So: Samuel’s response comes as a direct result of Eli’s threat of serious punishment from God. While some versions take the Hebrew conjunction as a temporal transition, translating “Then” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, La Bible du Semeur), the majority understand it as a logical transition. This seems to be the correct understanding of the common Hebrew conjunction.

The expressions told him everything and hid nothing from him do not refer to two completely different things. Rather they are two ways of talking about the same event. Therefore in many languages it will be important to avoid using the conjunction and to join the two. The second element picks up the verb used by Eli in the previous verse and serves to emphasize the fact that Samuel did not conceal anything at all of God’s revelation to him.

And he said, that is, “Eli said.” The Septuagint correctly identifies the pronoun “he” as Eli to avoid possible ambiguity. For the same reason many common language translations also say “Eli said” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

It is the LORD: this may mean either “It is the LORD who spoke to you” or “He is the LORD” (New American Bible, New International Version). The distinction in meaning is slight but subtly different. The second interpretation is more likely.

Let him do: the form of the Hebrew verb may be understood as expressing a wish (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version) or as a statement expressing a future event (Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Either choice makes sense in the context. In any case it is certainly not a plea on the part of Eli for Samuel to allow Yahweh to act. Any translation that gives this kind of impression should definitely be avoided.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .