1 Samuel 7:9
New International Version
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel’s behalf, and the LORD answered him.

New Living Translation
So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the LORD as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the LORD to help Israel, and the LORD answered him.

English Standard Version
So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

Berean Literal Bible
And Samuel took one suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to YHWH. And Samuel cried out to YHWH for Israel, and YHWH answered him.

King James Bible
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

New King James Version
And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.

New American Standard Bible
Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.

NASB 1995
Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.

NASB 1977
And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh; and Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.

Amplified Bible
So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.

Berean Annotated Bible
Then Samuel (his name is El) took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD {YHWH}. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel (he wrestles with God), and the LORD answered him.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

American Standard Version
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering unto Jehovah: and Samuel cried unto Jehovah for Israel; and Jehovah answered him.

English Revised Version
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD answered him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Samuel took a lamb, one still feeding on milk, and sacrificed it as a burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

Good News Translation
Samuel killed a young lamb and burned it whole as a sacrifice to the LORD. Then he prayed to the LORD to help Israel, and the LORD answered his prayer.

International Standard Version
Then Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

NET Bible
So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him.

New Heart English Bible
Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD: and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD answered him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly to the LORD: and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

World English Bible
Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Samuel takes a fat lamb, and causes it to go up—a whole burnt-offering to YHWH; and Samuel cries to YHWH for Israel, and YHWH answers him;

Berean Literal Bible
And Samuel took one suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to YHWH. And Samuel cried out to YHWH for Israel, and YHWH answered him.

Young's Literal Translation
And Samuel taketh a fat lamb, and causeth it to go up -- a burnt-offering whole to Jehovah; and Samuel crieth unto Jehovah for Israel, and Jehovah answereth him;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Samuel will take one fat lamb and bring up a burnt-offering wholly to Jehovah: and Samuel will cry to Jehovah for Israel, and Jehovah will answer him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it whole for a holocaust to the Lord: and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Samuel took one suckling lamb, and he offered it whole, as a holocaust to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord heeded him.

New American Bible
Samuel therefore took an unweaned lamb and offered it whole as a burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.

New Revised Standard Version
So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a burnt offering wholly to the LORD; and Samuel prayed before the LORD for the children of Israel; and the LORD answered him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shemueil took one suckling lamb and offered him up as a burnt offering, perfect to LORD JEHOVAH, and Shemueil prayed before LORD JEHOVAH for the children of Israel, and LORD JEHOVAH answered him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering unto the LORD; and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD answered him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it up as a whole-burnt-offering with all the people to the Lord: and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Samuel Subdues the Philistines
8and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.…

Cross References
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb

Numbers 28:3-4
And tell them that this is the food offering you are to present to the LORD as a regular burnt offering each day: two unblemished year-old male lambs. / Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight,

Exodus 29:38-39
This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar, each day: two lambs that are a year old. / Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight.

Genesis 22:7-8
Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” “Here I am, my son,” he replied. “The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” / Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.
and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:3-9
If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD. / He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. / And he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to present the blood and splatter it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. …

2 Samuel 24:25
And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel was halted.

Genesis 8:20-21
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. / When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel,

1 Samuel 12:18-19
So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. / They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

Exodus 32:11-14
But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” …

Numbers 14:13-19
But Moses said to the LORD, “The Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought this people from among them. / And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. / If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, …
and the LORD answered him.

Psalm 99:6-8
Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel was among those who called on His name. They called to the LORD and He answered. / He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them. / O LORD our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, yet an avenger of their misdeeds.

Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

1 Kings 18:36-39
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. / Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” / Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench. …
Numbers 16:46-48
Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” / So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people. / He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted.

Judges 6:36-40
Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, / then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” / And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. …

2 Chronicles 7:1-3
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. / The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it. / When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”

Psalm 106:23
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.


Treasury of Scripture

And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly to the LORD: and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

a sucking

1 Samuel 7:17
And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

1 Samuel 6:14,15
And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD…

1 Samuel 9:12
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

cried unto

Psalm 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 99:6
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

Jeremiah 15:1
Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

heard.

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Behalf Burned Burnt Burnt-Offering Causeth Cried Crieth Heard Israel Israel's Lamb Offered Offering Prayers Samuel Sucking Suckling Whole Wholly
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Behalf Burned Burnt Burnt-Offering Causeth Cried Crieth Heard Israel Israel's Lamb Offered Offering Prayers Samuel Sucking Suckling Whole Wholly
1 Samuel 7
1. They of Kiriath Jearim bring the ark to Abinadab, and sanctify Eleazar as guard
2. After twenty years,
3. the Israelites, by Samuel's means, solemnly repent at Mizpeh
7. While Samuel prays and sacrifices,
10. the Lord thwarts the Philistines by thunder at Ebenezer
13. The Philistines are subdued
15. Samuel judges Israel












Then Samuel took a suckling lamb

Samuel presented a young lamb, an unblemished and valuable sacrifice, as Israel sought the Lord’s mercy after abandoning idolatry. The lamb’s innocence pointed to the need for atonement before a holy God.

Num 28:3-4 And tell them that this is the food offering…
Exo 29:38-39 This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar…
Gen 22:7-8 Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!”…

and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD.

Unlike offerings in which portions were retained, the whole burnt offering was entirely consumed, expressing Israel’s complete return and submission to the Lord. Samuel acted on behalf of the nation as its judge, prophet, and priestly intercessor.

Lev 1:3-9 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd,…
2Sa 24:25 And there he built an altar to the LORD and…
Gen 8:20-21 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD…

He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel,

As the Philistines approached, Samuel appealed to God for His people rather than relying on Israel’s military strength. Their deliverance depended upon the Lord’s forgiveness and protection.

1Sa 12:18-19 So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent…
Exo 32:11-14 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying,…
Num 14:13-19 But Moses said to the LORD, “The Egyptians will hear of it,…

and the LORD answered him.

God received Samuel’s sacrifice and prayer, showing that He had restored Israel after its repentance. The victory that followed came from the Lord, not from Israel’s own power.

Psa 99:6-8 Moses and Aaron were among His priests;…
Psa 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me…
1Ki 18:36-39 At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Samuel
A prophet and judge of Israel, Samuel is a pivotal figure in the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy. He is known for his dedication to God and his role in anointing the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.

2. Suckling Lamb
The offering of a suckling lamb signifies purity and innocence. In the context of the Old Testament sacrificial system, it represents a complete and unblemished offering to God.

3. Whole Burnt Offering
This type of offering symbolizes total dedication and surrender to God. It is a sacrifice that is entirely consumed by fire, indicating the worshiper's complete devotion.

4. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is the central figure in Israel's history and the one to whom Samuel directs his prayers and sacrifices.

5. Israel
The nation chosen by God, often struggling with faithfulness, yet continually called back to repentance and renewal through leaders like Samuel.
Teaching Points
The Power of Intercession
Samuel's prayer on behalf of Israel demonstrates the importance and power of intercessory prayer. Believers are encouraged to pray for others, trusting that God hears and responds.

Total Surrender to God
The whole burnt offering signifies complete dedication. Christians are called to offer their lives as living sacrifices, wholly devoted to God's purposes.

God's Faithfulness in Answering Prayer
The LORD's response to Samuel's prayer is a testament to His faithfulness. Believers can be assured that God listens and answers according to His will.

Repentance and Renewal
Samuel's actions lead Israel back to God, highlighting the need for continual repentance and renewal in the believer's life.

Leadership and Spiritual Guidance
Samuel's role as a leader and spiritual guide is a model for Christian leaders today, emphasizing the importance of guiding others in faithfulness to God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 7:9?

2. How does Samuel's offering in 1 Samuel 7:9 demonstrate faith and obedience?

3. What role does intercessory prayer play in Samuel's actions in 1 Samuel 7:9?

4. How can we apply Samuel's example of leadership and prayer in our lives?

5. What scriptural connections exist between Samuel's offering and Christ's sacrificial role?

6. How does God's response in 1 Samuel 7:9 encourage us to trust in Him?

7. What is the significance of Samuel offering a lamb in 1 Samuel 7:9?

8. How does 1 Samuel 7:9 illustrate the power of intercessory prayer?

9. Why did God respond to Samuel's offering in 1 Samuel 7:9?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 7?


Verse 9. - And Samuel took a sucking lamb. Samuel now appears as priest, and makes intercession and atonement for them. The lamb was at least seven days old, for so the law required (Leviticus 22:27), but probably not much older; for the word, a rare one, occurring elsewhere only in Isaiah 65:25, means something small and tender: this then he offered for a burnt offering wholly unto Jehovah. The A.V. translates in this way because chalil, "whole," is masculine, while olah, "a burnt offering," is feminine; but chalil had in course of time come to be used as a substantive (Leviticus 6:23; Deuteronomy 13:16; Deuteronomy 33:10), and is really here in opposition to olah, and so the two together signify "a whole burnt offering," and clearly indicate that the lamb was entirely consumed by fire. Olah means that which ascends, and symbolised devotion and consecration to God. Chalil intensified this signification, and showed that all was God's, and no part whatsoever reserved for the priest or the offerer. And thus then Samuel's burnt offering implied that the people gave themselves unreservedly to Jehovah. And Jehovah heard him. Really, "Jehovah answered him," by the thunder mentioned in ver. 10. For thunder was regarded as God's voice (1 Samuel 2:10), and in Psalm 29. we have a poetic description of its majesty and power. Express mention is also made in Psalm 99:6 of Jehovah having thus answered the prayers of Moses (Exodus 19:19), and of Samuel.

1 Samuel 7:9 shows that when God’s people approach Him with an obedient, wholehearted offering and sincere intercession, He faithfully responds. Samuel’s lamb points ahead to Christ, the final spotless sacrifice. Our role now mirrors Israel’s: come to God through the Lamb, pray with confidence, and expect Him to act.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Samuel
שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

took
וַיִּקַּ֣ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a
אֶחָ֔ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

suckling
חָלָב֙ (ḥā·lāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2461: Milk

lamb
טְלֵ֤ה (ṭə·lêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2924: A lamb

and offered
וַיַּעֲלֵ֧הוּ (way·ya·‘ă·lê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

it as a whole
כָּלִ֖יל (kā·lîl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3632: Complete, the whole, as, fully

burnt offering
עוֹלָ֛ה (‘ō·w·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

to the LORD.
לַֽיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

He
שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

cried out
וַיִּזְעַ֨ק (way·yiz·‘aq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2199: To shriek, to announce, convene publicly

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

on behalf of
בְּעַ֣ד (bə·‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 1157: In up to, over against, at, beside, among, behind, for

Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and the LORD
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

answered him.
וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֖הוּ (way·ya·‘ă·nê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond


Additonal Resources
1 Samuel 7:9 Blue Letter Bible
1 Samuel 7:9 Bible Gateway
1 Samuel 7:9 Bible.com

1 Samuel 7:9 NIV
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1 Samuel 7:9 ESV
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1 Samuel 7:9 KJV

1 Samuel 7:9 Study Bible
1 Samuel 7:9 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 7:9 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 7:9 French Bible
1 Samuel 7:9 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 7:9 Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)

1 Samuel 7:8
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