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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Judges 16:4–17. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The burnt child dreads the fire; yet Samson, that has more than the strength of a man, in this comes short of the wisdom of a child; for, though he had been more than once brought into the highest degree of mischief and danger by the love of women and lusting after them, yet he would not take warning, but is here again taken in the same snare, and this third time pays for all. Solomon seems to refer especially to this story of Samson when, in his caution against uncleanness, he gives this account of a whorish woman (Pro 7:26), that she hath cast down many wounded, yea, many strong men have been slain by her; and (Pro 6:26) that the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. This bad woman, that brought Samson to ruin, is here named Delilah, an infamous name, and fitly used to express the person, or thing, that by flattery or falsehood brings mischief and destruction on those to whom kindness is pretended. See here,
I.The affection Samson had for Delilah:
he loved her, Jdg 16:4. Some think she was his wife, but then he would have had her home to his own house; others that he courted her to make her his wife; but there is too much reason to suspect that it was a sinful affection he had for her, and that he lived in uncleanness with her. Whether she was an Israelite or a Philistine is not certain. If an Israelite, which is scarcely probable, yet she had the heart of a Philistine.
II.The interest which the lords of the Philistines made with her to betray Samson, Jdg 16:5.
1.That which they told her they designed was to humble him, or afflict him; they would promise not to do him any hurt, only they would disable him not to do them any. And so much conscience it should seem they made of this promise that even then, when he lay ever so much at their mercy, they would not kill him, no, not when the razor that cut his hair might sooner and more easily have cut his throat.
2.That which they desired, in order hereunto, was to know where his great strength lay, and by what means he might be bound. Perhaps they imagined he had some spell or charm which he carried about with him, by the force of which he did these great things, and doubted not but that, if they could get this from him, he would be manageable; and therefore, having had reason enough formerly to know which was his blind side, hoped to find out his riddle a second time by ploughing with his heifer. They engaged Delilah to get it out of him, telling her what a kindness it would be to them, and perhaps assuring her it should not be improved to any real mischief, either to him or her.
3.For this they bid high, promised to give her each of them 1100 pieces of silver, 5500 in all. So many shekels amounted to above 1000l. sterling; with this she was hired to betray one she pretended to love. See what horrid wickedness the love of money is the root of. Our blessed Saviour was thus betrayed by one whom he called friend, and with a kiss too, for filthy lucre. No marvel if those who are unchaste, as Delilah, be unjust; such as lose their honesty in one instance will in another.
III.The arts by which he put her off from time to time, and kept his own counsel a great while.
She asked him where his great strength lay, and whether it were possible for him to be bound and afflicted (Jdg 16:6), pretending that she only desired he would satisfy her curiosity in that one thing, and that she thought it was impossible he should be bound otherwise than by her charms.
1.When she urged him very much, he told her,
(1.)That he might be bound with seven green withs, Jdg 16:7. The experiment was tried (Jdg 16:8), but it would not do: he broke the withs as easily as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire, Jdg 16:9.
(2.)When she still continued her importunity (Jdg 16:10) he told her that with two new ropes he might be so cramped and hampered that he might be as easily dealt with as any other man, Jdg 16:11. This experiment was tried too, but it failed: the new ropes broke from off his arm like a thread, Jdg 16:12.
(3.)When she still pressed him to communicate the secret, and upbraided him with it as an unkindness that he had bantered her so long, he then told her that the weaving of the seven locks of his head would make a great alteration in him, Jdg 16:13. This came nearer the matter than any thing he had yet said, but it would not do: his strength appeared to be very much in his hair, when, upon the trial of this, purely by the strength of his hair, he carried away the pin of the beam and the web.
2.In the making of all these experiments, it is hard to say whether there appears more of Samson's weakness or Delilah's wickedness.
(1.)Could any thing be more wicked than her restless and unreasonable importunity with him to discover a secret which she knew would endanger his life if ever it were lodged any where but in his own breast? What could be more base and disingenuous, more false and treacherous, than to lay his head in her lap, as one whom she loved, and at the same time to design the betraying of him to those by whom he was mortally hated?
