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1 Samuel 3
New International Version

### The Lord Calls Samuel

3 The boy Samuel ministered(A) before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare;(B) there were not many visions.(C)

2 One night Eli, whose eyes(D) were becoming so weak that he could barely see,(E) was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp(F) of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house(G) of the Lord, where the ark(H) of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.(I)” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know(J) the Lord: The word(K) of the Lord had not yet been revealed(L) to him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 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.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!(M)”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.(N) 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything(O) I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,[a] and he failed to restrain(P) them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned(Q) for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide(R) it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely,(S) if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”(T)

19 The Lord was with(U) Samuel as he grew(V) up, and he let none(W) of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba(X) recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.(Y) 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed(Z) himself to Samuel through his word.

#### Footnotes

1. 1 Samuel 3:13 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text sons made themselves contemptible

#### Cross references

1. 1 Samuel 3:1 : S 1Sa 2:11
2. 1 Samuel 3:1 : Ps 74:9; La 2:9; Eze 7:26
3. 1 Samuel 3:1 : Am 8:11
4. 1 Samuel 3:2 : 1Sa 4:15
5. 1 Samuel 3:2 : S Ge 27:1
6. 1 Samuel 3:3 : Ex 25:31-38; Lev 24:1-4
7. 1 Samuel 3:3 : 1Sa 1:9
8. 1 Samuel 3:3 : Dt 10:1-5; 1Ki 6:19; 8:1
9. 1 Samuel 3:4 : S Ge 22:1; S Ex 3:4
10. 1 Samuel 3:7 : 1Sa 2:12
11. 1 Samuel 3:7 : Jer 1:2
12. 1 Samuel 3:7 : S Nu 12:6; Am 3:7
13. 1 Samuel 3:10 : Ex 3:4
14. 1 Samuel 3:11 : 2Ki 21:12; Job 15:21; Jer 19:3
15. 1 Samuel 3:12 : S 1Sa 2:27-36
16. 1 Samuel 3:13 : 1Ki 1:6
17. 1 Samuel 3:14 : S 1Sa 2:25
18. 1 Samuel 3:17 : 1Ki 22:14; Jer 23:28; 38:14; 42:4
19. 1 Samuel 3:17 : S Ru 1:17
20. 1 Samuel 3:18 : S Jdg 10:15
21. 1 Samuel 3:19 : S Ge 21:22; S Nu 14:43
22. 1 Samuel 3:19 : S Jdg 13:24
23. 1 Samuel 3:19 : 1Sa 9:6
24. 1 Samuel 3:20 : S Jdg 20:1
25. 1 Samuel 3:20 : S Dt 18:22; Eze 33:33
26. 1 Samuel 3:21 : S Nu 12:6

New International Version (NIV)

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