1 Samuel 3:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Eli urges Samuel to hold nothing back of what God has said, binding him with a solemn charge.
What Does 1 Samuel 3:17 Mean?
Eli presses the boy to reveal everything the Lord has spoken, charging him with a strong oath-formula not to hide a single thing. He would rather face the whole truth, however severe, than be spared any part of God's word.
There is a quiet greatness in Eli here: a man willing to hear the full sentence against himself rather than soften it. Such honesty before God is itself a kind of faith. To seek the whole counsel of God, even when it indicts us, is the posture of a heart that still reverences the Lord above its own comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 3:17
What does 1 Samuel 3:17 mean?
Eli urges Samuel to hold nothing back of what God has said, binding him with a solemn charge.