Judges 16:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength [lieth], and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

Complete Jewish Bible:

D'lilah said to Shimshon, "Please tell me what it is that makes you so strong, and how someone could tie you up and subdue you."

Berean Standard Bible:

So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

American Standard Version:

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Delilah^{H1807} said^{H559} to Samson^{H8123}, Tell^{H5046} me, I pray thee, wherein thy great^{H1419} strength^{H3581} lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound^{H631} to afflict^{H6031} thee.

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Commentary for Judges 16:6

Judges 16:6 is a verse set within the larger narrative of Samson, one of the Israelite judges, whose story is found in the Book of Judges, chapters 13-16. The historical context of this period is characterized by the cyclical apostasy of the Israelites, their oppression by foreign nations, and the raising up of judges by God to deliver them. Samson's story is unique in that his role as a judge is primarily depicted through his personal exploits and conflicts, rather than leading Israel in a military or political capacity.

In Judges 16:6, the theme of temptation, betrayal, and the testing of loyalty is central. Here, Delilah, a Philistine woman with whom Samson has formed a relationship, questions him about the secret of his great strength. This strength was a divine gift from God, given to Samson for the purpose of beginning to deliver Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:5). The verse reflects Delilah's persistent attempts to discover the source of Samson's strength so that the Philistines, who are Israel's oppressors at the time, might capture and subdue him.

The text specifically highlights the dynamic between Samson and Delilah, where Delilah's request to Samson is framed with a sense of urgency and manipulation. She seeks to learn how he might be bound and afflicted, indicating a plot to neutralize his strength. This verse sets the stage for the subsequent betrayal, where Samson's trust in Delilah leads to his downfall. Despite being aware of Delilah's intentions through her repeated attempts to trap him, Samson eventually reveals the secret of his strength: his Nazirite vow, symbolized by his long hair, which had never been cut (Judges 16:17).

The themes of Judges 16:6 include the dangers of succumbing to personal desires, the consequences of broken trust, and the vulnerability that comes with revealing one's weaknesses to those who may not have one's best interests at heart. Samson's story serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of compromise and the importance of maintaining one's divine calling and dedication, even in the face of personal attachments and pressures.

*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: 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.
   
2. 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.
   
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: 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1419
   There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּדוֹל
   Transliteration: gâdôwl
   Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
   Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.
   
6. 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.
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6031
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָנָה
   Transliteration: ʻânâh
   Pronunciation: aw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root (possibly rather identical with עָנָה through the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows); abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer (by mistake for עָנָה), chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt, ravish, sing (by mistake for עָנָה), speak (by mistake for עָנָה), submit self, weaken, [idiom] in any wise.