1 Samuel 3:5

And 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.

And he ran {H7323} unto Eli {H5941}, and said {H559}, Here am I {H2009}; for thou calledst {H7121} me. And he said {H559}, I called {H7121} not; lie down {H7901} again {H7725}. And he went {H3212} and lay down {H7901}.

Then he ran to 'Eli and said, "Here I am - you called me?" But he said, "I didn't call you; go back, and lie down." So he went and lay down.

He ran to Eli and said, β€œHere I am, for you have called me.” β€œI did not call,” Eli replied. β€œGo back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

And 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.

Commentary

1 Samuel 3:5 captures a pivotal moment in the life of young Samuel and the spiritual history of Israel. It describes Samuel's immediate and dutiful response to what he perceived as a call from Eli, the high priest, only for Eli to deny it, setting the stage for God's direct revelation.

Context

This verse is part of the narrative detailing God's call to Samuel, which marks a significant transition in Israel's leadership. The events unfold at the tabernacle in Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant resided. At this time, "the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision" (1 Samuel 3:1). Eli, the presiding high priest, was old and visually impaired, and his sons were notoriously wicked (1 Samuel 2:12), leading to a period of spiritual decline and limited divine communication. God chose to speak directly to young Samuel, a humble servant, bypassing the compromised priestly line. Samuel's swift action in response to the voice, believing it to be Eli's, highlights his diligence and readiness to serve.

Key Themes

  • Obedience and Readiness: Samuel's immediate dash to Eli demonstrates his profound respect and willingness to serve, even in the middle of the night. This eagerness to respond is a foundational characteristic for anyone called to serve God.
  • Divine Initiative: God initiates the communication, choosing a young, pure-hearted servant to deliver His message to Israel, bypassing the established but corrupt spiritual leadership. This emphasizes God's sovereignty in raising up new leadership.
  • Spiritual Discernment: Initially, Samuel lacks the spiritual discernment to recognize God's voice, mistaking it for Eli's. This common human experience underscores that hearing God's voice often requires guidance, patience, or repeated encounters, especially for the inexperienced. Eli's eventual realization (in 1 Samuel 3:8) becomes crucial for Samuel's understanding.

Linguistic Insights

Samuel's immediate response, "Here am I" (KJV), translates the Hebrew word hineni (Χ”Φ΄Χ Φ°Χ Φ΄Χ™). This is a significant biblical phrase, often used by individuals expressing readiness, availability, and humble obedience in response to a divine or important human call. It signifies not just presence, but a willingness to listen and act, as seen in Abraham's response to God (Genesis 22:1) or Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:4). Samuel's use of hineni here, even in his misunderstanding, highlights his innate obedient character.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today seeking to understand their own spiritual journey:

  • Cultivate a Spirit of Readiness: Like Samuel, we should strive to be readily available and obedient to the calls we perceive, even if the source isn't immediately clear. Our willingness to respond is key.
  • Seek Spiritual Guidance: When we feel a prompting or a call, it's wise to seek counsel from spiritually mature mentors. Eli, despite his own spiritual shortcomings, ultimately helped Samuel discern God's voice (1 Samuel 3:9).
  • God's Persistence: God is patient and persistent in calling us. Even if we don't recognize His voice immediately, He may call again, as He did with Samuel multiple times (1 Samuel 3:6, 1 Samuel 3:8). Developing the ability to hear God's voice is a journey of spiritual growth and attentiveness.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

No cross-references found.