1 Samuel 7:3
1 Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.
2 And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD.
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of 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.”
4 So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.
5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of 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.”
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
- ASV
- And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto Jehovah with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts unto Jehovah, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
- DARBY
- And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If ye return to Jehovah with all your heart, put away the strange gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and apply your hearts unto Jehovah, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
- BLB
- And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If with all your⁺ heart you⁺ are returning to YHWH, put away the foreign gods from your⁺ midst, and the Ashtoreths, and prepare your⁺ hearts for YHWH, and serve Him only. And He will snatch you⁺ up from the hand of the Philistines.”
- ÅB
- Og Samuel sa til hele Israels hus: Dersom dere vender om til Herren av hele deres hjerte, så ha de fremmede guder og Astartebildene bort fra dere og vend deres hjerte til Herren og tjen ham alene! Så skal han fri dere av filistrenes hånd.
- OTB
- Samuel sa til hele Israels folk: «Hvis dere virkelig vender tilbake til Herren av hele deres hjerte, så fjern de fremmede gudene og Astartene fra blant dere. Forplikt dere til Herren og tjen Ham alene, så vil Han redde dere fra filisternes hånd.»
- B1930
- Og Samuel sa til hele Israels hus: Dersom I vender om til Herren av hele eders hjerte, så ha de fremmede guder og Astarte-billedene bort fra eder og vend eders hjerte til Herren og tjen ham alene! Så skal han fri eder av filistrenes hånd.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 4:8
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Read in contextDeuteronomy 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.
Read in contextMatthew 4:10
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Read in contextDeuteronomy 6:13
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
Read in contextIsaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
Read in contextJoshua 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.
Read in contextJohn 4:24
God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Read in contextDeuteronomy 10:20
You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.
Read in context