Judges 16:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And she said, The Philistines [be] upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

She said, "Shimshon! The P'lishtim have come for you!" He awoke from his sleep and said, "I'll get out this time, just as I shook myself loose before." But he didn't know that ADONAI had left him.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.

American Standard Version:

And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he knew not that Jehovah was departed from him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And she said^{H559}, The Philistines^{H6430} be upon thee, Samson^{H8123}. And he awoke^{H3364} out of his sleep^{H8142}, and said^{H559}, I will go out^{H3318} as at other times before^{H6471}, and shake^{H5287} myself. And he wist^{H3045} not that the LORD^{H3068} was departed^{H5493} from him.

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Commentary for Judges 16:20

Judges 16:20 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 verse is situated towards the end of Samson's life and captures a critical moment in his downfall.

In this verse, Samson is betrayed by Delilah, a woman from the valley of Sorek, who had been persuaded by the Philistine leaders to discover the secret of Samson's superhuman strength. After repeated attempts, Delilah finally learns that Samson's strength is linked to his Nazirite vow, specifically to his uncut hair. While he sleeps, she has his hair cut, and his strength leaves him. The verse reveals the immediate consequences of this betrayal: Delilah announces the arrival of the Philistines, who are Samson's arch-enemies and the dominant force oppressing the Israelites at the time.

The themes present in this verse include betrayal, the loss of divine favor, and the consequences of breaking a sacred vow. Samson, previously empowered by God, is now vulnerable, symbolizing the departure of the Lord's spirit from him due to his disobedience to the Nazirite restrictions. The mention of Samson's intention to "shake himself" as he had done before is a tragic reminder of his former strength and the protection it afforded him and his people. However, his unawareness of the Lord's departure underscores his spiritual blindness, which parallels his physical blinding that occurs later in the narrative.

This verse encapsulates the climax of Samson's tragic story, highlighting the personal and national implications of his moral failings and serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of succumbing to temptation and the importance of maintaining one's covenant with God.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3364
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָקַץ
   Transliteration: yâqats
   Pronunciation: yaw-kats'
   Description: a primitive root; to awake (intransitive); (be) awake(-d).
   
5. Strong's Number: H8142
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁנָה
   Transliteration: shênâh
   Pronunciation: shay-naw'
   Description: or שֵׁנָא; (Psalm 127:2), from יָשֵׁן; sleep; sleep.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6471
   There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּעַם
   Transliteration: paʻam
   Pronunciation: pah'-am
   Description: or (feminine) פַּעֲמָה; from פָּעַם; a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow); anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-) fold, [idiom] now, (this) [phrase] once, order, rank, step, [phrase] thrice, (often-), second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5287
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָעַר
   Transliteration: nâʻar
   Pronunciation: naw-ar'
   Description: a primitive root (probably identical with נָעַר, through the idea of the rustling of mane, which usually accompanies the lion's roar); to tumble about; shake (off, out, self), overthrow, toss up and down.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3045
   There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָדַע
   Transliteration: yâdaʻ
   Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
   Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
    
11. 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.