Bible Chapter Summary
1 Samuel 3 Summary
The Lord Calls Samuel to Prophecy
As Samuel sleeps in the temple where the ark of God rests, the Lord calls him by name three times. Samuel, not yet knowing the Lord's voice, runs to Eli thinking he called, until Eli perceives it is God calling the child. Eli instructs Samuel to lie down and respond by saying "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." The Lord stands and calls Samuel again, revealing that He will judge Eli's house for the iniquity his sons have committed and because Eli did not restrain them. Samuel grows and all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knows he is established as a prophet of the Lord.
Key themes
Key verses
1 Samuel 3:4
“That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.”
1 Samuel 3:10
“And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
1 Samuel 3:12-13
“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.”
Read 1 Samuel 3 in full
Study the complete chapter with interlinear Hebrew & Greek, verse-by-verse, in the Gospel Daily reader.
Open the full chapter