(2.)Could any thing be more weak than for him to continue a parley with one who, he so plainly saw, was aiming to do him a mischief, - that he should lend an ear so long to such an impudent request, that she might know how to do him a mischief, - that when he perceived liers in wait for him in the chamber, and that they were ready to apprehend him if they had been able, he did not immediately quit the chamber, with a resolution never to come into it any more, - nay, that he should again lay his head in that lap out of which he had been so often roused with that alarm, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson? One can hardly imagine a man so perfectly besotted, and void of all consideration, as Samson now was; but whoredom is one of those things that take away the heart. It is hard to say what Samson meant in suffering her to try so often whether she could weaken and afflict him; some think he did not certainly know himself where his strength lay, but, it should seem, he did know, for, when he told her that which would disable him indeed, it is said, He told her all his heart. It seems, he designed to banter her, and to try if he could turn it off with a jest, and to baffle the liers in wait, and make fools of them; but it was very unwise in him that he did not quit the field as soon as ever he perceived that he was not able to keep the ground.
IV.The disclosure he at last made of this great secret; and, if the disclosure proved fatal to him, he must thank himself, who had not power to keep his own counsel from one that manifestly sought his ruin. Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird, but in Samson's sight is the net spread, and yet he is taken in it. If he had not been blind before the Philistines put out his eyes, he might have seen himself betrayed. Delilah signifies a consumer; she was so to him. Observe,
1.How she teazed him, telling him she would not believe he loved her, unless he would gratify her in this matter (Jdg 16:15): How canst thou say, I love thee, when they heart is not with me? That is, "when thou canst not trust me with the counsels of they heart?" Passionate lovers cannot bear to have their love called in question; they would do any thing rather than their sincerity should be suspected. Here therefore Delilah had this fond fool (excuse me that I call him so) at an advantage. This expostulation is indeed grounded upon a great truth, that those only have our love, not that have our good words or our good wishes, but that have our hearts. That is love without dissimulation; but it is falsehood and flattery in the highest degree to say we love those with whom our hearts are not. How can we say we love either our brother, whom we have seen, or God, whom we have not seen, if our hearts be not with him? She continued many days vexatious to him with her importunity, so that he had no pleasure of his life with her (Jdg 16:16); why then did he not leave her? It was because he was captivated to her by the power of love, falsely so called, but truly lust. This bewitched and perfectly intoxicated him, and by the force of it see,
2.How she conquered him (Jdg 16:17): He told her all his heart. God left him to himself to do this foolish thing, to punish him for indulging himself in the lusts of uncleanness. The angel that foretold his birth said nothing of his great strength, but only that he should be a Nazarite, and particularly that no razor should come upon his head, Jdg 13:5. His consecration to God was to be his strength, for he was to be strengthened according to the glorious power of that Spirit which wrought in him mightily, that his strength, by promise, not by nature, might be a type and figure of the spiritual strength of believers, Col 1:11, Col 1:29. Therefore the badge of his consecration was the pledge of his strength; if he lose the former, he knows he forfeits the latter. "If I be shaven, I shall no longer be a Nazarite, and then my strength will be lost." The making of his bodily strength to depend so much on his hair, which could have no natural influence upon it either one way or other, teaches us to magnify divine institutions, and to expect God's grace, and the continuance of it, only the use of those means of grace wherein he has appointed us to attend upon him, the word, sacraments, and prayer. In these earthen vessels is this treasure.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
5 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
This having failed, Delilah, as if she had been mocked began with complaints to renew her arts and to require a pledge of his love. Samson, still firm of purpose, intimated to her that, if he were bound by seven ropes which had never been used, he would fall into the hands of the enemy, but this also was in vain. The third time he disclosed part of the secret, and now drawing nearer to his fall, told her that, if the seven locks of his head were unfastened and woven to about a cubit's length, his strength would depart from him. But herein also he deluded those who were plotting against his life.
