King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He judged Isra'el in the period of the P'lishtim for twenty years.
Berean Standard Bible:
And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.
American Standard Version:
And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he judged{H8199} Israel{H3478} in the days{H3117} of the Philistines{H6430} twenty{H6242} years{H8141}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Judges 13:1
- ¶ And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
Judges 16:31
- Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought [him] up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
Hebrews 11:32
- ¶ And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets:
Judges 13:5
- For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
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Commentary for Judges 15:20
Judges 15:20 is a verse that succinctly encapsulates the period during which Samson led Israel. The verse reads, "And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years." This statement comes at the end of the narrative of Samson's early exploits, particularly his marriage to a Philistine woman, the subsequent conflict with her people, and his revenge on them for betraying him.
The historical context of this verse is set within the time of the Judges, a period characterized by spiritual and moral decline in Israel, where the people repeatedly fell into apostasy, were oppressed by foreign nations, and then cried out to God for deliverance. Each time, God raised up a judge to lead them out of oppression. Samson was one such judge, although his tenure was markedly different from others in that his leadership was not characterized by the typical cycle of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. Instead, Samson's story is primarily one of personal vendettas and individual acts of strength against the Philistines, rather than a collective leadership of Israel.
The themes present in this verse include God's sovereignty in using flawed individuals for His purposes, the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and disobedience, and the ongoing tension between the Israelites and the Philistines, one of their chief antagonists during this period. Despite Samson's personal failings and his sometimes self-centered motives, God used him to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. The mention of the twenty-year period indicates a significant duration of Samson's influence and the ongoing struggle against the Philistines, setting the stage for the eventual rise of kingship in Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8199
There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפַט
Transliteration: shâphaṭ
Pronunciation: shaw-fat'
Description: a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively); [phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H6430
There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
Transliteration: Pᵉlishtîy
Pronunciation: pel-ish-tee'
Description: patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine. - Strong's Number: H6242
There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
Transliteration: ʻesrîym
Pronunciation: es-reem'
Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).