1 Samuel 3:10

Contextual Overview

¹The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread. ¹ The child Shemu'el ministered to the LORD before `Eli. The word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision. ¹ 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. ¹ Now the boy Samuel was serving Yahweh in the presence of Eli. The word of Yahweh was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. ¹ Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. ¹ The boy Samuel served the Lord under Eli. In those days the Lord did not speak directly to people very often; there were very few visions. ¹ Now the boy Samuel continued serving the Lord under Eli's supervision. Word from the Lord was rare in those days; revelatory visions were infrequent. ¹Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the LORD under the supervision of Eli. The word of the LORD was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread. ¹ Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days; visions were infrequent. ¹ Nowe the childe Samuel ministred vnto the Lord before Eli: and the word of the Lord was precious in those dayes: for there was no manifest vision.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Lord came: This seems to imply a visible appearance, as well as an audible voice.

as at other: 1 Samuel 3:4-6, 1 Samuel 3:8, Samuel did not now rise and run as before, when thought he Eli called, but lay still and listened. All must be silent, when God speaks. Observe, however, Samuel in his reply left out one word: he did not say, Speak, Lord, but only Speak, for thy servant heareth; perhaps, as Bp. Patrick suggests, out of uncertainty, whether it was God that spake to him or not. However, by this answer way was made for the message he was now to receive, and Samuel was brought acquainted with the words of God and visions of the Almighty.

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:11 - Abraham Genesis 46:2 - Jacob Exodus 3:4 - Moses Joshua 5:14 - What saith Daniel 10:19 - Let John 20:16 - Mary Acts 10:4 - What Acts 22:7 - Saul

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife, both of them, were naked, and they were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were naked, but they were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed or embarrassed.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
Although the man and his wife were both naked, they were not ashamed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the Lord came, and stood,.... At the place where Samuel lay; either there was, as Kimchi, a form before his eyes in the vision of prophecy, some visible corporeal shape assumed; or a bright splendour an illustrious appearance of the glory of God; or it may be rather the voice, which before seemed to be at some distance whereabout Eli lay; it now seemed nearer, and was as the voice of one just by him, that sounded in his ears:

and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel: repeating his name, in order the more to excite his attention:

then Samuel answered, speak, for thy servant heareth; he leaves out the word Lord, which Eli bid him use; for he might be afraid as yet to make mention of the name of the Lord in the vision of prophecy, as Kimchi speaks; or lest it should be the voice of another, as Jarchi; as yet he might not be quite certain whether it was the voice of the Lord, or the voice of a man; for that he should have any mistrust of its being the voice of a demon or spectre, there is no reason to believe.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A personal presence, not a mere voice, or impression upon Samuel’s mind, is here distinctly indicated. (Compare Genesis 12:7 note; Revelation 1:1; Revelation 22:16.)

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 3:10. The Lord cane, and stood — He heard the voice as if it was approaching nearer and nearer; till at last, from the sameness of the tone, he could imagine that it ceased to approach: and this is what appears to be represented under the notion of God standing and calling.