But last of all the wanton woman complaining that she had been so often deceived, and grieving that her lover deemed her unworthy to be entrusted with his secret, and that under her pretext of succour her treacherous purpose was suspected, won his confidence by her tears. By this means, and because also it was ordained that this man of hitherto unshaken fortitude should fall into calamity, Samson was touched and opened to her his heart. He told her that he possessed within him the power of God, that he was sanctified to the Lord, and that by His command he let his hair grow, and that if it were shorn, he would cease to be a Nazarite, and lose the use of his strength. The Philistines having discoverd through her means the man's weakness, bring her the reward of her perfidy, thus binding her to the commission of the crime.
He was faced with a third battle: he had lost everything he had, that is, his inheritance with his sons; his flesh was enduring wounds; he remained to conquer the temptations of words. No ordinary battle. Adam was deceived by speech, Samson was overcome by words. For nothing penetrates the soul like deceitful speech, and nothing bites as hard as harsh words. Many, after overcoming physical torment, could not endure the harshness of words.
Is that, then, Samson who broke ropes twisted with thongs, and new cords like weak threads? Is that Samson who did not feel the bonds of his hair fastened to the beam, so long as he had the grace of the Spirit? He, I say, after the Spirit of God departed from him, was greatly changed from that Samson Who returned clothed in the spoils of the aliens, but fallen from his greatness on the knees of a woman, caressed and deceived, is shorn of his hair.
Was, then, the hair of his head of such importance that, so long as it remained, his strength should endure unconquered, but when his head was shorn the man should suddenly lose all his strength? It is not so, nor may we think that the hair of his head has such power. There is the hair of religion and faith; the hair of the Nazarite perfect in the Law, consecrated in sparingness and abstinence, with which she (a type of the Church), who poured ointment on the feet of the Lord, wiped the feet of the heavenly Word, for then she knew Christ also after the flesh. That hair it is of which it is said: "Thy hair is as flocks of goats," growing on that head of which it is said: "The head of the man is Christ," and in another place: "His head is as fine gold, and his locks like black pine-trees."
And so, also, in the Gospel our Lord, pointing out that some hairs are seen and known, says: "But even the hairs of your head are all numbered," implying, indeed, acts of spiritual virtues, for God does not take care for our hair. Though, indeed, it is not absurd to believe that literally, seeing that according to His divine Majesty nothing can be hidden from Him.
But what does it profit me, if God Himself knows all my hairs? That rather abounds and profits me, if the watchful witness of good works reward me with the gift of eternal life. And, in fine, Samson himself, declaring that these hairs are not mystical, says: "If I be shorn my strength will depart from me."
Like the famed Samson, whose power lay in the strength of his hair, whose locks were endowed with sacred might, he must throttle and bring low the lion by means of the strong arms of prayers and pluck the sweet fruit of notable victory from its dead mouth.But this triumph must be a lesson to him not to make alliances with foreigners. That woman of another race I interpret as the law of the flesh, so wily with its alluring nets. If this law proves stronger than the law of the mind, it will drag him into the dominion of sin. The evil counsel of its pleasant words weakens with its deceitful guile the male spirit. It blinds the eyes of the mind and shaves the head; it plunders and disarms faith. I would not have our boy a Samson in this respect, becoming involved in a love encounter immediately followed by captivity, enervation and blindness, even though the strong Samson later recovered his strength when his hair grew again. For he was led by the hand from the mill to be the sport of the vaunting enemy, and though physically blind he used his mind’s eye and summoned God to take vengeance. Then, when his hair restored his strength, he brought down that house of the enemy. Once his hands, more powerful than any stone, gripped the pillars of the house in their fierce embrace, the roof collapsed upon him when its props were torn from the earth. Yet even in his death God’s powerful hero involved the foe in destruction, and by a glorious death [he] avenged the disgrace of his life as a slave. He had lived a life of subservience under an exultant foe, but even as he fell he conquered the eclipsed enemy, destroying more thousands at his death than he had killed in his life.
I pray that our son may imitate Samson’s death by his own, that while remaining in the flesh he may conquer that flesh and live for God, subduing the sins of the flesh. I would not have him devoting his heart in enslavement to the flesh’s joys as to the wiles of that criminal woman, to become subsequently the property of the foe, stripped of the strength of grace.
