Judges 15:16

KJV

And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Samson {H8123} said {H559}, With the jawbone {H3895} of an ass {H2543}, heaps {H2565} upon heaps {H2565}, with the jaw {H3895} of an ass {H2543} have I slain {H5221} a thousand {H505} men {H376}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Shimshon said, "With the jawbone of a donkey I left heaps piled on heaps! With the jawbone of a donkey I killed a thousand men!"

Berean Standard Bible

Then Samson said: “With the jawbone of a donkey I have piled them into heaps. With the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men.”

American Standard Version

And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 15:16 captures Samson's triumphant, poetic declaration following his miraculous victory over a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. This verse serves as a powerful testament to divine empowerment, showcasing God's ability to use unconventional and seemingly insignificant means to accomplish His mighty purposes, while also subtly revealing Samson's complex character, marked by both supernatural strength and a measure of personal pride in the wake of God's extraordinary deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the dramatic account of Samson's single-handed slaughter of a thousand Philistine men. The narrative in [Judges 15](/judges/15 "Judges 15 - Samson's Vengeance and Victory") begins with Samson's act of vengeance against the Philistines for burning his wife and her father, leading him to strike them "hip and thigh with a great slaughter" [Judges 15:8](/judges/15-8 "Judges 15:8 - Samson's Great Slaughter"). The men of Judah, fearing Philistine reprisal, then bind Samson and deliver him to the Philistines. It is at this point, empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, that Samson breaks his bonds and finds a fresh jawbone of a donkey, using it to decimate his enemies. Verse 16 is Samson's personal, celebratory pronouncement, a kind of spontaneous victory song, which is then followed by his severe thirst and God's provision of water from Lehi, the very place of his triumph.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (roughly 1200-1000 BC) was a turbulent era in Israel's history, characterized by a cyclical pattern of apostasy, oppression by foreign nations, cries for deliverance, and the raising of a judge by God. The Philistines, a powerful "Sea People" who had settled along the southwestern coast of Canaan, were a formidable military and cultural force, frequently oppressing Israel. Their advanced iron technology gave them a significant military advantage over Israel, who were still largely in the Bronze Age. Samson, a Nazarite from birth, was raised by God to "begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines" [Judges 13:5](/judges/13-5 "Judges 13:5 - Samson's Nazarite Vow and Mission"). His actions, though often driven by personal vendetta, were divinely orchestrated to weaken Philistine control and demonstrate God's sovereignty over the oppressors of His people.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 15:16 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Empowerment**, demonstrating that God's strength is not limited by human weakness or the conventional means of warfare; He can equip an individual with supernatural power to achieve His purposes, as seen throughout Samson's life and in the broader narrative of [Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges"). Secondly, it showcases **God's Unconventional Methods**, emphasizing that God often chooses the weak, foolish, or unexpected to confound the strong and wise, a principle echoed in passages like [1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chooses the Weak"). The use of a simple donkey's jawbone against a thousand armed men underscores God's ability to work through seemingly insignificant instruments. Thirdly, the verse, while celebrating victory, also subtly points to **Samson's Flawed Character**. Despite being divinely used, Samson's personal declaration hints at a prideful nature, a recurring motif that foreshadows his later struggles and ultimate downfall, reminding readers that God works through imperfect vessels.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Jawbone of an ass (Hebrew, _lᵉḥî haḥămôr_):** This phrase specifically refers to the mandible, or lower jaw, of a donkey. The choice of weapon is highly significant. Donkeys were common beasts of burden, and their bones would have been readily available but entirely unconventional as a weapon of war. The freshness of the jawbone (implied by the previous verse, Judges 15:15, which states he found a "fresh jawbone") suggests it still had some cartilage or tissue, making it perhaps more flexible or less brittle than a dry bone. Its use underscores the miraculous nature of Samson's feat, as it was not the weapon itself but the divine power accompanying its use that brought about the victory.
* **Heaps upon heaps (Hebrew, _ḥămôr ḥămōrātayim_):** This is the heart of the wordplay and poetic genius of Samson's declaration. The Hebrew word for "donkey" is _ḥămôr_ (חֲמוֹר). The word for "heap" or "mound" is also _ḥămôr_ (חֲמוֹר). Furthermore, _ḥămōrātayim_ (חֲמֹרָתַיִם) is a dual form that can mean "two heaps" or "double donkeys." Samson's pun, therefore, is a clever and triumphant play on words, connecting the instrument of his victory (the donkey's jawbone) with the overwhelming number of his slain enemies, piled high like "heaps" or "mounds," or even "donkeys," in a macabre jest.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Samson said":** This introduces Samson's personal, triumphant utterance, framing it as a spontaneous declaration or a short, self-composed victory song (often called a "mashal" or proverb/parable in Hebrew literature). It highlights his direct involvement and pride in the accomplishment.
* **"With the jawbone of an ass":** This clause immediately identifies the humble and unconventional instrument of his victory, setting the stage for the miraculous nature of the feat. It emphasizes that the power was not in the weapon but in the one wielding it—empowered by God.
* **"heaps upon heaps":** This is the poetic core of the verse, a vivid and hyperbolic description of the sheer number of slain Philistines. It conveys the overwhelming scale of the slaughter and, as detailed in the Key Word Analysis, contains a clever Hebrew pun connecting the donkey to the mounds of dead bodies.
* **"with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men":** This final clause reiterates the weapon for emphasis and states the astounding number of casualties. The repetition reinforces the seemingly impossible nature of the victory achieved with such a simple tool against such a vast number of armed adversaries, ultimately pointing to the supernatural power at work.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 15:16 is rich in literary artistry, primarily employing **Wordplay** (or pun) as its central device. The clever use of the Hebrew word _ḥămôr_ (חֲמוֹר), meaning both "donkey" and "heap" or "mound," is a brilliant example of Samson's wit and the narrator's skill. This pun creates a direct, ironic link between the humble instrument of victory and the overwhelming result, making the verse memorable and impactful. Additionally, the verse utilizes **Repetition** ("With the jawbone of an ass... with the jaw of an ass") for emphasis, underscoring the specific, unlikely weapon. The entire declaration functions as a short **Triumphal Song** or **Poetic Declaration**, a common literary form in ancient Near Eastern narratives to celebrate significant victories. Finally, the phrase "a thousand men" can be seen as **Hyperbole**, a deliberate exaggeration to emphasize the immense scale of the victory and the overwhelming odds Samson faced, further highlighting the miraculous nature of God's intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 15:16 profoundly illustrates the principle of God's power made perfect in weakness, a recurring theme throughout scripture. It demonstrates that God is not limited by human resources, conventional strength, or the apparent insignificance of His chosen instruments. Just as He used a shepherd's sling to fell a giant or a small band of men with trumpets and jars to rout an army, here He uses a mere animal bone to achieve a monumental victory. This underscores divine sovereignty and His ability to accomplish His purposes through the most unlikely means, often to highlight that the glory belongs to Him alone, not to human might or cleverness. This event serves as a powerful reminder that true strength comes from divine enablement, not from worldly power or prestige.

