Old Testament · 1 Samuel 1:20–281 Samuel 3:1–21
Samuel Hears God's Call — Bible Story for Kids
The boy Samuel served in God's house. One night God called him by name, and Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
This is a retelling for children, written by BibleKenya from the Bible passages shown on each picture. It is not a Bible translation.
had for a son, and God gave her . When he was young she brought him to serve God with the .
had for a child, and the LORD gave her a son. She named him . When he was weaned she brought him to the at Shiloh and said, "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has given me my request. I have also given him to the LORD."
One night was lying down in the house of God. The lamp was still burning. God called, "Samuel!"
The boy served the LORD under . In those days the word of the LORD was rare. One night, before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the LORD's temple, where the ark of God was. The LORD called Samuel, and he said, "Here I am."
ran to . "Here I am!" Eli said, "I did not call you." This happened three times. Then Eli knew it was God calling.
ran to and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Eli said, "I didn't call. Lie down again." This happened three times. Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. He said, "If he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD; for your servant hears.'"
Bible explorer Samuel did not yet know the LORD; the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him (1 Samuel 3:7).
God called again, "! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
The LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak; for your servant hears."
grew up. God was with him, and everyone knew Samuel was God's .
God gave a hard message about 's family, and Samuel told Eli everything. Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him. All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a of the LORD.
Bible explorer The message was about the sins of Eli's sons (1 Samuel 3:11-14).
The end of the story
Read it in the Bible
This is the Bible text itself, from the version shown. Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
1 Samuel 1:20–28 WEB
20When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.” 21The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22But Hannah didn’t go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and stay there forever.” 23Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a container of wine, and brought him to the LORD’s house in Shiloh. The child was young. 25They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27I prayed for this child, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him. 28Therefore I have also given him to the LORD. As long as he lives he is given to the LORD.” He worshiped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 3:1–21 WEB
1The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The LORD’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then. 2At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see), 3and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in the LORD’s temple where God’s ark was, 4The LORD called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.” 5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down. 6The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.” 7Now Samuel didn’t yet know the LORD, neither was the LORD’s word yet revealed to him. 8The LORD called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10The LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.” 11The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end. 13For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he didn’t restrain them. 14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.” 15Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the LORD’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision. 16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.” 17He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don’t hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.” 18Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.” 19Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21The LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the LORD’s word.
Who is in the story?
Words to learn
- Prayer
- Prayer is talking to God. Jesus taught his friends a prayer that begins, "Our Father in heaven".
- Priest
- A priest served God for the people, at the tabernacle and later the temple. Zechariah, John the Baptist's father, was a priest.
- Prophet
- A prophet is someone who tells people God's message. Samuel was a prophet; God called him when he was a boy.
What can we learn from this passage?
God spoke to a young boy at a time when his word was rare. Samuel learned to answer, "Speak, for your servant hears," and he grew to be a prophet whom all Israel trusted. 1 Samuel 3:11 Samuel 3:101 Samuel 3:20