, "Go lie down, and then if he calls you, answer, 'Speak, LORD, because your servant is listening.'" Then Samuel went and lay down. NET Bible So Eli said to Samuel, "Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." So Samuel went back and lay down in his place. New Heart English Bible So he said, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, reply, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Webster's Bible Translation Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he should call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. World English Bible Therefore 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Eli says to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it has been, if He calls to you, that you have said, Speak, YHWH, for Your servant is hearing”; and Samuel goes and lies down in his place. Berean Literal Bible And Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall come to pass, if He calls to you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, YHWH, for Your servant is listening.’” And Samuel went and lay down in his place. Young's Literal Translation And Eli saith to Samuel, 'Go, lie down, and it hath been, if He doth call unto thee, that thou hast said, Speak, Jehovah, for Thy servant is hearing;' and Samuel goeth and lieth down in his place. Smith's Literal Translation And Eli will say to Samuel, Go, lie down; and it being if he shall call to thee, and say thou, Speak, Jehovah, for thy servant heard. And Samuel will go and lie down in his place. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep: and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place. Catholic Public Domain Version And he said: “Here I am. For you called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord had called the boy. And he said to Samuel: “Go and sleep. And if he calls to you from now on, you will say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” Therefore, Samuel went away, and he slept in his place. New American Bible So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, New Revised Standard Version 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. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTherefore Eli said to Samuel, Go back and lie down; and it shall be, if he calls you, you shall say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant hears. So Samuel went back and lay down in his place. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Eli said to Shemueil: “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, say: “‘Speak LORD JEHOVAH, because your Servant listens.” And Shemueil went on and he lay down in his place OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Therefore Eli said unto Samuel: 'Go, lie down; and it shall be, if thou be called, that thou shalt say: Speak, LORD; for Thy servant heareth.' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he said, Return, child, go to sleep; and it shall come to pass if he shall call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak for thy servant hears: and Samuel went and lay down in his place. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The LORD Calls Samuel…8Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. 9“Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”… Cross References “Go and lie down,” 1 Kings 19:5-6 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” / And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved. he said to Samuel, Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. Genesis 22:11 Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “and if He calls you, Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! Jeremiah 1:7-8 But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. / Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. say, ‘Speak, LORD, Exodus 20:19 “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” Deuteronomy 5:27 Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then you can tell us everything the LORD our God tells you; we will listen and obey.” for Your servant is listening.’” Psalm 85:8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly. James 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Kings 17:5 So Elijah did what the LORD had told him, and he went and lived by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. 1 Kings 19:12-13 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. / When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!” Acts 9:4-6 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” / “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. / “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 22:10 Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’ Treasury of Scripture Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call you, that you shall say, Speak, LORD; for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Speak Exodus 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. Psalm 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Jump to Previous Calls Ears Eli Heareth Hearing Hears Lie Open Samuel Servant Speak VoiceJump to Next Calls Ears Eli Heareth Hearing Hears Lie Open Samuel Servant Speak Voice1 Samuel 3 1. How the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel11. God tells Samuel the destruction of Eli's house 15. Samuel, though loath, tells Eli the vision 19. Samuel grows in credit “Go and lie down,” Eli sends Samuel back to the place where he had been resting near the sanctuary. After Samuel had mistaken the call for Eli’s voice twice, Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. 1Ki 19:5-6 Then he lay down under the broom tree… he said to Samuel, Though Eli’s household was under judgment because of his sons’ sin, he rightly guided Samuel in recognizing God’s call. Exo 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look,… “and if He calls you, Eli expected the LORD to speak again, since God had begun to reveal Himself to Samuel. Isa 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you…… say, ‘Speak, LORD, Samuel was to answer with reverence, acknowledging the God of Israel as the One who had called him. Exo 20:19 “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said… for Your servant is listening.’” He was to receive God’s word as a servant ready to obey. Psa 85:8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say;… So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Samuel obeyed Eli and returned to his customary place, awaiting the LORD’s further revelation. 