1 Samuel 3 — Dead Sea Scrolls
2 attestation entries • 0 variants • 4QSamᵃ family
Manuscript Overview
Summary
1 Samuel 3 narrates Samuel's call vision at Shiloh — the famous 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening' passage. 4QSamᵃ preserves the chapter with several minor agreements with LXX against MT, including the wording of Samuel's response and the Lord's threefold call.
Notable Variants
Minor wording differences only, with 4QSamᵃ generally agreeing with LXX. No theologically significant variants.
Manuscripts
4QSamᵃ (4Q51), 4QSamᵇ (4Q52)
Scroll Condition
4QSamᵃ preserves vv. 1–4, 18–20.
The LORD called out to Samuel, and Samuel said, "Here I am."
The threefold divine call to Samuel tracks MT. The substance of the call vision is identical across all witnesses.
4QSamᵃ frag.
All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, recognized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.
'All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the LORD' tracks MT — the establishment of Samuel's prophetic authority.
4QSamᵃ frag.