Limitless Word
So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.
1 Samuel 3:20 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh.
  • KJV And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
  • NKJV And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.
  • NASB And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord.
  • NLT And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, recognized that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. God raised up a trustworthy voice for the whole nation.

Overview

The whole land acknowledged Samuel's prophetic office, marking a new era of God's clear word to Israel after a time of spiritual famine. This widespread recognition shows God restoring leadership and revelation to His people. It points to God's faithfulness in providing a mediating word, fulfilled finally in Christ, the Word made flesh.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 4

  • Judg 20:1Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
  • 2 Sam 3:10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
  • 1 Tim 1:12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.
  • 2 Sam 17:11Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Samuel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Samuel 3:20YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 SamuelMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.

How 1 Samuel 3:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.