Greek word · G4545

Σαμουήλ

samouēl

Samuel

The personal name of the prophet and last major judge of Israel, who stood at the turn from the tribal period to the monarchy.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Σαμουήλ, ὁ indecl.

(in FlJ, Σαμούηλος; Heb. שְׁמוּאֵל),

Samuel (1 Kings 1:20, al.): Acts 3:24 13:20, Hebrews 11:32.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 3:24

Range of meaning

The personal name of the prophet and last major judge of Israel, who stood at the turn from the tribal period to the monarchy.

Against the English

No real difference between versions in the name. They differ in how they render the phrase around it: "from Samuel on," "from Samuel and those that follow after," or "beginning with Samuel."

Used elsewhere in the period

1 Samuel 3:20 says all Israel knew Samuel was established as a prophet. Acts 13:20 marks a period as lasting "until Samuel the prophet," and Hebrews 11:32 names "Samuel and the prophets." Psalm 99:6 and Jeremiah 15:1 name him alongside Moses. Sirach 46:13 remembers him as a prophet who established the kingdom and anointed rulers.

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 3:24 Σαμουὴλ Samuel

    Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days.

    Here: The prophet at the start of the kingdom period, who anointed David. Having just quoted Moses, Peter now starts the following line of prophets with him.

  2. Acts 13:20 Σαμουὴλ Samuel

    All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 11:32 Σαμουὴλ Samuel

    And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

    Here: The last judge and the first of the great prophets, who anointed both Saul and David (1 Samuel). He bridges the age of the judges and the age of kings and prophets.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.