1 Samuel 3:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Eli teaches Samuel how to answer God: 'Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.'
What Does 1 Samuel 3:9 Mean?
Eli instructs the boy to return to his place and, if the voice calls again, to respond as one ready to receive: 'Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.' Samuel obeys and lies down, prepared now to listen rather than to run.
This is one of Scripture's great postures of faith — not demanding that God listen to us, but opening ourselves to hear Him. To say 'Speak, for thy servant heareth' is to surrender the agenda and yield to God's word. It remains the truest prayer of any heart that wishes to know the will of the Lord.
1 Samuel 3:9 in the Original Language
shama (שָׁמַע), 'heareth' -- to hear with attentive readiness to obey, not merely to perceive sound.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 3:9
What does 1 Samuel 3:9 mean?
Eli teaches Samuel how to answer God: 'Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.'