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1 Samuel 3:9
ESV Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
NIV So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
NASB And Eli said to Samuel, 'Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’?' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
CSB He told Samuel, "Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
NLT So he said to Samuel, 'Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’' So Samuel went back to bed.
KJV Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
NKJV Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

What does 1 Samuel 3:9 mean?

God had condemned Eli for putting his sons above God. Instead of removing them from the priesthood, the high priest of Israel had allowed them to stay in their positions and continue to scorn the sacrifices by taking the best cuts for themselves (1 Samuel 2:29).

When it came to Samuel, though, Eli seems to have been sensitive to the working of the Lord in the boy's life. His blessing of Hannah's request of the Lord has been used by God, in some part, to bring about Samuel's birth (1 Samuel 1:17). He had continued to offer blessings on behalf of Samuel's parents (1 Samuel 2:20–21), also used by God to bring them more children.

Now Eli has recognized that the voice Samuel keeps hearing call his name is the Lord Himself (1 Samuel 3:4–8). The old priest tells the boy what to do next time the Lord calls him. Samuel should ask God to speak, affirming that he, God's servant, is listening. Samuel returns to bed to wait.
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