1 Samuel 3:19
in 1 Samuel 3And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
KJV
And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 3
Commentary
13 notes on this verseSamuel grew - Increased to manhood. The Lord was with him - Teaching him, and filling him with grace and holiness. None of his words fall - Whatever prediction he uttered, God fulfilled it; and his counsels were received as coming from the Lord.
This site's exposition
And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him
on 1 Samuel 3:19-21
Samuel grows and the LORD lets “none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground”, the test Deuteronomy sets for a true prophet. All Israel “from Dan to Beersheba”, the whole length of the land, knows that Samuel is “confirmed as a prophet of the LORD”. The famine of verse 1 closes on its opposite, for the LORD reveals Himself to Samuel at Shiloh “by His word”.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church5 voices
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 2, Chapter 4 · Written before 604.
proposed
28. If this is read according to the historical sense, it is indicated that the boy Samuel grew in bodily age; but if, as with the rest, we examine these things by spiritual investigation, the Lord is described as being with him who is recorded to have grown. But he grows who advances in the age of mind toward a perfect man. Whence also through the Prophet it is said of the elect who are advancing: 'They shall walk from virtue to virtue; the God of gods shall be seen in Zion' (Psalm 83:8). Hence Paul says: 'Until we all come to meet him in a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ' (Ephesians 4:13). But there are some who, while they grow in virtues, fall through pride. These indeed appear to grow, but nevertheless the Lord is not with them, because by thinking lofty things of themselves they cast away from themselves him whom, when established in the progress of virtues, they could have had with them through humility. Or if he is understood to have grown through outward dignity, the Lord is recorded as being with him, because indeed many are devout in a humbler rank; but when they suddenly reach the summit of dignity, they abandon their first works together with humility. Samuel therefore both advanced and in advancing had the Lord with him, so that he indeed displayed the manner of the elect preachers, who when they obtain gifts and dignities by which they may benefit others, do not neglect to please God in themselves, and from that source they multiply the gifts which they received for others, whereby they show forth in themselves the good which they desire to spread among them by speaking. Wherefore it is also added: (Verse 19.) 'And none of all his words fell to the ground.' 29. Indeed, the word of the preacher falls on the ground when it becomes worthless because of the preacher's reprobate conduct. […]
"And none of his words fell to the ground." [1 Samuel 3:19] This was said of Samuel, after he had reported to Eli in the morning the divine oracle he had received during the night: "And none of his words fell to the ground," meaning …
Samuel grew, etc. The preaching of the Gospel grew, and God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. The reputation of Jesus grew, and it spread throughout all Syria. Hence John said: He must increase (John 3); and concerning the passing away of the …
And not a word from Him fell to the ground. You will find nothing earthly in the words of the Lord, nor will any of those who think earthly things understand His spiritual sayings. Or certainly it should be said that the Lord, while dwelling …
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 3, Chapter 1 · Written before 604.
proposed
27. What does it mean that after Eli explained the vision, Samuel is said to have grown, except that the order of our teachers, after it repelled the sons of the Synagogue by the word, found a glory of greater reverence among the Gentiles? He grew, therefore, because he who first confined himself through the ministry of the word to one nation, afterward spread the fame of his holiness and teaching throughout the whole world.
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening5 voices
Fail, &c. - That is, want its effect: God made good all his predictions. A metaphor from precious liquors, which when they are spilt upon the ground, are altogether useless.
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the L ORD before Eli. And the word of the L ORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:93%@v1-2
And Samuel grew,.... Not only in years and stature, but in grace and goodness, in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, both with respect to things natural and spiritual, and in esteem, credit, and reputation among men: and the Lord was with him; he was not only in favour with men, but with God; and had fresh and repeated tokens of the grace and good will of God towards him; he indulged him with his presence, and assisted him in his service, and prospered and succeeded him in all things in which he was engaged.
Whatever Samuel said, as a prophet, it proved true, and was accomplished in its season. Probably there were some remarkable instances of the truth of Samuel's predictions that happened soon after, which confirmed those that were afterwards to be fulfilled, and gave general satisfaction as to his mission.
All our increase in wisdom and grace is owing to the presence of God with us; this is all in all to our growth. By further manifestations of himself to him. Samuel had faithfully delivered the message he was entrusted with, and therefore God employed him again in his service: The Lord revealed himself again to Samuel in Shiloh,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Samuel grew - Increased to manhood. The Lord was with him - Teaching him, and filling him with grace and holiness. None of his words fall - Whatever prediction he uttered, God fulfilled it; and his counsels were received as coming from the Lord.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּגְדַּ֖ל | vaiyigdal | and he grew up | H1431 → | 117 times |
| שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל | shemuel | Samuel | H8050 → | 141 times |
| וַֽיהוָה֙ | vayahweh | and Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| הָיָ֣ה | hayah | he was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| עִמּ֔וֹ | imo | with him | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| וְלֹֽא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| הִפִּ֥יל | hipil | he made fall | H5307 → | 435 times |
| מִכָּל־ | mikol | any of all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| דְּבָרָ֖יו | devarav | words his | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| אָֽרְצָה׃ | ʾaretzah | [the] ground towards | H776 → | 2504 times |
וַיִּגְדַּ֖לand he grew up
vaiyigdalH1431 →117 times
שְׁמוּאֵ֑לSamuel
shemuelH8050 →141 times
וַֽיהוָה֙and Yahweh
vayahwehH3068 →6520 times
הָיָ֣הhe was
hayahH1961 →3559 times
עִמּ֔וֹwith him
imoH5973 →1050 times
וְלֹֽא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
הִפִּ֥ילhe made fall
hipilH5307 →435 times
מִכָּל־any of all
mikolH3605 →5413 times
דְּבָרָ֖יוwords his
devaravH1697 →1440 times
אָֽרְצָה׃[the] ground towards
ʾaretzahH776 →2504 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 2:52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
it leads to
- Luke 2:40
And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Samuel 2:26
And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with man.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 1:80
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 3:3–4
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
- Romans 14:18
For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
- Luke 2:40
Through
Genesis 39:2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 18:14
and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.
- Psalms 91:15
When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.
- Jeremiah 15:20
Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save and deliver…
- 1 Samuel 18:14
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 Samuel
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Questions on the Book of Kings #2; Bede, Commentary on Samuel; Gregory the Dialogist, Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 2, Chapter 4; Gregory the Dialogist, Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 3, Chapter 1; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.