1 Samuel 3:11

ESV Then the Lord said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

NIV And the Lord said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.

NASB Then the Lord said to Samuel, 'Behold, I am going to do a thing in Israel, and both ears of everyone who hears about it will ring.

CSB The Lord said to Samuel, "I am about to do something in Israel that everyone who hears about it will shudder.

NLT Then the Lord said to Samuel, 'I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel.

KJV And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

NKJV Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

What does 1 Samuel 3:11 mean?

After establishing that what Samuel hears is the voice of God (1 Samuel 3:1–10), the Lord is about to deliver His message. Samuel has obediently responded by telling the Lord that he is listening (1 Samuel 3:10).

The Lord introduces His surprising and difficult prophecy for Samuel by saying that what He is about to do will get a great deal of attention. The effect of this action is describe with an odd expression implying shocking, devastating, even frightening news (Jeremiah 19:3). The original Hebrew root word here is tsalal, which is closely tied to the idea of shaking or vibrating. This might depict a person who shakes with fear (Habakkuk 3:16), or the "ringing in the ears" experienced when someone is struck in the head (2 Kings 21:12). When God's prophecy is fulfilled, it will stagger those who see it come to pass.

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