1 Samuel 3:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samuel tells Eli everything, and Eli submits: 'It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.'
What Does 1 Samuel 3:18 Mean?
Samuel obeys and tells Eli everything, holding nothing back. Eli receives the hard word with remarkable submission: 'It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.' He bows to the divine will even when that will falls heavily upon his own house.
Eli's response is one of the Bible's clearest surrenders to the sovereignty of God. To say 'let Him do what seems good' is to trust that the Lord's judgments are righteous even when they wound. This is the faith that echoes in Job and at last in Gethsemane: 'not my will, but thine, be done.' Yielding to God's good purpose is the soul's deepest peace.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 3:18
What does 1 Samuel 3:18 mean?
Samuel tells Eli everything, and Eli submits: 'It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.'