Skip to content
Journey Through the Bible

1 Samuel 3:4-21

4 Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 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.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.

9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.

12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end.

13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them.

14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

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

16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”
Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.”

18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.

20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.

21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

Cross References for 1 Samuel 3:4-21

Isaiah 6:8 - Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I s... Click to read the verse Isaiah 6:8 Click to read the verse Isaiah 6:8

Genesis 31:11 - The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ Click to read the verse Genesis 31:11 Click to read the verse Genesis 31:11

Genesis 22:1 - Abraham Tested Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he r... Click to read the verse Genesis 22:1 Click to read the verse Genesis 22:1

Exodus 3:4 - When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses... Click to read the verse Exodus 3:4 Click to read the verse Exodus 3:4

Acts 9:4 - He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Click to read the verse Acts 9:4 Click to read the verse Acts 9:4

Genesis 46:2 - And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. Click to read the verse Genesis 46:2 Click to read the verse Genesis 46:2

Acts 9:10 - In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” ... Click to read the verse Acts 9:10 Click to read the verse Acts 9:10

Psalms 99:6 - Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they cal... Click to read the verse Psalms 99:6 Click to read the verse Psalms 99:6

1 Corinthians 12:28 - And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, the... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 12:28 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 12:28

1 Samuel 3:21 - The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 3:21 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 3:21

1 Corinthians 12:6-11 - There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 12:6-11 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 12:6-11

Galatians 1:15-16 - But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased Click to read the verse Galatians 1:15-16 Click to read the verse Galatians 1:15-16