1 Samuel 3:6 kjv
And 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.
1 Samuel 3:6 nkjv
Then the LORD called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." He answered, "I did not call, my son; lie down again."
1 Samuel 3:6 niv
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."
1 Samuel 3:6 esv
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."
1 Samuel 3:6 nlt
Then the LORD called out again, "Samuel!" Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. "Here I am. Did you call me?" "I didn't call you, my son," Eli said. "Go back to bed."
1 Samuel 3 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1 | Now the LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country..." | God initiates calls to individuals. |
| Gen 22:1 | After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” | "Here I am" (hineni) as a ready response. |
| Gen 31:11 | The angel of God said to me in the dream, “Jacob!” And I said, “Here I am!” | God communicates in dreams/night and receives "Here I am." |
| Exo 3:4 | When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him... "Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” | God's repeated call and Moses' "Here I am." |
| Isa 6:8 | Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me." | A willing, "Here I am" response to divine call. |
| Jer 1:4-5 | Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you... I appointed you a prophet to the nations." | God calls individuals, often young, to be prophets. |
| Jer 7:13 | “And now, because you have done all these things, declares the Lord, and when I spoke to you persistently..." | God speaks persistently to His people. |
| Matt 23:37 | “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children..." | Jesus laments Israel's refusal to hear His repeated call. |
| Luke 13:34 | “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" | God's repeated desire for people to respond to Him. |
| John 10:27 | My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. | Believers ultimately learn to recognize God's voice. |
| Rom 8:29-30 | For those whom he foreknew he also predestined... those whom he predestined he also called... | God's calling as part of His sovereign plan. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | God communicates to humanity in various ways across history. |
| Acts 9:10 | Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” | A "Here I am" response in the New Testament. |
| Acts 22:16 | And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ | Divine guidance often comes through another person's instruction. |
| Psa 4:8 | In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. | Context of "lie down" in relation to sleep and trust in God. |
| Isa 55:6 | “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near." | The importance of responding when God calls or speaks. |
| Joel 2:28-29 | “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..." | The future expansion of prophetic communication. |
| Prov 20:24 | A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? | Samuel's lack of understanding shows God directs unknown paths. |
| John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things... | The Holy Spirit's role in teaching believers to discern truth. |
| Eph 4:11 | And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, | God raises up spiritual leaders and prophets. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, | Scripture as the enduring "word of the Lord" after prophetic era. |
1 Samuel 3 verses
1 Samuel 3 6 Meaning
The verse details the second instance of God calling the young Samuel, who, unfamiliar with the divine voice, mistook it for Eli, the priest he served. It illustrates Samuel’s immediate, dutiful response to what he perceived as Eli's summons and Eli's continued ignorance of the divine source, simply instructing Samuel to return to his rest. This repetition underscores the Lord's persistence in communicating and sets the stage for Eli's eventual realization and guidance to Samuel in subsequent verses.
1 Samuel 3 6 Context
1 Samuel chapter 3 opens by stating that "the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision" (1 Sam 3:1), indicating a time of spiritual dormancy and infrequent divine communication in Israel. Eli, the aged high priest, presided over a tabernacle service marred by the wickedness of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who defiled the sacrificial system and were condemned by God. Against this backdrop of moral and spiritual decline, the young Samuel, dedicated to the Lord from birth, served in the tabernacle. The narrative sets the stage for a new prophetic era beginning with Samuel. The call described in 1 Samuel 3:6 is the second of three initial calls that Samuel experiences during the night, each time confusing God's voice for Eli's. This verse directly follows the first, establishing a pattern of divine persistence despite Samuel's ignorance and Eli's spiritual dullness.
1 Samuel 3 6 Word analysis
- The Lord (`YHWH` - Yahweh): Refers to the personal, covenantal name of God, distinguishing Him from any other deity. This emphasizes that it is not just a god but the God of Israel who is initiating communication, highlighting His specific involvement in the lives of His people and prophets.
- called (`qara'` - קָרָא): Hebrew verb meaning "to call," "to summon," "to proclaim." Its repetition (implied from the previous verse, explicit in "called... again") signifies divine initiative and persistence, emphasizing that the call is purposeful and urgent.
- Samuel: His name, potentially meaning "Heard of God" or "Name of God," carries an ironic twist here as he initially fails to discern that it is God who is calling him.
- again the second time: This phrase highlights the divine patience and persistence. God does not give up after the first attempt. It signifies the Lord's unwavering determination to establish a relationship with Samuel and deliver His message.
- And he arose: Indicates Samuel's immediate, albeit misdirected, obedience and readiness. He acts promptly to what he perceives as a superior's command.
- and went to Eli: This shows Samuel’s dedication to Eli and his filial respect. It also emphasizes Eli's central role in Samuel's life and underscores Samuel's assumption about the source of the call.
- said, ‘Here I am (`hineni` - הִנְנִי):’ A standard biblical phrase conveying immediate availability, readiness, or humble submission (e.g., Abraham, Moses, Isaiah). Although mistaken in context, it speaks to Samuel’s underlying character of responsiveness and obedience to authority.
- ‘for you called me.’: Reveals Samuel’s innocent assumption. His inexperience with direct divine communication led him to default to the known human authority in his life.
- And he answered: Eli’s response, despite its initial denial, provides crucial interaction that will eventually lead to the correct interpretation of the calls.
- ‘I did not call, my son;’: Eli's persistent denial emphasizes his spiritual slumber. "My son" (בְּנִי, `beni`) is an affectionate term, revealing a genuine if somewhat spiritually unaware, care for Samuel.
- ‘lie down again.’: An instruction to return to rest, signifying the late hour and Eli's exhaustion or lack of spiritual sensitivity to the profound event unfolding.
1 Samuel 3 6 Bonus section
The narrative of God's call to Samuel highlights that God often uses unconventional means and recipients to fulfill His purposes, especially when conventional channels (like Eli) become spiritually impaired. Samuel’s inability to discern God’s voice immediately serves as a spiritual lesson: hearing from God is not always automatic, but sometimes requires spiritual tutelage, humility, and persistence in listening. This specific episode also underscores God's faithfulness in raising up new leadership even amidst the decline of established religious figures.
1 Samuel 3 6 Commentary
1 Samuel 3:6 concisely captures the pivotal, yet misunderstood, stage of God's direct revelation to Samuel. The Lord's repeated, personal call signifies His initiation of a new era of prophecy, moving past the spiritual stagnation represented by Eli's household. Samuel's unhesitating "Here I am" response, though misdirected to Eli, reveals his character as immediately available and obedient, a foundational trait for a future prophet. Eli's continued confusion highlights the prevailing spiritual dullness of the age. This divine persistence, even in the face of human ignorance, sets the pattern for God's ongoing call to His people—a call that often requires a sensitive and discerning heart, sometimes needing the guidance of those more experienced to properly discern His voice. The verse is a powerful illustration of divine initiative intersecting with human naivete, laying the groundwork for God's significant communication in the following verses.