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1 Samuel 3:10
ESV And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
NIV The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'
NASB Then the Lord came and stood, and called as at the other times: 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for Your servant is listening.'
CSB The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, "Samuel, Samuel! "Samuel responded, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
NLT And the Lord came and called as before, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel replied, 'Speak, your servant is listening.'
KJV And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

What does 1 Samuel 3:10 mean?

The back-and-forth game of running to Eli after hearing his name called is over (1 Samuel 3:4–8). Eli recognized that it was the Lord calling young Samuel and told Samuel how to respond if it happened again (1 Samuel 3:8–9). Perhaps the Lord allowed Samuel to run to Eli those three times to confirm, for both, that the Lord really had communicated with Samuel.

Scripture is not clear if God appeared in some visible, tangible way this time. The text notes that the Lord "came and stood," though no explicit mention is made that Samuel sees anything. The Lord calls out, "Samuel! Samuel!" We see similar calls to Abraham, Jacob, and Moses (Genesis 22:11; 46:2; Exodus 3:4).

Samuel follows Eli's instruction and answers the Lord by telling Him to speak because His servant is listening. Samuel seems both unafraid and ready and willing to hear whatever God would say to Him. It is interesting to note that Eli instructed Samuel to address God as Yahweh: "speak LORD." Here, Samuel simply says "speak." Perhaps this is a reminder of the fact that this is the first time Samuel has interacted so personally with the Lord (1 Samuel 3:7).
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