The wording in this verse is similar to the two prior calls except that this is clearly identified as the third time. But this time Eli’s response is unlike his previous responses because he perceived the whole affair differently. The word translated perceived usually involves figuring out something that is not immediately obvious. It may be translated “discerned,” “saw” (Moffatt), “recognized” (Knox), or “understood” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). In some languages a form of the verb “know” or “came to know” will have to be used.

That the LORD was calling the boy: the point is not that Eli now realizes what the LORD is doing. Rather he now realizes who is calling Samuel (so Good News Translation). So it will be important to place the emphasis in translation on the LORD rather than on the verb was calling. Knox does this without even using the name of the LORD: “recognized at last whose voice it was the boy had heard.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Therefore: while the text has only the common Hebrew conjunction, the context requires something like the Revised Standard Version transition. Eli’s instructions to Samuel come as a direct result of his realization that it was God who had been calling the boy.

If he calls you: the pronoun he refers here to the LORD, but given the context it may be better not to use the divine name here. Revised English Bible has “if someone calls.” Also, the idea of God’s calling Samuel “again” (Good News Translation) or “once more” (Revised English Bible) is clearly implied. In many languages it will be good to make this explicit, and in some cases this will be done by a special verb form meaning “re-speaks” or “re-calls.”

Samuel is told to refer to himself as thy servant to show respect to God. If readers will think that Samuel will be referring to someone other than himself, it will be necessary to say something like “I, your servant.” See the detailed explanation about indirect references in the introductory section to this handbook, pages 12 and following.

The verb hears is not to be taken as a statement about Samuel’s general ability to hear, but rather as a specific declaration that he is actively listening for further instructions. New Century Version appropriately translates “I am listening.”

His place: see the comment on verse 2.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

It is difficult to understand the significance of the use of the verb stood forth in this context. But since it has not been used previously in the appearances of the LORD, it may be taken as a kind of special emphasis on God’s self-revelation. The verb means to “take one’s stand,” “take a position.” New American Bible translates “revealed his presence,” although most English versions say simply “stood there.”

Calling as at other times: literally “called as time on time.” The expression is a common way of saying “as usual” (Moffatt). The same expression is used in Num 24.1 and in the story of Samson (Judges 16.20; 20.30, 31), where it is also translated “as at other times.”

There seems to be no special significance in the fact that Samuel does not use the name of Yahweh, LORD, which was a part of what Eli had told him to say when the LORD reappeared. Some scholars, however, speculate that the young Samuel could not bring himself to pronounce the divine name. In any case, if it is natural to do so, translators should maintain the difference that exists between the two verses in the original text.

On thy servant and hears, see the comments on verse 9.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Said to Samuel: since there is probably no danger of misunderstanding, it may be more natural in some languages to replace the name, Samuel, with the pronoun “him,” as Good News Translation has done.

Behold: the focusing particle is used here to direct special attention to the pronouncement that is about to be made. See the comments at 2.31 and in the introductory section on this particle, page 18.

In Israel: that is, “among the people of Israel.” The focus is not on geographical territory but on the people.

The two ears of every one that hears it will tingle: the same kind of expression is found in 2 Kgs 21.12 and Jer 19.3 to describe the effect of terrible news. Revised Standard Version translates literally, but in many languages it may be necessary to change the form in order to express the meaning clearly. Bible en français courant says that “it will have the effect of a clap of thunder on those who hear it.” In many languages it will be considered quite unnecessary to speak of the two ears, since everyone knows that people have two ears and that they are what people use to hear with. The image may be expressed in a variety of ways in different languages. Some may say “all people who hear it will stagger” or “will make people who learn about it tremble” or “will cause the ears of everyone who hears it to ring” (New American Bible).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The verb fulfil may present difficulties to translators in certain languages. In Hebrew it is literally “cause to arise.” The idea is that Yahweh will make everything happen that he had previously said would happen to Eli and his family. All that I have spoken is a reference to the words of the LORD speaking through the “man of God,” which are recorded in 2.27-36.

His house does not refer to the building in which Eli lived but to his family. In many languages it will be important to use something other than a literal rendering in order to avoid misunderstanding.

From beginning to end: literally “beginning and finishing.” This Hebrew idiom stands for totality and may be translated “I will fulfill completely what I have spoken.” In other languages the same idea may be expressed by saying “without missing anything at all” or, as a separate sentence, “I will not fail to do even one of those things.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And I tell him: the Hebrew verb may be translated as future tense, that is, “and I will tell him.” More likely, however, the verb in this context should be translated as past tense (New Revised Standard Version “I have told him”), as is the verb “I have spoken” in verse 12. The footnote in Good News Translation incorrectly suggests that the Hebrew verb here can only be translated as future tense.