What was the meaning of Samson? If I say he signified Christ, it seems to me that I speak the truth. However, the thought immediately occurs to anyone who reflects: Was Christ overcome by the flattery of a woman? How is Christ understood to have gone in to a prostitute? Then, again, when did Christ have his head uncovered or his hair shaved, himself robbed of courage, bound, blinded and mocked? Watch, faithful soul. Notice why it is Christ, not only what Christ did, but also what he suffered. What did he do? He worked as a strong man and suffered as a weak one. In the one person I understand both qualities; I see the strength of the Son of God and the weakness of the Son of man. Moreover, when the Scriptures extol him, Christ is entire, both head and body. Just as Christ is the head of the church, so the church is his body; and in order that it might not be alone, it is the whole Christ with the head. Now the church contains within itself both strong and weak members. It has some who are fed on bread alone, and others who must still be nourished with milk. There is a further fact which must be admitted: in association at the sacraments, the imparting of baptism or participation at the altar, the church has both just and unjust people. At present the body of Christ is a threshing floor, as you know, but afterwards it will be a granary. While it is a threshing floor, it does not refuse to tolerate chaff, but when the time of storage comes it will separate the wheat from the chaff. Thus, some things Samson did as the head and others as the body, but all in the person of Christ. Inasmuch as Samson performed virtues and miracles, he prefigured Christ, the head of the church. When he acted prudently, he was an image of those who live justly in the church, but when he was overtaken and acted carelessly, he represented those who are sinners in the church. The prostitute whom Samson married is the church which committed fornication with idols before knowing one God, but which Christ afterwards united to himself. However, when she was enlightened and received faith from him, she even merited to learn the mysteries of salvation through him, and he further revealed to her the mysteries of heavenly secrets.
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Summary
Judges 16:14 vividly portrays Delilah's third cunning attempt to uncover the secret of Samson's immense strength, as she weaves his hair into the fabric on a loom and fastens it with a pin. Despite her repeated betrayals and clear malicious intent, Samson, roused by her familiar cry of "The Philistines [be] upon thee, Samson," effortlessly tears away the entire loom apparatus, demonstrating his undiminished physical power even as his spiritual discernment remains dangerously dormant. This pivotal verse powerfully illustrates Samson's profound moral weakness and spiritual blindness, setting the tragic stage for his ultimate downfall.
Context
Literary Context
Judges 16:14 is strategically placed within the escalating and ultimately tragic narrative of Samson and Delilah, forming a crucial part of the book of Judges' larger cycle of apostasy and deliverance. This verse immediately follows Samson's second false confession regarding the source of his strength—claiming it lay in new ropes (Judges 16:11). Delilah's relentless persistence, driven by the substantial bribe offered by the Philistine lords, intensifies her efforts to uncover his true secret. Samson, despite having experienced two prior betrayals where Delilah's intentions to harm him were unequivocally clear, continues to engage in this perilous game. This pattern reveals a profound and alarming lack of spiritual discernment and an increasing degree of complacency, building dramatic tension and foreshadowing the inevitable revelation of his secret and his subsequent capture.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Book of Judges chronicles a tumultuous period in Israel's history characterized by a cyclical pattern of disobedience to God, subsequent oppression by foreign powers (such as the Philistines), cries for divine deliverance, and the raising of charismatic leaders known as judges. Samson, uniquely set apart as a Nazarite from birth (Judges 13:5), was divinely appointed to initiate Israel's deliverance from Philistine domination. His extraordinary, supernatural strength was directly linked to his Nazarite vow, particularly the commandment against cutting his hair. The cultural practice of weaving on a loom, involving a "beam" (the main support), a "web" (the warp threads), and a "pin" (to secure the fabric), was a common and intimate domestic skill in ancient Near Eastern households. Delilah's action of weaving Samson's hair into the loom's fabric demonstrates a sophisticated and deeply personal attempt to bind him, leveraging a familiar domestic art for a treacherous, insidious purpose. This highlights the danger of trusting an enemy, especially when they operate within seemingly benign or intimate settings.
