King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I [have been] a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any [other] man.
Complete Jewish Bible:
so that he finally told her everything. He said to her, "No razor has ever touched my head, because I have been a nazir of God since I was born. If someone shaves me, then my strength will leave me; and I will be like any other man."
Berean Standard Bible:
Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”
American Standard Version:
And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazirite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That he told{H5046} her all his heart{H3820}, and said{H559} unto her, There hath not come{H5927} a razor{H4177} upon mine head{H7218}; for I have been a Nazarite{H5139} unto God{H430} from my mother's{H517} womb{H990}: if I be shaven{H1548}, then my strength{H3581} will go{H5493} from me, and I shall become weak{H2470}, and be like any other man{H120}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Micah 7:5
- Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
Proverbs 12:23
- ¶ A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
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.
Numbers 6:5
- All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth [himself] unto the LORD, he shall be holy, [and] shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
Numbers 6:2
- Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate [themselves] to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate [themselves] unto the LORD:
Acts 18:18
- ¶ And Paul [after this] tarried [there] yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn [his] head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
Proverbs 29:12
- ¶ If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants [are] wicked.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 16:17
Judges 16:17 is a pivotal moment in the story of Samson, one of the most enigmatic figures in the Hebrew Bible. Samson was a Nazirite from birth, a status denoted by a vow that included never cutting one's hair, avoiding contact with the dead, and abstaining from wine and strong drink. This vow was a sign of dedication and consecration to God, and it was believed that Samson's extraordinary strength was tied to his adherence to these Nazirite principles.
In this verse, Samson reveals to Delilah, a woman from the Valley of Sorek, the secret of his strength. After persistent pressure from Delilah, who had been bribed by the Philistine leaders to discover the source of Samson's power, Samson discloses that his strength lies in his uncut hair, which he has kept long as part of his Nazirite vow. This confession is a stark departure from his previous evasions, and it underscores a theme of vulnerability through intimacy—Samson's trust in Delilah leads to his downfall.
The historical context of this verse is set during the time of the judges, a period characterized by cycles of apostasy and deliverance among the Israelites. The Philistines, a sea people who had settled on the coastal plain of what is now modern-day Israel and Gaza, were a constant threat to the Israelites, and Samson's story is set against this backdrop of conflict. Samson's role as a judge and deliverer for Israel is fraught with personal failings, and his narrative arc is one of tragic heroism, where personal flaws undermine his divine calling.
In summary, Judges 16:17 captures a moment of profound revelation and weakness for Samson. It highlights the themes of faithfulness to divine vows, the dangers of succumbing to human desires, and the consequences of betrayal. Samson's disclosure to Delilah sets the stage for the loss of his strength, his capture by the Philistines, and ultimately, his act of sacrifice that would lead to his death and a final victory against the Philistines.
*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: H5046
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַד
Transliteration: nâgad
Pronunciation: naw-gad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: H3820
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵב
Transliteration: lêb
Pronunciation: labe
Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. - 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: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H4177
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹרָה
Transliteration: môwrâh
Pronunciation: mo-raw'
Description: from מוּר in the sense of shearing; a razor; razor. - Strong's Number: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. - Strong's Number: H5139
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָזִיר
Transliteration: nâzîyr
Pronunciation: naw-zeer'
Description: or נָזִר; from נָזַר; separate, i.e. consecrated (as prince, a Nazirite); hence (figuratively from the latter) an unpruned vine (like an unshorn Nazirite); Nazarite (by a false alliteration with Nazareth), separate(-d), vine undressed. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H990
There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּטֶן
Transliteration: beṭen
Pronunciation: beh'-ten
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything; belly, body, [phrase] as they be born, [phrase] within, womb. - Strong's Number: H1548
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּלַח
Transliteration: gâlach
Pronunciation: gaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be bald, i.e. (causatively) to shave; figuratively to lay waste; poll, shave (off). - Strong's Number: H3581
There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֹּחַ
Transliteration: kôach
Pronunciation: ko'-akh
Description: or (Daniel 11:6) כּוֹחַ; from an unused root meaning to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its hardiness) a large lizard; ability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth. - Strong's Number: H5493
There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סוּר
Transliteration: çûwr
Pronunciation: soor
Description: or שׂוּר; (Hosea 9:12), a primitive root; to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without. - Strong's Number: H2470
There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלָה
Transliteration: châlâh
Pronunciation: khaw-law'
Description: a primitive root (compare חוּל, חָלָה, חָלַל); properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or (causatively) to grieve, make sick; also to stroke (in flattering), entreat; beseech, (be) diseased, (put to) grief, be grieved, (be) grievous, infirmity, intreat, lay to, put to pain, [idiom] pray, make prayer, be (fall, make) sick, sore, be sorry, make suit ([idiom] supplication), woman in travail, be (become) weak, be wounded. - Strong's Number: H120
There are 581 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדָם
Transliteration: ʼâdâm
Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
Description: from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.