Judges 16:28

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Shimshon called to ADONAI, "Adonai ELOHIM, just this once, please, think of me, and please, give me strength, so that I can take revenge on the P'lishtim for at least one of my two eyes."

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Samson called out to the LORD: “O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, so that with one vengeful blow I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”

American Standard Version:

And Samson called unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Samson^{H8123} called^{H7121} unto the LORD^{H3068}, and said^{H559}, O Lord^{H136} GOD^{H3069}, remember^{H2142} me, I pray thee, and strengthen^{H2388} me, I pray thee, only this once^{H6471}, O God^{H430}, that I may be at once^{H259} avenged^{{H5358}{H5359}} of the Philistines^{H6430} for my two^{H8147} eyes^{H5869}.

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Commentary for Judges 16:28

Judges 16:28 is a pivotal moment in the story of Samson, one of the Israelite judges who was known for his supernatural strength and his role as a leader in the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines. The verse is set towards the end of Samson's life, after he has been captured by the Philistines, had his eyes gouged out, and is being mocked in the temple of Dagon, their god.

In this verse, Samson calls out to the Lord in a prayer that encapsulates both his despair and his desire for revenge. He implores God to remember him and to grant him strength one last time so that he may take vengeance upon the Philistines for the loss of his sight. This plea reflects the theme of divine intervention, a recurring motif in the book of Judges, where the Israelites repeatedly fall into apostasy, face oppression, cry out for help, and are delivered through a judge raised up by God.

The historical context of this verse is the period of the Judges, which is traditionally dated to the 12th or 11th century BCE. During this time, the Israelites were not yet a united monarchy and were instead a loose confederation of tribes. The Philistines, a sea-faring people from the Aegean region, had established a foothold in the coastal areas of what is now Israel and were a constant military threat to the Israelites.

Samson's story, particularly in Judges 16:28, highlights the cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that characterizes much of the book of Judges. It also underscores the personal nature of Samson's relationship with God, as he relies on God's strength rather than his own. Despite his flaws and past failures to adhere to his Nazirite vow, Samson's final act of faith and the resulting divine response demonstrate God's mercy and power, as well as the complex interplay between human fallibility and divine purpose in the biblical narrative.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7121
   There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרָא
   Transliteration: qârâʼ
   Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H136
   There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
   Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
   Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
   Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3069
   There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוִה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvih
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vee'
   Description: a variation of יְהֹוָה (used after אֲדֹנָי, and pronounced by Jews as אֱלֹהִים, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce יְהֹוָה as אֲדֹנָי); {YHWH}; God.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2142
   There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָכַר
   Transliteration: zâkar
   Pronunciation: zaw-kar'
   Description: a primitive root; also as denominative from זָכָר; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2388
   There are 266 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָזַק
   Transliteration: châzaq
   Pronunciation: khaw-zak'
   Description: a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer; aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
   
9. 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.
   
10. 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.
    
11. Strong's Number: H259
    There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶחָד
    Transliteration: ʼechâd
    Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
    Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
    
12. Strong's Number: H5358
    There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָקַם
    Transliteration: nâqam
    Pronunciation: naw-kam'
    Description: a primitive root; to grudge, i.e. avenge or punish; avenge(-r, self), punish, revenge (self), [idiom] surely, take vengeance.
    
13. Strong's Number: H5359
    There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָקָם
    Transliteration: nâqâm
    Pronunciation: naw-kawm'
    Description: from נָקַם; revenge; [phrase] avenged, quarrel, vengeance.
    
14. 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.
    
15. Strong's Number: H8147
    There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
    Transliteration: shᵉnayim
    Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
    Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
    
16. Strong's Number: H5869
    There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַיִן
    Transliteration: ʻayin
    Pronunciation: ah'-yin
    Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).