The big picture
1 Samuel 3 opens in verse 1 with “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears…”, and closes in verse 21 with “And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh…” Repeated or prominent terms include Samuel, LORD, Here, house, call. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Samuel · King James Version · 211 Samuel 3:1-7
1–7: The child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of…
1 Samuel 3:1–7 opens with “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious…” and reaches “Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD , neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel rising in the night and approaching Eli after hearing his name called, with particular weight carried by LORD, Samuel, Here.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there…” Naming Eli and Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
1 Samuel 3:1-7
King James Version1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD , where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD , neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
1 Samuel 3:8-14
8–14: The LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to…
1 Samuel 3:8–14 opens with “And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am…” and reaches “And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel rising in the night and approaching Eli after hearing his name called, with particular weight carried by Samuel, LORD, house.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst…” Naming Eli and Here keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD ; for…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Samuel 3:8-14
King James Version8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9Therefore 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.
10And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12In 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.
13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
1 Samuel 3:15-21
15–21: Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the…
1 Samuel 3:15–21 opens with “And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD . And Samuel…” and reaches “And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel rising in the night and approaching Eli after hearing his name called, with particular weight carried by LORD, Samuel, hide.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD . And Samuel feared to shew Eli the…” Naming Samuel and Eli keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 3:15-21
King James Version15And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD . And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17And he said, What is the thing that the \+nd Lord\+nd hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD : let him do what seemeth him good.
19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD .
21And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Samuel 3:1 begins with “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Samuel 3:9 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
1 Samuel 3:21 leaves the reader with “And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD .”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Samuel, LORD, Here, house, call, heareth help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does blame move through the conversation?
The man points to the woman and indirectly to God; the woman points to the serpent. Neither response repairs trust.
Where does mercy appear?
Continued life, the promise involving offspring, and clothing accompany the expulsion.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