Key Themes
This verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes present in the Book of Judges and specifically within Samson's narrative. It underscores the theme of persistent deception, as Delilah's unwavering commitment to her mercenary mission highlights the relentless and insidious nature of temptation and the enemy's schemes. Samson's continued engagement with her, despite overwhelming evidence of her betrayal, tragically emphasizes his spiritual blindness and profound lack of discernment—a fatal flaw that directly precedes and foreshadows his eventual physical blinding (Judges 16:21). The narrative also meticulously explores the peril of compromise, as Samson's repeated dalliance with Delilah, a woman from the very people God called him to deliver, starkly demonstrates the severe and destructive consequences of violating one's divine calling and core principles. Ultimately, Judges 16:14 starkly contrasts Samson's still-present, immense physical strength with his profound moral and spiritual weakness, compelling the reader to question the true nature of power, integrity, and faithfulness.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This verb (H8628) signifies "to drive in, thrust, clap, pitch." In this context, it implies a deliberate, forceful, and secure action of embedding or securing something firmly. Delilah's act was not a mere tying but an intricate embedding, suggesting a more robust, integrated, and seemingly inescapable bond. This choice of word highlights her cunning, determination, and the escalating nature of her attempts to truly incapacitate Samson.
Referring to H3489, this term denotes a peg, nail, or stake, specifically used here for a peg in a loom to secure the warp or woven fabric. Its presence signifies a deliberate and significant effort to bind Samson within the very structure of the loom. The "pin" represents a point of anchor, a seemingly small but crucial element intended to make the entanglement permanent and effective.
This term (H4545) refers to "something expanded, i.e. the warp in a loom (as stretched out to receive the woof)." It signifies the woven fabric or, more precisely, the warp threads (the lengthwise threads on the loom) into which the weft (the crosswise threads) is woven. Samson's hair was literally woven into this "web," making his escape an act of tearing apart the very fabric of the loom itself, a powerful visual of his physical might against Delilah's intricate trap.
Verse Breakdown
"And she fastened [it] with the pin"
This clause describes Delilah's calculated and more elaborate attempt to ensnare Samson. By weaving his hair into the "web" of the loom and then securing it with a "pin," she crafts a seemingly more robust and integrated bond than her previous attempts. This action demonstrates her increasing desperation, ingenuity, and malicious intent in fulfilling her mission for the Philistines, aiming to make his escape impossible.
"and said unto him, The Philistines [be] upon thee, Samson."
This repeated cry serves as Delilah's consistent psychological manipulation and a direct, immediate test of Samson's strength. It functions as an urgent warning of danger, compelling Samson to react. Her consistent betrayal, despite his repeated escapes, underscores his profound lack of discernment and his dangerous complacency in the face of clear and present threats, revealing his continued willingness to play with fire.
"And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web."
Samson's awakening from sleep, while a physical response, symbolically points to his continued state of spiritual slumber and moral blindness, even as he physically responds to the alarm. His extraordinary ability to "go away with the pin of the beam, and with the web" indicates an undiminished display of physical power. He did not merely break free; he tore away the entire loom structure—the pin, the beam, and the woven fabric—to which he was attached, demonstrating that his physical strength remained fully intact, despite his deep moral and spiritual decay.
