1 Samuel 3 15

1 Samuel 3:15 kjv

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

1 Samuel 3:15 nkjv

So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.

1 Samuel 3:15 niv

Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,

1 Samuel 3:15 esv

Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.

1 Samuel 3:15 nlt

Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the LORD had said to him.

1 Samuel 3 verses

1 Samuel 3 15 Meaning

This verse portrays Samuel's obedient execution of his morning duties, quietly performing the tasks of a temple servant. It simultaneously reveals his inner struggle and profound human fear concerning the difficult divine message he had received for Eli. Despite having heard the voice of the Lord and the severe judgment on Eli's house, Samuel chose to wait until morning to disclose the weighty revelation, demonstrating a sense of propriety and dread at delivering such grim tidings to his mentor.

1 Samuel 3 15 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the pivotal account of God's call to Samuel and the prophecy concerning the judgment upon Eli and his corrupt household. Previously, the Word of the Lord was rare (1 Sam 3:1). Eli, the high priest, was old and had lost his spiritual sight, literally and metaphorically, failing to restrain his wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam 2:12-17, 22-25). God had specifically communicated to Samuel, a young boy serving in the Tabernacle, the dreadful news that He would soon judge Eli's house and make an end to his priestly lineage due to their contempt for the Lord's offerings and His holy place. This severe pronouncement, which Samuel now carries, sets the stage for a critical moment in Israel's history—the transition of prophetic authority from the old, corrupt priesthood to a new, faithful prophet raised by God Himself.

1 Samuel 3 15 Word analysis

• Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל, Sh'mu'el): His name, meaning "heard of God" or "name of God," is prophetic of his life. At this point, Samuel is a young boy, perhaps 12 years old, serving in the Tabernacle at Shiloh. His youth makes his role as God's chosen messenger even more striking, highlighting that God often uses the humble and unlikely.
• lay (וַיִּשְׁכַּב, wa-yishkav): Hebrew imperfect with waw consecutive, implying continuous or completed action in the past. It signifies that Samuel remained in his resting place (likely near the Ark of the Covenant, as 1 Sam 3:3 indicates), showing a state of calm and perhaps contemplation after the profound encounter with God, or simply indicating he slept until dawn. It contrasts his inner revelation with outer normalcy.
• until the morning (עַד־הַבֹּקֶר, 'ad hab-boqer): This specifies the timing. Samuel did not rush to deliver the message in the darkness of night. This suggests wisdom, emotional processing, and a adherence to the rhythm of Tabernacle life where daily duties commenced in the morning.
• and opened (וַיִּפְתַּח, wa-yiftach): Another imperfect with waw consecutive, indicating a regular, daily action. Samuel faithfully performed his prescribed duties. This duty would involve drawing back curtains or opening gates to the Tabernacle courtyard and inner sections accessible to Levites, marking the start of the daily sacred routines.
• the doors of the house of the Lord (דַּלְתֵי בֵית־יְהוָה, daltei beit-YHWH): "House of the Lord" here refers to the Tabernacle at Shiloh. These "doors" would likely be curtains or gate-like structures for the entrance to the tent of meeting. This daily ritual signifies access to the divine presence and the continuation of normal worship, despite the coming judgment and the revelation Samuel holds. It demonstrates his practical service before spiritual delivery.
• but Samuel feared (וְשְׁמוּאֵל יָרֵא, we-Sh'mu'el yare'): The Hebrew word yare' can mean awe, reverence, or terror/fear. Here, it denotes genuine human fear and apprehension. This is not a fear of God, but a fear of the difficult confrontation and the potential reaction from his venerable mentor, Eli. This fear is understandable for a young boy given the gravity of the news.
• to tell (לְהַגִּיד, le-haggid): "To declare, to make known." It implies a full disclosure. Samuel understood the direct command to convey the message received from God.
• Eli the vision (אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶה אֶל־עֵלִי, et ha-mar'eh 'el-`Eli): Mar'eh means "a sight," "an appearance," or "a vision." It distinguishes God's direct revelation to Samuel from a mere dream. The message was specifically for Eli, not for general announcement, adding to the personal burden on Samuel.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord": This phrase shows Samuel's routine obedience and self-discipline. He doesn't immediately deliver the distressing message but carries out his normal, humble duties, implying a calm demeanor or internal struggle concealed by external conformity. This normalcy contrasts sharply with the extraordinary divine revelation he has just experienced. It also signifies his commitment to sacred service, despite the overwhelming spiritual experience.
• "but Samuel feared to tell Eli the vision": This is the heart of the verse, revealing Samuel's internal conflict. The conjunction "but" (waw conjunction here meaning adversative) highlights the tension between his routine faithfulness and his profound apprehension. His fear demonstrates the human struggle of conveying difficult truth, especially to those in authority or those he respects and loves. This fear, however, doesn't deter him from eventually delivering the message, highlighting his ultimate obedience to God above the fear of man.

1 Samuel 3 15 Bonus section

• Samuel's decision to wait until morning can be seen as an act of both spiritual and emotional maturity beyond his years. It provided time for processing the profound and disturbing divine communication, and perhaps allowed for a more respectful approach in addressing Eli rather than a rushed, nocturnal pronouncement.
• This verse subtly foreshadows the passing of the prophetic mantle. While Samuel is diligently opening the physical doors of the Tabernacle, he is soon to open a new spiritual door for Israel by ushering in an era of consistent prophecy and divine guidance that had been largely absent during Eli's later years (1 Sam 3:1).
• Samuel's initial fear highlights a common trait among God's chosen messengers throughout biblical history (e.g., Moses, Jeremiah, Jonah). It humanizes him and emphasizes that divine commission does not always negate human apprehension. God often uses individuals who initially feel inadequate or afraid, demonstrating that His power is perfected in weakness.
• The fact that Samuel opened the doors, rather than someone else, shows that Eli's household still relied on Samuel, hinting at the operational breakdown within the priestly system even before its formal divine judgment. Eli was already spiritually dim, needing a young boy to assist in priestly functions that perhaps he or his sons should have been diligently performing.

1 Samuel 3 15 Commentary

1 Samuel 3:15 provides a quiet, intimate glimpse into the developing character of Samuel. After receiving an unprecedented and terrifying prophecy, Samuel does not immediately react or share the burden. Instead, he maintains his daily discipline, waiting until the morning, a common time for both domestic duties and divine revelations. His act of opening the Tabernacle doors underscores his continuity in service and faithfulness in mundane tasks, despite having just been initiated into a prophet's monumental calling. The verse then highlights his understandable human fear, a testament to the youth and respect Samuel held for Eli, his aged mentor and spiritual father. He feared conveying God's judgment directly, recognizing the pain and finality of the message. This quiet moment of dread preceding his decisive delivery demonstrates the gravity of divine revelation and the courage required for a prophet to speak God's often uncomfortable truth. Samuel's hesitation wasn't defiance but the mark of a true servant bearing a heavy responsibility.