1 Samuel 3:4-14

The Lord Calls Samuel

4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down.

6 And the Lord called again, "Samuel!" and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the young man. 9 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.

10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears." 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel k at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli l all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 l And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, m because his sons were blaspheming God, 1 n and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli o that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."

  1. Cross References
    2 Kings 21:12
    Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.
    Jeremiah 19:3
    You shall say, 'Hear the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:30 - 36
    Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' but now the Lord declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:12
    On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:12
    Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
    1 Samuel 2:17
    Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
    1 Samuel 2:22
    Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:23 - 25
    And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.
  6. Cross References
    Isaiah 22:14
    The Lord of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: "Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die," says the Lord God of hosts.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.