King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines [were] there; and [there were] upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The building was full of men and women; and all the chiefs of the P'lishtim were there; in addition to them, there were about three thousand men and women on the roof, watching, as Shimshon performed.
Berean Standard Bible:
Now the temple was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there, and about three thousand men and women were on the roof watching Samson entertain them.
American Standard Version:
Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Now the house{H1004} was full{H4390} of men{H582} and women{H802}; and all the lords{H5633} of the Philistines{H6430} were there; and there were upon the roof{H1406} about three{H7969} thousand{H505} men{H376} and women{H802}, that beheld{H7200} while Samson{H8123} made sport{H7832}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 22:8
- When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.
2 Samuel 11:2
- And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.
Joshua 2:8
- ¶ And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
Judges 9:51
- But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut [it] to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
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Commentary for Judges 16:27
Judges 16:27 is set within the broader narrative of Samson, one of the Israelite judges, whose story is characterized by themes of strength, divine power, personal folly, and the conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines. In this verse, Samson, who has been captured and blinded by the Philistines, is brought to their temple of Dagon, their god, as a spectacle for their amusement. The historical context places this event during the time of the Philistine occupation of Israel, when the Israelites were under the oppressive rule of the Philistines, and Samson's capture represents a significant victory for them over their adversary.
The verse highlights the magnitude of Samson's fall from grace, as he is now a prisoner and object of derision, in stark contrast to his previous status as a divinely empowered hero and leader of the Israelites. The presence of a large crowd, including the Philistine elite and about three thousand people on the roof, underscores the importance of this event in the eyes of the Philistines. They gather to witness Samson's humiliation, unaware that he is about to enact a final act of revenge that will result in his own death and a significant blow to the Philistine leadership.
This verse also reflects the ancient practice of public spectacle as a means of demonstrating power and control, as well as the religious dynamics of the time, with the Philistines celebrating their god's perceived triumph over the god of the Israelites. The mention of "men and women" in the audience indicates that such events were communal and that the Philistine society, much like others in the ancient Near East, was patriarchal but included women in public gatherings.
In summary, Judges 16:27 captures a moment of tragic irony in the life of Samson, where the mighty judge, once revered and feared, is now subjected to the mockery of his enemies. It encapsulates the cyclical nature of the Israelites' apostasy and deliverance, the recurring theme throughout the book of Judges, and serves as a prelude to Samson's final act of defiance against the Philistines, which will ultimately contribute to the narrative of divine justice and the eventual deliverance of 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: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H4390
There are 240 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָלֵא
Transliteration: mâlêʼ
Pronunciation: maw-lay'
Description: or מָלָא; (Esther 7:5), a primitive root; to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively); accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly. - Strong's Number: H582
There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
Pronunciation: en-oshe'
Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H5633
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סֶרֶן
Transliteration: çeren
Pronunciation: seh'-ren
Description: from an unused root of uncertain meaning; an axle; figuratively, a peer; lord, plate. - 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: H1406
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּג
Transliteration: gâg
Pronunciation: gawg
Description: probably by reduplication from גָּאָה; a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar; roof (of the house), (house) top (of the house). - Strong's Number: H7969
There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
Transliteration: shâlôwsh
Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H505
There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶלֶף
Transliteration: ʼeleph
Pronunciation: eh'-lef
Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - 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: H7832
There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂחַק
Transliteration: sâchaq
Pronunciation: saw-khak'
Description: a primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play; deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock(-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport.