King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Shimshon replied, "If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have never been dried, I will become as weak as any other man."
Berean Standard Bible:
Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man.”
American Standard Version:
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Samson{H8123} said{H559} unto her, If they bind{H631} me with seven{H7651} green{H3892} withs{H3499} that were never dried{H2717}, then shall I be weak{H2470}, and be as another{H259} man{H120}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Colossians 3:9
- Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Romans 3:8
- And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
1 Samuel 27:10
- And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
Judges 16:10
- And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
1 Samuel 19:17
- And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
Galatians 6:7
- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
1 Samuel 21:2
- And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed [my] servants to such and such a place.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 16:7
Judges 16:7 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. This period was characterized by cycles of apostasy, oppression by neighboring peoples, and deliverance by judges raised up by God. Samson's story is unique in that his role as a judge is closely tied to his personal struggles and his divine calling as a Nazirite from birth, which included the vow to never cut his hair.
In the verse, Samson is revealing to his Philistine wife, Delilah, the secret of his superhuman strength, which he attributes to his adherence to the Nazirite vow. The Philistines, who were the dominant force oppressing the Israelites at the time, had been trying to discover the source of Samson's strength so they could subdue him. The "seven green withs" refer to fresh, pliable branches or cords that had not been dried and thus were at their strongest. Samson's statement reflects his belief that his strength is tied to his obedience to God's commands, and that deviating from these commands, even in a small way, would render him as vulnerable as any other man.
The themes present in this verse include the tension between divine power and human vulnerability, the danger of intimate relationships with those who do not share one's faith or values, and the consequences of compromising one's principles. Samson's revelation to Delilah ultimately leads to his capture by the Philistines, setting the stage for the climax of his tragic story, which sees both his downfall and his final act of divine vengeance. This moment in the narrative underscores the broader theme in Judges of the cyclical nature of Israel's spiritual and political instability, as well as the potential for personal failure and redemption.
*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: 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: 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: 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. - Strong's Number: H7651
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁבַע
Transliteration: shebaʻ
Pronunciation: sheh'-bah
Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה. - Strong's Number: H3892
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לַח
Transliteration: lach
Pronunciation: lakh
Description: from an unused root meaning to be new; fresh, i.e. unused or undried; green, moist. - Strong's Number: H3499
There are 95 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יֶתֶר
Transliteration: yether
Pronunciation: yeh'-ther
Description: from יָתַר; properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a small rope (as hanging free); [phrase] abundant, cord, exceeding, excellancy(-ent), what they leave, that hath left, plentifully, remnant, residue, rest, string, with. - Strong's Number: H2717
There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָרַב
Transliteration: chârab
Pronunciation: khaw-rab'
Description: or חֲרֵב; a primitive root; to parch (through drought) i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill; decay, (be) desolate, destroy(-er), (be) dry (up), slay, [idiom] surely, (lay, lie, make) waste. - 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: 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, - 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.