King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 7:3 Mean?

1 Samuel 7:3 in the King James Version says “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 7:3 · KJV


Context

1

And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

2

And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

3

And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4

Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

5

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Samuel emerges as Israel's spiritual leader, his prophetic authority now fully established. His message contains the classic prophetic call to repentance with four imperatives. First, 'return' (Hebrew 'shuv') - the fundamental concept of repentance as turning back to God. Second, 'put away' ('sur') the foreign gods - repentance requires removal of idols, not merely adding Yahweh to the pantheon. Third, 'prepare your hearts' ('kun') - establish, fix, or direct the heart toward God alone. Fourth, 'serve him only' ('avad') - exclusive devotion expressed in practical obedience. Samuel's conditional promise ('if...then') reflects covenant theology: blessing follows obedience. The specific mention of 'Ashtaroth' (Canaanite fertility goddesses) indicates the syncretism plaguing Israel - they had blended Yahweh worship with local cult practices.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ashtaroth (plural of Ashtoreth) represented the Canaanite fertility goddess, often worshiped alongside Baal. Archaeological evidence confirms widespread Israelite participation in Canaanite cult practices during this period. Samuel's role as judge-prophet placed him in the tradition of Moses - combining civil authority with prophetic proclamation.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'foreign gods' compete for your heart's devotion alongside the true God?
  2. How does Samuel's four-fold call to repentance provide a pattern for spiritual renewal today?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 30 words
לֵאמֹר֒1 of 30

saying

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל2 of 30

And Samuel

H8050

shemuel, the name of three israelites

אֶל3 of 30
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כָּל4 of 30
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

בֵּ֣ית5 of 30

unto all the house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יִשְׂרָאֵל֮6 of 30

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לֵאמֹר֒7 of 30

saying

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אִם8 of 30
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

בְּכָל9 of 30
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

לְבַבְכֶ֤ם10 of 30

with all your hearts

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

אַתֶּ֤ם11 of 30
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

שָׁבִים֙12 of 30

If ye do return

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

אֶל13 of 30
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָה֙14 of 30

unto the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

הָסִ֜ירוּ15 of 30

then put away

H5493

to turn off (literally or figuratively)

אֶת16 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֱלֹהֵ֧י17 of 30

gods

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

הַנֵּכָ֛ר18 of 30

the strange

H5236

foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom

מִתּֽוֹכְכֶ֖ם19 of 30

from among

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

וְהָֽעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת20 of 30

and Ashtaroth

H6252

ashtaroth, the name of a sidonian deity, and of a place east of the jordan

וְהָכִ֨ינוּ21 of 30

you and prepare

H3559

properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

לְבַבְכֶ֤ם22 of 30

with all your hearts

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

אֶל23 of 30
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָה֙24 of 30

unto the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְעִבְדֻ֣הוּ25 of 30

and serve

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

לְבַדּ֔וֹ26 of 30
H905

properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit

וְיַצֵּ֥ל27 of 30

him only and he will deliver

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

אֶתְכֶ֖ם28 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מִיַּ֥ד29 of 30

you out of the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃30 of 30

of the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 7:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 7:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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