1Ki 17:5 So Elijah did what the LORD had told him,… Persons / Places / Events 1. EliThe high priest of Israel at the time, who served as a mentor to the young Samuel. Eli's guidance to Samuel in this passage is crucial for Samuel's first encounter with God's voice. 2. Samuel A young boy serving in the temple under Eli. Samuel is chosen by God to be a prophet, and this passage marks the beginning of his prophetic ministry. 3. The LORD The God of Israel, who calls out to Samuel. This event signifies God's direct communication and calling of Samuel to be His prophet. 4. The Temple The place where Samuel was serving and where he heard God's call. It represents a place of worship and divine encounter. 5. The Call The event of God calling Samuel, which is a pivotal moment in Samuel's life and in the history of Israel, as it marks the transition of leadership from Eli to Samuel. Teaching Points Listening to GodJust as Samuel was instructed to listen, we must cultivate a posture of attentiveness to God's voice in our lives. This involves quieting our hearts and being open to His guidance. Mentorship and Guidance Eli's role in guiding Samuel highlights the importance of spiritual mentorship. We should seek and provide godly counsel within our communities. Responding to God's Call Samuel's response, "Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening," is a model for our own response to God's call. We should be ready and willing to serve when God speaks to us. The Importance of Obedience Samuel's obedience to Eli's instruction and ultimately to God's call is a reminder of the blessings that come from following God's direction. Recognizing God's Voice Like Samuel, we may not always recognize God's voice at first. It is important to discern and confirm God's voice through prayer, scripture, and wise counsel. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 3:9?2. How can we apply Samuel's response to God's call in our daily lives? 3. What does Eli's guidance to Samuel teach about spiritual mentorship and leadership? 4. How does 1 Samuel 3:9 connect with listening to God's voice in prayer? 5. Why is it important to say, "Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening"? 6. How can we discern God's voice amidst life's distractions, as Samuel did? 7. How does 1 Samuel 3:9 illustrate the importance of listening to God's voice today? 8. What role does Eli play in guiding Samuel's spiritual journey in 1 Samuel 3:9? 9. How does 1 Samuel 3:9 reflect the theme of mentorship in spiritual growth? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 3? (9, 10) And the Lord came, and stood.--Then before the boy, as he lay and waited for the voice, came something, and it stood before him. The question naturally occurs to us, What came and stood before the boy's couch? As a rule, we find that generally, when the Lord was pleased to take some form, the form is specified. Now, as in Abraham's case at Mamre, it was a traveller; now, as in Joshua's, an armed warrior; very frequently, as to Manoah, the form was that of an angel; here nothing is specially described. Was it not that simply "the glory" on which Moses gazed when he met the Holy One on Sinai--"the glory" which seemed to rest at times in the lightless Holy of Holies on the golden mercy-seat of the Ark of the Covenant? Was it not this "visible glory"--Shekinah. as the Hebrews termed it--which filled the chamber of the child, and from out of this came the voice of the Eternal, and spoke to Samuel? "See how God loves holiness in children. The child Samuel was preferred by Him to Eli, the aged high priest and judge."--Theodoret, quoted by Bishop Wordsworth.Eli counsels young Samuel to posture himself quietly, await God’s sovereign call, and answer with humble readiness. Samuel’s obedient return to bed models a heart that trusts God to speak and stands prepared to act. The verse invites every believer to cultivate stillness, submit to godly guidance, recognize the Lord’s initiative, and respond, “Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.” Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Goלֵ֣ךְ (lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk and lie down,” שְׁכָב֒ (šə·ḵāḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 7901: To lie down he עֵלִ֣י (‘ê·lî) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to Samuel, לִשְׁמוּאֵל֮ (liš·mū·’êl) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel “and וְהָיָה֙ (wə·hā·yāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be if אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not He calls you, יִקְרָ֣א (yiq·rā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read say, וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ (wə·’ā·mar·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘Speak, דַּבֵּ֣ר (dab·bêr) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue LORD, יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel for כִּ֥י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction Your servant עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (‘aḇ·de·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant is listening.’” שֹׁמֵ֖עַ (šō·mê·a‘) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently So Samuel שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (šə·mū·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel went וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk and lay down וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב (way·yiš·kaḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7901: To lie down in his place. בִּמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ (bim·qō·w·mōw) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition Additonal Resources 1 Samuel 3:9 Blue Letter Bible1 Samuel 3:9 Bible Gateway 1 Samuel 3:9 Bible.com 1 Samuel 3:9 NIV |
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