1 Samuel 7:3
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.
Original Language Analysis
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 30
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בֵּ֣ית
unto all the house
H1004
בֵּ֣ית
unto all the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
5 of 30
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל֮
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֮
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
6 of 30
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
8 of 30
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
9 of 30
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לְבַבְכֶ֤ם
with all your hearts
H3824
לְבַבְכֶ֤ם
with all your hearts
Strong's:
H3824
Word #:
10 of 30
the heart (as the most interior organ)
שָׁבִים֙
If ye do return
H7725
שָׁבִים֙
If ye do return
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
12 of 30
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
יְהוָה֙
unto the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 30
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֱלֹהֵ֧י
gods
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֧י
gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
17 of 30
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
הַנֵּכָ֛ר
the strange
H5236
הַנֵּכָ֛ר
the strange
Strong's:
H5236
Word #:
18 of 30
foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom
מִתּֽוֹכְכֶ֖ם
from among
H8432
מִתּֽוֹכְכֶ֖ם
from among
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
19 of 30
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
וְהָֽעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת
and Ashtaroth
H6252
וְהָֽעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת
and Ashtaroth
Strong's:
H6252
Word #:
20 of 30
ashtaroth, the name of a sidonian deity, and of a place east of the jordan
וְהָכִ֨ינוּ
you and prepare
H3559
וְהָכִ֨ינוּ
you and prepare
Strong's:
H3559
Word #:
21 of 30
properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
לְבַבְכֶ֤ם
with all your hearts
H3824
לְבַבְכֶ֤ם
with all your hearts
Strong's:
H3824
Word #:
22 of 30
the heart (as the most interior organ)
יְהוָה֙
unto the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
24 of 30
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְעִבְדֻ֣הוּ
and serve
H5647
וְעִבְדֻ֣הוּ
and serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
25 of 30
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
לְבַדּ֔וֹ
H905
לְבַדּ֔וֹ
Strong's:
H905
Word #:
26 of 30
properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit
וְיַצֵּ֥ל
him only and he will deliver
H5337
וְיַצֵּ֥ל
him only and he will deliver
Strong's:
H5337
Word #:
27 of 30
to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
אֶתְכֶ֖ם
H853
אֶתְכֶ֖ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
28 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Luke 4:8And 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.Deuteronomy 13:4Ye 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.Matthew 4:10Then 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.Deuteronomy 6:13Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.Isaiah 55:7Let 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.Joshua 24:14Now 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.Joshua 24:23Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.John 4:24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.Deuteronomy 10:20Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.1 Kings 8:48And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:
Historical Context
Ashtaroth (plural of Ashtoreth) represented the Canaanite fertility goddess, often worshiped alongside Baal. Archaeological evidence confirms widespread Israelite participation in Canaanite cult practices during this period. Samuel's role as judge-prophet placed him in the tradition of Moses - combining civil authority with prophetic proclamation.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'foreign gods' compete for your heart's devotion alongside the true God?
- How does Samuel's four-fold call to repentance provide a pattern for spiritual renewal today?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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.
Samuel emerges as Israel's spiritual leader, his prophetic authority now fully established. His message contains the classic prophetic call to repentance with four imperatives. First, 'return' (Hebrew 'shuv') - the fundamental concept of repentance as turning back to God. Second, 'put away' ('sur') the foreign gods - repentance requires removal of idols, not merely adding Yahweh to the pantheon. Third, 'prepare your hearts' ('kun') - establish, fix, or direct the heart toward God alone. Fourth, 'serve him only' ('avad') - exclusive devotion expressed in practical obedience. Samuel's conditional promise ('if...then') reflects covenant theology: blessing follows obedience. The specific mention of 'Ashtaroth' (Canaanite fertility goddesses) indicates the syncretism plaguing Israel - they had blended Yahweh worship with local cult practices.