Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”
- KJV That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
- BSB Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”
- NKJV that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”
- NASB that the Lord called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”
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
The Lord called Samuel, who answered, 'Here I am.' God personally addresses the young servant.
Overview
God's call comes directly and by name, initiating Samuel's prophetic ministry. Samuel's ready 'Here I am' shows a willing heart, though he does not yet know the Lord. This moment marks the breaking of the silence and the beginning of God's renewed speaking to Israel through a chosen prophet.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Gen 22:1After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”
- 1 Cor 12:6–11There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.
- Ps 99:6Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel among those who call on his name; they called on Yahweh, and he answered them.
- Isa 6:8I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
- Exod 3:4When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.”
- Gal 1:15–16But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,
- 1 Cor 12:28God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
- Acts 9:4He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 3:4 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.