Keraia
1 Samuel 3

1 Samuel 3:1

The LORD Calls Samuel · 1 Samuel 3:1–14
Read 1 Samuel 3

Translations

Modern
And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were scarce.
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And the boy Samuel ministered to YHWH before the face of Eli. And the word of YHWH was rare in those days; there was no vision broken forth.
Latin
Puer autem Samuel ministrabat Domino coram Heli, et sermo Domini erat pretiosus in diebus illis: non erat visio manifesta.

Original

Hebrew
English
And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were scarce.

Notes

1 Samuel 3:1

the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were scarce: God was not revealing his will through prophets or priests. This means that God was not regularly speaking to his people or giving them guidance.

However, this time of spiritual darkness was about to end when God began to communicate with Samuel (1 Samuel 3:2–4:1a).

Theme notes and profiles

Eli Samuel The Priestly Blessing

People

Eli: High priest and judge of Israel at Shiloh Samuel: Prophet and last judge of Israel before the kings

Glossary

Phinehas Samuel, Books of First and Second Word, Word of God, Words of God

Topics

Children: Early Piety of Samuel Eli: Prophecies of Judgments Upon his House Israel: Under the Judges: Led by Eli for Forty Years Prophets: Inspiration of Prophets: The Jews: Often Left Without, on Account of Sin Religion: Outstanding Religious Persons: Samuel Samuel: His Vision Concerning the House of Eli Vision: A Mode of Revelation Visions: Sometimes Withheld for a Long Season