1 Samuel 3:8
New International Version
A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” 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.

New Living Translation
So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy.

English Standard Version
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.

Berean Standard Bible
Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy.

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy.

New American Standard Bible
So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.

NASB 1995
So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy.

NASB 1977
So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Yahweh called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that Yahweh was calling the young boy.

Amplified Bible
So the LORD called Samuel a third time. And he stood and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli understood that it was the LORD [who was] calling the boy.

Christian Standard Bible
Once again, for the third time, the LORD called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Once again, for the third time, the LORD called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli perceived that Jehovah had called the child.

Contemporary English Version
When the LORD called out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli again and said, "Here I am. What do you want?" Eli finally realized that it was the LORD who was speaking to Samuel.

English Revised Version
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am. You called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.

Good News Translation
The LORD called Samuel a third time; he got up, went to Eli, and said, "You called me, and here I am." Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy,

International Standard Version
Then the LORD called out to Samuel again a third time, and he got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am! You called me." Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy,

Majority Standard Bible
Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy.

NET Bible
Then the LORD called Samuel a third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me!" Eli then realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy.

New Heart English Bible
Then the LORD called Samuel again the third time, and he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD had called the child.

Webster's Bible Translation
And 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.

World English Bible
Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH adds to call Samuel the third time, and he rises and goes to Eli, and says, “Here I [am], for you have called for me”; and Eli understands that YHWH is calling to the youth.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah addeth to call Samuel the third time, and he riseth and goeth unto Eli, and saith, 'Here am I, for thou hast called for me;' and Eli understandeth that Jehovah is calling to the youth.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will add to call Samuel in the third time. And he will rise and go to Eli, and say, Behold me, for thou didst call to me. And Eli will discern that Jehovah called the boy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up and went to Heli.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord continued, and he called to Samuel still a third time. And rising up, he went to Eli.

New American Bible
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here I am; for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH continued again to call Shemueil a third time, and Shemueil got up and he went to Eli, and he said: “Behold, I am here, for you did call me!” And Eli perceived that LORD JEHOVAH had called the boy
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And 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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Calls Samuel
7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. 9“Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 3:4-7
Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” / He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. / Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” ...

1 Samuel 3:9-10
“Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. / Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Judges 6:36-40
Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, / then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” / And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. ...

Genesis 46:2
And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob.

Exodus 3:4
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.

Numbers 12:6
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.

1 Kings 19:11-13
Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. / After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. / When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Job 33:14-16
For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. / In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, / He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

Jeremiah 1:4-10
The word of the LORD came to me, saying: / “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” / “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” ...

Acts 9:4-6
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” / “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. / “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 10:13-16
Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” / “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” / The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” ...

Acts 22:6-10
About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. / I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ / ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. ...

Acts 26:14-18
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ / ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. / ‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you. ...

Matthew 1:20-21
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. / She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

the third

Job 33:14,15
For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not…

1 Corinthians 13:11,12
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things…

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1 Samuel 3
1. How the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel
11. God tells Samuel the destruction of Eli's house
15. Samuel, though loath, tells Eli the vision
19. Samuel grows in credit














A third time
The phrase "A third time" signifies persistence and divine patience. In Hebrew culture, the number three often symbolizes completeness or perfection. This repetition underscores God's determination to communicate with Samuel, highlighting the importance of the message and the calling. It also reflects God's grace, as He patiently calls Samuel multiple times, allowing him to recognize the divine voice.

the LORD called Samuel
The Hebrew word for "called" is "קָרָא" (qara), which means to call out, proclaim, or summon. This is not merely a casual call but a divine summons, indicating a significant moment in Samuel's life. The use of "the LORD" (Yahweh) emphasizes the personal and covenantal nature of God’s relationship with His people. This calling marks the beginning of Samuel's prophetic ministry, showing that God initiates and establishes His servants.

And Samuel got up
Samuel's response, "got up," indicates readiness and obedience. Despite not yet understanding the source of the call, Samuel's willingness to rise and respond reflects his servant heart and faithfulness. This action is a model of how believers should respond to God's call—promptly and with a willing spirit.

went to Eli
The act of going to Eli demonstrates Samuel's respect and submission to his mentor. Eli, as the high priest, represents spiritual authority, and Samuel's deference to him shows humility and a teachable spirit. This relationship between Samuel and Eli is crucial, as it sets the stage for Samuel's development and eventual leadership.

and said, 'Here I am, for you have called me.'
The phrase "Here I am" is a declaration of availability and readiness to serve. In Hebrew, "הִנֵּנִי" (hineni) is often used by those who are prepared to listen and obey God's instructions. Samuel's assumption that Eli called him reflects his innocence and the process of learning to discern God's voice. This phrase is a powerful reminder for believers to be attentive and responsive to God's call in their lives.

Then Eli realized
Eli's realization marks a turning point in the narrative. The Hebrew root "בִּין" (bin) means to understand or perceive. Eli's spiritual insight, though delayed, is crucial for guiding Samuel. This moment of recognition is significant, as it shows the importance of spiritual discernment and mentorship in recognizing God's work.

that it was the LORD who was calling the boy
The identification of "the LORD" as the caller affirms the divine nature of the encounter. The term "the boy" emphasizes Samuel's youth and the extraordinary nature of his calling. This acknowledgment by Eli is pivotal, as it transitions Samuel from a servant of Eli to a servant of God. It highlights the theme of divine election and the unfolding of God's plan through chosen individuals, regardless of their age or status.

(8) And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.--The whole story of the eventful night is told so naturally, the supernatural wonderfully interwoven with the common life of the sanctuary, that we forget, as we read, the strangeness of the events recorded. The sleeping child is awakened by a voice uttering his name. He naturally supposes it is his half-blind old master summoning him. The same thing occurs a second and a third time. Then it flashed upon Eli the boy had had no dream. We can well fancy the old man, when Samuel again came in, asking, "Where did the voice you thought was mine come from?" and the boy would reply, "From your chamber, master." And the old high priest would remember that in the same direction, only at the extremity of the sanctuary, behind the veil, was the Ark and the seat of God. Was, then, the glory of the Lord shining there? and did the voice as in old days proceed from that sacred golden throne? Se he bade his pupil go to his chamber again, and if the voice spoke to him again, to answer, not Eli, but the invisible King--"Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth."

Verse 8. - But Eli was neither so inexperienced, nor so lost to all sense of Jehovah being the immediate ruler of Israel, as not to perceive, when Samuel came to him the third time, that the matter was Divine. Possibly he recalled to mind the visit of the man of God, and had some presage of what the message might be. At all events he bade Samuel lie calmly down again, because the best preparation for hearing God's voice is obedience and trustful submission.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Once again,
וַיֹּ֨סֶף (way·yō·sep̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

for the third time,
בַּשְּׁלִשִׁית֒ (baš·šə·li·šîṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

called
קְרֹא־ (qə·rō-)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

to Samuel.
שְׁמוּאֵל֮ (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

He got up,
וַיָּ֙קָם֙ (way·yā·qām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

went
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Eli,
עֵלִ֔י (‘ê·lî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh

and said,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Here I am,
הִנְנִ֔י (hin·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you have called
קָרָ֖אתָ (qā·rā·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

me.”
לִ֑י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

Then Eli
עֵלִ֔י (‘ê·lî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh

realized
וַיָּ֣בֶן (way·yā·ḇen)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

that it was the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

who was calling
קֹרֵ֥א (qō·rê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

the boy.
לַנָּֽעַר׃ (lan·nā·‘ar)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer


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OT History: 1 Samuel 3:8 Yahweh called Samuel again the third time (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 3:7
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