1 Samuel 3:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The boy Samuel serves at the sanctuary under Eli during a time when God's word came rarely and visions were scarce.
What Does 1 Samuel 3:1 Mean?
The chapter opens at the tabernacle in Shiloh, where the young Samuel, dedicated by his mother Hannah, assists the aged priest Eli. The narrator pauses to set a spiritual mood: in those days revelation was uncommon, and there was no widespread, public vision from God.
Into a season of silence God is preparing to speak, and He chooses a child as His instrument. That the divine word was 'precious' — rare and costly — only heightens the wonder of what follows. God is never truly absent; He waits to call the willing, and He often begins where no one is watching.
1 Samuel 3:1 in the Original Language
yaqar (יָקָר), 'precious' -- rare and weighty, like a treasure seldom found.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 3:1
What does 1 Samuel 3:1 mean?
The boy Samuel serves at the sanctuary under Eli during a time when God's word came rarely and visions were scarce.