Literary Devices
The passage employs several significant literary devices that deepen its meaning and impact. Repetition is powerfully evident in Delilah's consistent cry, "The Philistines [be] upon thee, Samson," and in Samson's repeated foolishness despite clear betrayals. This highlights a tragic cyclical pattern of temptation, compromise, and a failure to learn. Foreshadowing is subtly yet powerfully used: Samson's spiritual blindness and his entanglement in the "web" of deceit subtly hint at his eventual physical blinding and capture by the Philistines (Judges 16:21). There is also a strong element of irony; Samson, the divinely empowered deliverer of Israel, is repeatedly outwitted and manipulated by a foreign woman, exposing the stark contrast between his immense physical might and his profound moral and spiritual weakness. Finally, symbolism is richly present in the "web" and "pin," which represent the intricate, binding, and entangling nature of sin and temptation, slowly but surely binding Samson until he is fully ensnared. His "sleep" can be interpreted as a powerful symbol of his spiritual complacency, lack of vigilance, and moral apathy.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Judges 16:14 serves as a profound theological cautionary tale, illustrating the insidious nature of persistent temptation and the devastating consequences of spiritual complacency. Samson's repeated engagement with Delilah, despite her overt and undeniable betrayals, underscores the deceitfulness of sin, which can blind even those greatly gifted by God to obvious dangers. His story warns that extraordinary physical strength or profound spiritual gifting does not negate the essential need for moral integrity, spiritual discernment, and unwavering vigilance. True strength is not merely physical prowess but spiritual vigilance, a discerning heart, and an unwavering commitment to God's covenant. Without these, even a divinely empowered individual can fall prey to compromise and ultimately face destruction. It powerfully highlights the timeless biblical principle that playing with sin inevitably leads to being ensnared and overcome by it.
Reflection and Application
Samson's tragic narrative, particularly as illuminated in Judges 16:14, offers timeless and potent lessons for believers today. His repeated failures to learn from Delilah's clear betrayals serve as a stark warning against spiritual complacency and the insidious dangers of playing with sin. We are called to cultivate keen spiritual discernment, recognizing that temptation often rears its head in familiar patterns and through seemingly harmless or even intimate avenues. Just as Samson's physical strength remained while his spiritual guard was down, we can possess significant gifts, talents, or positions yet be profoundly vulnerable to moral compromise if our hearts are not vigilant and our discernment dulled. This verse challenges us to honestly assess areas of our lives where we might be repeatedly engaging with temptations or destructive patterns that have previously caused us spiritual harm. It urges us to establish firm boundaries, seek wise counsel, and embrace accountability to protect our divine calling and our precious relationship with God. The cost of compromise, as Samson's story tragically demonstrates, can be severe, leading to a loss of spiritual vision, purpose, and ultimate freedom.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Samson keep telling Delilah the "secret" even though she kept betraying him?
Samson's continued engagement with Delilah, despite her clear and repeated betrayals, is a profound illustration of spiritual blindness, the deceitfulness of the human heart, and the insidious nature of sin, as described in Jeremiah 17:9. Several factors likely contributed to his foolishness. Firstly, he was almost certainly consumed by infatuation or lust, which severely clouded his judgment and made him highly vulnerable to manipulation. Secondly, Samson exhibited extreme overconfidence in his extraordinary strength, perhaps believing he could always escape, no matter how close he came to revealing his true secret. This hubris prevented him from taking the threats seriously, a common pitfall for those who feel invincible or self-sufficient (Proverbs 14:16). Thirdly, his repeated "games" with Delilah suggest a dangerous pattern of testing boundaries and flirting with sin, rather than fleeing from it as a wise person would (Proverbs 4:14-15). His moral decay had progressed to a point where he was no longer discerning or valuing his divine calling above his personal desires, leading to a tragic lack of self-awareness and spiritual vigilance.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Samson's story, particularly his persistent spiritual blindness, moral compromise, and ultimate downfall, powerfully foreshadows the desperate need for a true Deliverer, one who would not succumb to temptation or compromise. Unlike Samson, whose strength was external, tied to a vow, and whose tragic weakness lay in his moral character and lack of discernment, Jesus Christ is the perfectly obedient Son of God, whose strength is inherent, divine, and whose integrity is absolutely unblemished. Where Samson repeatedly played with sin and ultimately lost his vision, freedom, and purpose, Jesus faced the full force of temptation—in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46), and on the cross—yet remained without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Samson's strength was physical, primarily used for personal vengeance and limited, temporary deliverance; Christ's strength is spiritual, redemptive, and eternally transformative, freely given to conquer sin and death for all humanity. He is the true Lamb of God who willingly laid down His life (John 10:18), not as a consequence of compromise or weakness, but as a perfect, substitutionary sacrifice, securing eternal freedom and spiritual sight for all who believe in Him.