1 Samuel 7:3

Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Samuel addresses the entire house of Israel, instructing them to remove foreign gods and Ashtoreths, prepare their hearts, and serve the Lord alone so He will deliver them from the Philistines.

The words — The Hebrew אִם־ (‘im-) translates literally as “if,” establishing Samuel’s command as a conditional promise tied to their response.

The thread — This call to exclusive devotion appears in Deuteronomy 13:4, where Moses commands following and holding fast to God, and is quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:8 and Matthew 4:10.

Why it lands — The text requires the concrete actions of removing idols and preparing the heart before stating the promise of deliverance, leaving the reader to decide whether to act on the condition.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said שְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElSamuel אֶל־'el-to כָּל־kol-all בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of יִשְׂרָאֵל֮Yis.ra.'ElIsrael לֵאמֹר֒le./Mor<to>/ saying אִם־'im-if בְּכָל־be./kholwith/ all לְבַבְכֶ֗םle.vav./Khemheart/ your אַתֶּ֤ם'a.Temyou שָׁבִים֙sha.Vim[are] turning back אֶל־'el-to יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh הָסִ֜ירוּha.Si.ruremove אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֱלֹהֵ֧י'e.lo.Hei[the] gods of הַנֵּכָ֛רha./ne.Khar<the>/ foreignness מִתּוֹכְכֶ֖םmi./tokh./Khemfrom/ among/ you וְהָעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹתve./ha./'ash.ta.Rotand/ the/ Ashtaroth וְהָכִ֨ינוּve./ha.Khi.nuand/ direct לְבַבְכֶ֤םle.vav./Khemheart/ your אֶל־'el-to יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh וְעִבְדֻ֣הוּve./'iv.Du./huand/ serve/ him לְבַדּ֔וֹle./va.D/oto/ only/ him וְיַצֵּ֥לve./ya.Tzelso/ may he deliver אֶתְכֶ֖ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you מִיַּ֥דmi./Yadfrom/ [the] hand of פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃pe.lish.Tim[the] Philistines

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Luke 4:8 But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Deuteronomy 13:4 You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.
Matthew 4:10 “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
Joshua 24:14 Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
John 4:24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Deuteronomy 10:20 You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.
Joshua 24:23 “Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

People named

Samuel