* [1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chooses the Foolish Things")
* [2 Corinthians 12:9-10](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - God's Power in Weakness")
* [Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-6 "Zechariah 4:6 - Not by Might Nor by Power")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Samson's victory in Judges 15:16, achieved with the most humble of tools, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It challenges us to re-evaluate our understanding of strength and capability, reminding us that God's power is not contingent on our resources, our intellect, or our perceived strengths. When faced with overwhelming challenges, whether personal struggles, spiritual battles, or societal injustices, this passage calls us to abandon reliance on our own limited abilities and instead trust in the supernatural, limitless power of God. It encourages us to be available instruments in His hands, no matter how insignificant we may feel, knowing that He delights in using the "foolish things of the world to shame the wise" [1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chooses the Weak"). Our flaws, like Samson's, do not disqualify us from being used by God, though they may complicate our journey. The ultimate message is one of radical dependence on God's enabling grace, recognizing that His power is most clearly demonstrated when our own weakness is most evident.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "jawbones of an ass" (i.e., unconventional or humble resources) might God be calling me to use in my current circumstances?**
* **How does Samson's boastful declaration, despite divine enablement, challenge my own tendencies towards pride in my accomplishments?**
* **In what areas of my life am I relying on my own strength rather than trusting in God's supernatural power to overcome challenges?**

### FAQ

**Was Samson's strength from the jawbone itself, or was it supernatural?**

Answer: Samson's strength was unequivocally supernatural, a direct gift from God, not inherent in the jawbone itself. [Judges 15:14](/judges/15-14 "Judges 15:14 - The Spirit of the Lord Rushes Upon Samson") explicitly states that "the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him" just before he broke his bonds and found the jawbone. The jawbone was merely the instrument through which God's power was manifested. This highlights God's ability to use any means, no matter how humble or unlikely, to accomplish His purposes, ensuring that the glory belongs to Him alone, not to the weapon or the human agent.

**What is the significance of the wordplay "heaps upon heaps" in this verse?**

Answer: The wordplay is a clever and triumphant pun by Samson. The Hebrew word for "donkey" is _chamor_ (חֲמוֹר), and a very similar-sounding word for "heap" or "mound" is also _chamor_ (חֲמוֹר). The phrase "heaps upon heaps" (or "two heaps") is _chamor chamoratayim_, which sounds like "donkey, two donkeys" or "donkeys, donkeys." Samson is essentially making a macabre joke, connecting the instrument of his victory (the donkey's jawbone) to the overwhelming number of slain Philistines, piled high like "heaps" or "mounds," or even like "donkeys." It emphasizes the sheer scale of the slaughter and Samson's audacious wit.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Samson, though a deeply flawed and complex figure, serves as a type of Christ, a deliverer raised up by God to rescue His people from their oppressors. Just as Samson, empowered by the Spirit, achieved an impossible victory against overwhelming odds with a seemingly insignificant instrument, so too did Jesus Christ, through His apparent weakness on the cross, achieve the ultimate and decisive victory over sin, death, and the power of the enemy. The "jawbone of an ass" foreshadows the "foolishness" of the cross, which to the world appears weak and scandalous, yet is the very power of God for salvation [1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross"). Christ, the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the ultimate, seemingly vulnerable, instrument through whom God accomplished His greatest act of deliverance. Unlike Samson, whose strength was physical and whose victories were partial and marred by personal sin, Christ's victory was spiritual, complete, and eternally perfect, securing true freedom for all who believe [John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free"). Thus, Judges 15:16, in its display of divine power through unexpected means, points forward to the supreme, counter-intuitive triumph of God in Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.