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The Lord Calls Samuel

1 Samuel 3

While Samuel lies near the ark at Shiloh, the Lord calls his name three times before Eli realizes it is the Lord speaking, and Samuel is given the word of judgment against Eli's house; as Samuel grows, all Israel comes to recognize him as a faithful prophet of the Lord.

About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW when the child Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli the priest (in those days the word of the Lord was precious—there was no distinct vision)
BrentonAnd the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli the priest: and the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no distinct vision.
GreekΚαὶ τὸ παιδάριον Σαμουὴλ ἦν λειτουργῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐνώπιον Ἡλὶ τοῦ ἱερέως· καὶ ῥῆμα Κυρίου ἦν τίμιον ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, οὐκ ἦν ὅρασις διαστέλλουσα.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.
2
Thomsonit came to pass at that time, when Eli was sleeping in his place, his eyes having then begun to be heavy, so that he could not see,
BrentonAnd it came to pass at that time that Heli was sleeping in his place; and his eyes began to fail, and could not see.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρα ἐκείνῃ, καὶ Ἡλὶ ἐκάθευδεν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἤρξαντο βαρύνεσθαι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο βλέπειν.
KJVAnd 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;
JPSAnd it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place—now his eyes had begun to wax dim, that he could not see—
3
Thomsonand before the lamp of God was replenished, and Samuel was sleeping at the temple, where the ark of God was,
BrentonAnd the lamp of God was burning before it was trimmed, and Samuel slept in the temple, where was the ark of God.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ λύχνος τοῦ Θεοῦ πρὶν ἐπισκευασθῆναι, καὶ Σαμουὴλ ἐκάθευδεν ἐν τῷ ναῷ, οὗ ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ.
KJVAnd 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;
JPSand the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down to sleep in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was,
4
Thomsonthe Lord called, Samuel! Samuel! Whereupon he said, Here I am,
BrentonAnd the Lord called, Samuel, Samuel; and he said, Behold, here am I.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσε Κύριος, Σαμουὴλ Σαμουήλ· καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ἐγώ.
KJVThat the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
JPSthat the LORD called Samuel; and he said: ‘Here am I.’ .
5
Thomsonand ran to Eli, and said, Here I am, for thou didst call me. And he said, I did not call thee. Return, and go to sleep. So he returned and went to sleep. And the Lord again called Samuel! Samuel! Whereupon he went to Eli, a second time, and said, Here I am; for thou didst call me. And he said I did not call thee, Return, and go to sleep.
BrentonAnd he ran to Heli, and said, Here am I, for thou didst call me: and he said, I did not call thee; return, go to sleep; and he returned and went to sleep.
GreekΚαὶ ἔδραμε πρὸς Ἡλὶ, καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ, ὅτι κέκληκάς με· καὶ εἶπεν, οὐ κέκληκά σε, ἀνάστρεφε, κάθευδε· καὶ ἀνέστρεψε καὶ ἐκάθευδε.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd he ran unto Eli, and said: ‘Here am I; for thou didst call me.’ And he said: ‘I called not; lie down again.’ And he went and lay down.
6
Thomson—
BrentonAnd the Lord called again, Samuel, Samuel: and he went to Heli the second time, and said, Behold here am I, for thou didst call me: and he said, I called thee not; return, go to sleep.
GreekΚαὶ προσέθετο Κύριος, καὶ ἐκάλεσε, Σαμουὴλ Σαμουήλ· καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Ἡλὶ τὸ δεύτερον, καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ, ὅτι κέκληκάς με· καὶ εἶπεν, οὐ κέκληκά σε, ἀνάστρεφε, κάθευδε.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.’
7
ThomsonThus before Samuel knew God, or the word of the Lord was revealed to him,
BrentonAnd it was before Samuel knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed to him.
GreekΚαὶ Σαμουὴλ πρὶν γνῶναι Θεὸν, καὶ ἀποκαλυφθῆναι αὐτῷ ῥῆμα Κυρίου.
