King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines [be] upon thee, Samson. And [there were] liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
Complete Jewish Bible:
So D'lilah took new ropes, tied him up, and said to him, "Shimshon! The P'lishtim have come for you!" (The people lying in wait were in the inside room.) But he broke the ropes from off his arms like a thread.
Berean Standard Bible:
So Delilah took new ropes, tied him up with them, and called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But while the men were hidden in her room, he snapped the ropes off his arms like they were threads.
American Standard Version:
So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And the liers-in-wait were abiding in the inner chamber. And he brake them off his arms like a thread.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Delilah{H1807} therefore took{H3947} new{H2319} ropes{H5688}, and bound{H631} him therewith, and said{H559} unto him, The Philistines{H6430} be upon thee, Samson{H8123}. And there were liers in wait{H693} abiding{H3427} in the chamber{H2315}. And he brake{H5423} them from off his arms{H2220} like a thread{H2339}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 16:12
Judges 16:12 is part of the narrative of Samson, one of the Israelite judges, whose story is set in the historical context of the period when the Israelites were settled in the land of Canaan but had not yet established a monarchy. The time was characterized by a cycle of apostasy, oppression by neighboring peoples, and deliverance through divinely appointed judges.
In this verse, Delilah, a woman from the Valley of Sorek who has been bribed by the Philistine lords to discover the secret of Samson's superhuman strength, is making her third attempt to neutralize Samson. The Philistines, who were a frequent adversary of the Israelites during this period, sought to capture Samson because his strength posed a significant threat to their control over the region.
The verse captures the cunning of Delilah and the naivety of Samson, who, despite being forewarned by Delilah that the Philistines were upon him, still allows himself to be bound with new ropes. His strength, a gift from God, is vividly illustrated as he effortlessly breaks the ropes "like a thread," demonstrating his extraordinary physical power. This event foreshadows the eventual revelation of his secret, which is tied to his Nazirite vow and the fact that his strength lies in his uncut hair.
The themes present in this verse include the recurring cycle of temptation and betrayal, the tension between the Israelites and the Philistines, and the individual's responsibility to maintain covenantal faithfulness. It also touches on the theme of divine strength being available to those who remain obedient to God's commands, a theme that is central to the story of Samson and his ultimate destiny. The verse reflects the broader narrative's exploration of human frailty, the consequences of succumbing to temptation, and the complex interplay between divine purpose and human agency.
*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: H1807
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דְּלִילָה
Transliteration: Dᵉlîylâh
Pronunciation: del-ee-law'
Description: lemma דִּלִילָה first vowel, corrected to דְּלִילָה; from דָּלַל; languishing; Delilah, a Philistine woman; Delilah. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H2319
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָדָשׁ
Transliteration: châdâsh
Pronunciation: khaw-dawsh'
Description: from חָדַשׁ; new; fresh, new thing. - Strong's Number: H5688
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲבֹת
Transliteration: ʻăbôth
Pronunciation: ab-oth'
Description: or עֲבוֹת; or (feminine) עֲבֹתָה; the same as עָבֹת; something intwined, i.e. a string, wreath or foliage; band, cord, rope, thick bough (branch), wreathen (chain). - Strong's Number: H631
There are 565 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָסַר
Transliteration: ʼâçar
Pronunciation: aw-sar'
Description: a primitive root; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle; bind, fast, gird, harness, hold, keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison(-er), put in bonds, set in array, tie. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - 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: H8123
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁמְשׁוֹן
Transliteration: Shimshôwn
Pronunciation: shim-shone'
Description: from שֶׁמֶשׁ; sunlight; Shimshon, an Israelite; Samson. - Strong's Number: H693
There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָרַב
Transliteration: ʼârab
Pronunciation: aw-rab'
Description: a primitive root; to lurk; (lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie in) wait. - Strong's Number: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. - Strong's Number: H2315
There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶדֶר
Transliteration: cheder
Pronunciation: kheh'-der
Description: from חָדַר; an apartment (usually literal); ((bed) inner) chamber, innermost(-ward) part, parlour, [phrase] south, [idiom] within. - Strong's Number: H5423
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַק
Transliteration: nâthaq
Pronunciation: naw-thak'
Description: a primitive root; to tear off; break (off), burst, draw (away), lift up, pluck (away, off), pull (out), root out. - Strong's Number: H2220
There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זְרוֹעַ
Transliteration: zᵉrôwaʻ
Pronunciation: zer-o'-ah
Description: or (shortened) זְרֹעַ; and (feminine) זְרוֹעָה; or זְרֹעָה; from זָרַע; the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force; arm, [phrase] help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength. - Strong's Number: H2339
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חוּט
Transliteration: chûwṭ
Pronunciation: khoot
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to sew; a string; by implication, a measuring tape; cord, fillet, line, thread.