Some interpreters change the Hebrew text to read “You are to tell him” (so Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet); but Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends that translators follow the Masoretic Text, understanding the verb as referring to the words that have already been spoken in 2.31-36.

As in verse 12, the word house in this context clearly refers to the offspring of Eli and not to any building or physical structure that belonged to him. For this reason many modern versions use the word “family” here (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). The same is true for the following verse.

For the iniquity which he knew: Eli knew that his sons were doing evil things. That he knew this and did not try to stop them is the reason that God will punish his family.

The words for and because in this verse present special difficulties, since they seem to have the same meaning and are used in succession. The punishment is inflicted because of the sin, and especially because Eli was aware of it and did nothing about it. Some possible translations are “because he knew of his sons’ blasphemies” (Revised English Bible) or “because he was aware that his sons were doing wrong.”

Because: the Hebrew conjunction may introduce either a causal clause (“because”) or a noun clause (“that”). In Revised Standard Version the Hebrew conjunction is understood to be introducing a clause that expresses cause. The Hebrew may also be translated as follows: “I sentence his house to endless punishment for the iniquity that he knew about—how his sons committed sacrilege at will—and he did not rebuke them” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). In New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh the same conjunction is understood as indicating the content of the iniquity that Eli knew about.

Because his sons were blaspheming God: the Hebrew text says literally “because his sons were cursing themselves.” The footnote in Revised Standard Version, in fact, is a translation of what is written in the Hebrew text. New International Version is one of the few modern translations that follow the Masoretic Text: “his sons made themselves contemptible.” The Good News Translation rendering “have spoken evil against me” should be avoided, since it is not a good model for other translations. Blasphemy is more than a matter of the spoken word. It may occur when a person commits an act that dishonors God even if nothing is said. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “committed sacrilege” is a better model, although it is on a higher level of language in English.

This verse is one of eighteen places in the Old Testament that the Masoretes (see Glossary) identified as containing a scribal correction. The Masoretes believed that the Hebrew originally said the sons “cursed God,” as does the Septuagint, but that earlier scribes had made changes in the text to avoid disrespect to God. Very few modern versions translate the reading “cursed themselves” (see New King James Version [New King James Version ], New American Standard Bible [New American Standard Bible]). Most translations follow the reading of the Septuagint (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Septuagint text.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Therefore: as in 2.30 this transition word shows a relationship between what has been said previously and what follows. Here the solemn declaration of Yahweh is a direct result of the inappropriate behavior of the family of Eli. Bible en français courant translates “This is why,” while most English versions have “Therefore.”

The verb swear occurs frequently in the Old Testament. Often it has negative connotations if the information sworn to is false. But in its positive sense it is a way of certifying under oath that something will happen. A person is bound by the oath taken that the promised event will indeed take place. The verbal root is thought to come from the numeral “seven” and refers perhaps to a sevenfold binding. In this context God gives his sacred and unbreakable word that he will indeed punish the family of Eli for their misdeeds.

Eli’s house again refers to his family (see verses 12 and 13).

Expiated: the root meaning of the Hebrew verb is debated. It means either “to cover” or “to wipe away.” In Old Testament thought God “covers” or “wipes away [or, erases]” human sins or offenses against God. Expiated (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible) is technical religious language and has little meaning for many contemporary speakers of English. Hence Good News Translation uses a phrase to express the sense: “to remove the consequences of this terrible sin.” Bible en français courant says “to make forget his sin.”

Sacrifice or offering: see the comments on 2.29.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Samuel lay is a literal translation. “Stayed in bed” (Good News Translation) is idiomatic English. The Septuagint says “Samuel lay in bed until morning and got up early in the morning.” Some scholars think it is more likely that a scribe accidentally omitted the words “and got up early in the morning” from the Hebrew rather than thinking that the Greek translator added them. Anchor Bible, New American Bible, and La Bible Pléiade follow the Septuagint. But the absence of any comment on this matter by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project suggests that the traditional Hebrew text should be followed here. However, it is possible that the idea of “getting up” may be supplied for translation reasons, since it is clearly implied.

The house of the LORD: see the comments on this phrase in 1.7.

And: some languages may require a contrasting conjunction such as “but” (Revised English Bible) in this context, since it might be expected that Samuel would tell Eli about the vision. Receptor language usage will determine which kind of conjunction is used here. And in some cases there will be no conjunction at all.

Samuel was afraid: in English the repetition of the name Samuel, as in the Hebrew, is considered poor style; Good News Translation accordingly substitutes the pronoun “he” for the second occurrence of Samuel’s name in this verse.

The vision: the Hebrew word translated as vision in this verse is different from the Hebrew word translated by the same English word in verse 1. But no distinction in meaning is evident, and translators may use the same word or expression to translate these two different Hebrew terms.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .