1 Samuel 3:19

1 Samuel 3:19

And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

a. NLT: As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.

b. NIV: The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

c. YLT: And Samuel groweth up, and Jehovah hath been with him, and hath not let fall any of his words to the earth;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Samuel grew; the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

e. Septuagint: And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and there did not fall one of his words to the ground.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Samuel grew up, and HASHEM was with him; He did not cast any of his words to the ground.

1. “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him…”

a. Samuel [Strong: 8050 * Shmuw'el sehm-oo-ale' from the passive participle of 8085 and 410; heard of God; Shemuel, the name of three Israelites:--Samuel, Shemuel.]

b. grew [1431 * gadal][Strong: to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride):--advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to…estate, + things), grow(up),increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower.][BLB: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.]

1). The Hebrew meaning of the word I believe means more than just physical growing up. It carries with it the idea that Samuel prospered in every way, similar to Jesus or anyone diligently obeying the Scriptures. Note the similarities of the following verses

a). 1 Samuel 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with man.

b). Luke 1:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

c. the LORD [Strong: 3068 * Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

d. was [Strong: 1961 * hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

e. with him [Strong: 5973 * `im eem from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to, with(-al).]

1). If we are faithful in this it becomes obvious to those around us that God is with us.

a). Genesis 21:22  And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

2). Twice during Samuel’s very early years it was written of him how Samuel ministered before the LORD and unto the LORD.

a). 1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

b). 1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

3). We must remember that Samuel was growing up in an atmosphere of complete apostasy on the part of the priest Eli for not punishing his sons for their gross immorality. He did nothing to stop them but simply continued to tolerate their behavior even though God had warned him previously, when Samuel was still a child God spoke to him concerning Eli.

a). 1 Samuel 3:11-14 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.

4). The first warning that the LORD was referring to came a few years earlier from an unnamed prophet in 1 Samuel 2:27-36.

2. “…and did let none of his words fall to the ground.”

a. did let none [Strong: 3808 * lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

1). Strong: 3505 * kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

b. of his words [Strong: 1697 * dabar daw-baw' from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, + dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, + eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt, + iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, + please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that, X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings, what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.]

c. fall [5307 * naphal][Strong: to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

d. to the ground [Strong: 776 *  'erets eh'-rets from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

1). All of the sources I checked say the same thing, that this phrase “let none of his words fall to the ground”, mean everything came to pass. They all could be summed up with Matthew Henry.

2). Dake: Spoke only as God inspired him so that every prediction would come true.

3). Matthew Henry: 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. God will confirm the word of his servants, and perform the counsel of his messengers.

a). Isaiah 44:24-26 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

b). Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

4). The very first time God spoke to Samuel was about the judgment upon the house of Eli, above, 1 Samuel 3:11-14 and it came to pass.