KJVNow Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
JPSNow Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8
Thomsonthe Lord proceeded to call Samuel the third time; whereupon Samuel arose, and went to Eli, and said, Here I am, for thou didst call me. Then Eli conjectured that the Lord had called him;
BrentonAnd the Lord called Samuel again for the third time: and he arose and went to Heli, and said, Behold, I am here, for thou didst call me: and Heli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
GreekΚαὶ προσέθετο Κύριος καλέσαι Σαμουὴλ ἐν τρίτῳ· καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Ἡλὶ, καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ, ὅτι κέκληκάς με· καὶ ἐσοφίσατο Ἡλὶ ὅτι Κύριος κέκληκε τὸ παιδάριον.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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 was calling the child.
9
Thomsontherefore he said, Return my son, and go to sleep, and if He call thee thou shalt say, Speak, for Thy servant heareth.
BrentonAnd he said, Return, child, go to sleep; and it shall come to pass if he shall call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, for thy servant hears: and Samuel went and lay down in his place.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν, ἀνάστρεφε, κάθευδε τέκνον· καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν καλέσῃ σε, καὶ ἐρεῖς, λάλει, ὅτι ἀκούει ὁ δοῦλός σου· καὶ ἐπορεύθη Σαμουὴλ, καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ.
KJVTherefore 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.
JPSTherefore Eli said unto Samuel: ‘Go, lie down; and it shall be, if thou be called, that thou shalt say: Speak, LORD; for Thy servant heareth.’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10
ThomsonSo Samuel went, and lay down in his place, and the Lord came, and stood over against him, and called him as before. And Samuel said, Speak, for Thy servant heareth.
BrentonAnd the Lord came, and stood, and called him as before: and Samuel said, Speak, for thy servant hears.
GreekΚαὶ ἦλθε Κύριος καὶ κατέστη, καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν ὡς ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ· καὶ εἶπε Σαμουὴλ, λάλει, ὅτι ἀκούει ὁ δοῦλός σου.
KJVAnd the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
JPSAnd the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times: ‘Samuel, Samuel.’ Then Samuel said: ‘Speak; for Thy servant heareth.’
11
ThomsonThen the Lord said to Samuel, Behold I am about to execute My words in Israel, at which both the ears of every one who heareth them shall tingle.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I execute my words in Israel; whoever hears them, both his ears shall tingle.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Σαμουὴλ, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ποιῶ τὰ ῥήματά μου ἐν Ἰσραὴλ, παντὸς ἀκούοντος αὐτὰ, ἠχήσει ἀμφότερα τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.
12
ThomsonIn that day I will bring upon Eli all that I have spoken against his house, I will begin and completely finish.
BrentonIn that day I will raise up against Heli all things that I have said against his house; I will begin, and I will make an end.
GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐπεγερῶ ἐπὶ Ἡλὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐλάλησα εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, ἄρξομαι καὶ ἐπιτελέσω.
KJVIn 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.
JPSIn that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even unto the end.
13
ThomsonI have indeed told him that I will take vengeance on his house forever, for the iniquities of his sons. Because his sons spoke evil of God,
BrentonAnd I have told him that I will be avenged on his house perpetually for the iniquities of his sons, because his sons spoke evil against God, and he did not admonish them.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνήγγελκα αὐτῷ ὅτι ἐκδικῶ ἐγὼ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἕως αἰῶνος ἐν ἀδικίαις υἱῶν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι κακολογοῦντες Θεὸν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐνουθέτει αὐτούς.
KJVFor 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.
JPSFor I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity, in that he knew that his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he rebuked them not.
14
Thomsonand he did not chastise them, therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated with incense or sacrifices forever.
BrentonAnd it shall not go on so; I have sworn to the house of Eli, the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be atoned for with incense or sacrifices for ever.
GreekΚαὶ οὐδʼ οὕτως· ὤμοσα τῷ οἴκῳ Ἡλὶ, εἰ ἐξιλασθήσεται ἀδικία οἴκου Ἡλὶ, ἐν θυμιάματι καὶ ἐν θυσίαις ἕως αἰῶνος.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering for ever.’
15
ThomsonAnd Samuel lay till the morning, and arose early in the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord, but was afraid to tell the vision.
BrentonAnd Samuel slept till morning, and rose early in the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord; and Samuel feared to tell Heli the vision.
