1 Samuel 7:3

1 And the men of Kirjath-jearim 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 Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

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.

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

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

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  • Deuteronomy 13:4

    Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 4:10

    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 6:13

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 55:7

    Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 24:14

    Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

    Read in context
  • John 4:24

    God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

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  • Deuteronomy 10:20

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

    Read in context