GreekΚαὶ κοιμᾶται Σαμουὴλ ἕως πρωῒ, καὶ ὤρθρισε τοπρωῒ καὶ ἤνοιξε τὰς θύρας οἴκου Κυρίου· καὶ Σαμουὴλ ἐφοβήθη ἀπαγγεῖλαι τὴν ὅρασιν.
KJVAnd Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
JPSAnd Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to tell Eli the vision.
16
ThomsonThen Eli said to Samuel, Samuel, my son! And he said, Here I am.
BrentonAnd Heli said to Samuel, Samuel, my son; and he said, Behold, here am I.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἡλὶ πρὸς Σαμουὴλ, Σαμουὴλ τέκνον· καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ἐγώ.
KJVThen Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
JPSThen Eli called Samuel, and said: ‘Samuel, my son.’ And he said: ‘Here am I.’
17
ThomsonAnd he said, What was the word spoken to thee? Hide it not from me, I pray thee. God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me, of all that was spoken to thee in thy hearing.
BrentonAnd he said, What was the word that was spoken to thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: may God do these things to thee, and more also, if thou hide from me any thing of all the words that were spoken to thee in thine ears.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, τί τὸ ῥήμα τὸ λαληθὲν πρὸς σέ; μὴ δὴ κρήψῃς ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ· τάδε ποιήσαι σοι ὁ Θεὸς καὶ τάδε προσθείη, ἐὰν κρύψῃς ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ ῥῆμα ἐκ πάντων τῶν λόγων τῶν λαληθέντων σοι ἐν τοῖς ὠσί σου.
KJVAnd he said, What is the thing that the LORD 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.
JPSAnd he said: ‘What is the thing that He hath spoken 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 spoke unto thee.’
18
ThomsonThen Samuel told him all the words. He did not hide anything from him. Whereupon Eli said, He is the Lord. He will do what is good in His sight.
BrentonAnd Samuel reported all the words, and hid them not from him. And Heli said, He is the Lord, he shall do that which is good in his sight.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπήγγειλε Σαμουὴλ πάντας τοὺς λόγους, καὶ οὐκ ἔκρυψεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν Ἡλὶ, Κύριος αὐτὸς, τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ποιήσει.
KJVAnd Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
JPSAnd Samuel told him all the words, and hid nothing from him. And he said: ‘It is the LORD; let Him do what seemeth Him good.’
19
ThomsonAnd Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, so that not one of his words fell to the ground.
BrentonAnd Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and there did not fall one of his words to the ground.
GreekΚαὶ ἐμεγαλύνθη Σαμουὴλ, καὶ ἦν Κύριος μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔπεσεν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν.
KJVAnd Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
JPSAnd Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20
ThomsonAnd all Israel, from Dan to Bersabee, knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord.
BrentonAnd all Israel knew from Dan even to Bersabee, that Samuel was faithful as a prophet to the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ ἔγνωσαν πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ Δὰν καὶ ἕως Βηρσαβεὲ, ὅτι πιστὸς Σαμονὴλ εἰς προφήτην τῷ Κυρίῳ.
KJVAnd all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
JPSAnd all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21
ThomsonAnd the Lord continued to manifest Himself at Selom; for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel, and it was confidently believed that Samuel would be the prophet of the Lord to all Israel, from one end of the land to the other.
BrentonAnd the Lord manifested himself again in Selom, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel; and Samuel was accredited to all Israel as a prophet to the Lord from one end of the land to the other: and Heli was very old, and his sons kept advancing in wickedness, and their way was evil before the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ προσέθετο Κύριος δηλωθῆναι ἐν Σηλὼμε, ὅτι ἀπεκαλύφθη Κύριος πρὸς Σαμουήλ· καὶ ἐπιστεύθη Σαμουὴλ τοῦ προφήτης γενέσθαι τῷ Κυρίῳ εἰς πάντα Ἰσραὴλ ἀπʼ ἄκρων τῆς γῆς καὶ ἕως ἄκρων· καὶ Ἡλὶ πρεσβύτης σφόδρα, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ πορεύομενοι ἐπορεύοντο, καὶ πονηρὰ ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτῶν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου.
KJVAnd the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
JPSAnd the LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.