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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 16:17 marks the tragic culmination of Delilah's relentless manipulation, as Samson, worn down by her persistent demands, finally divulges the true source of his supernatural strength: his lifelong Nazarite vow, symbolized by his uncut hair. This pivotal confession reveals his profound vulnerability and misplaced trust, directly leading to the loss of his divine empowerment, his capture by the Philistines, and a stark illustration of the devastating consequences of spiritual compromise and disobedience.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is the dramatic climax of the narrative arc concerning Samson and Delilah, spanning Judges 16. Following three prior attempts where Samson offered deceptive answers to Delilah's inquiries about his strength (Judges 16:6-15), Delilah's emotional and psychological warfare escalates. She "pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death" (Judges 16:16). This verse signifies Samson's breaking point, where his personal weakness for Delilah overrides his divine calling and the sacredness of his vow. It sets the stage for his immediate downfall, capture, and subsequent humiliation, serving as a tragic turning point in his life story within the broader narrative of the judges.
Historical & Cultural Context
Samson's strength was not inherent in his hair but was a direct manifestation of God's Spirit empowering him through his adherence to a Nazarite vow. This vow, detailed in Numbers 6, was a special act of consecration to the Lord, requiring abstinence from wine and strong drink, avoiding contact with dead bodies, and, most notably for Samson, refraining from cutting one's hair. The uncut hair was a visible sign of this dedication and separation unto God. For Samson, this was a lifelong vow, declared even before his birth by an angel (Judges 13:5). In ancient Israelite culture, hair could symbolize strength, vitality, and even honor, making the cutting of it a profound act of humiliation or a sign of mourning. For a Nazarite, it was a direct violation of their sacred covenant with God. The Philistines, as the oppressive foreign power, sought to understand and neutralize Samson, their greatest threat, making his secret of immense strategic value.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully encapsulates several key themes prevalent in the book of Judges. The most prominent is the sacredness and consequences of the Nazarite vow, illustrating that divine empowerment is contingent upon faithfulness to God's specific commands and covenants. Samson's strength was not his own, but God's power working through his consecrated status. Secondly, the theme of misplaced trust and betrayal is starkly evident, as Samson confides his deepest secret to an enemy who has repeatedly demonstrated her treacherous intentions. This highlights the dangers of compromising with temptation and the destructive nature of unholy alliances. Finally, the verse underscores the nature of true strength, revealing that it is not merely physical prowess but is deeply rooted in one's spiritual connection and obedience to God. Samson's physical weakness after his hair is cut is a direct spiritual consequence, demonstrating that when the spiritual connection is severed through disobedience, even the mightiest can become "weak, and be like any other man."
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This term (H3820) refers to the innermost being, encompassing emotions, will, and intellect. Samson's act of telling "all his heart" signifies a complete disclosure of his deepest thoughts, feelings, and vulnerability, representing a profound, albeit misplaced, emotional and intellectual surrender to Delilah.
This term (H5139) denotes someone "separated" or "consecrated" to God through a special vow, as detailed in Numbers 6. Samson's lifelong Nazarite status, ordained from his birth, marked him as uniquely set apart for divine service, making his violation of the vow a direct affront to his sacred calling and God's specific commands.
This word (H3581) signifies vigor, might, and power. In Samson's case, it refers to the extraordinary, supernatural physical ability bestowed upon him by God's Spirit. His statement that his "strength will go from me" highlights that this power was not inherent but a divine gift contingent upon his consecrated state as a Nazarite, directly tied to his obedience to the vow.
Verse Breakdown
"That he told her all his heart,"
This phrase emphasizes the complete and unreserved nature of Samson's confession. After repeated deceptions, he finally reveals his deepest secret, indicating his emotional exhaustion and perhaps a dangerous level of trust or infatuation with Delilah, despite her obvious manipulative intent. This disclosure signifies a profound personal and spiritual surrender.
"and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb:"
Samson explicitly states the first and most visible condition of his Nazarite vow—the uncut hair. He clarifies that this was not a temporary vow but a lifelong consecration, established by God even before his birth, underscoring the profound spiritual significance and divine origin of his calling and the sacred nature of the covenant he was about to violate.
"if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man."
This is the critical revelation. Samson directly links the cutting of his hair to the loss of his supernatural strength, acknowledging that his power is not intrinsic but tied to his consecrated status. The phrase "like any other man" highlights the dramatic shift from his unique, divinely empowered state to one of ordinary human vulnerability, a consequence of breaking his sacred vow and severing his connection to divine power.
Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. Foreshadowing is evident throughout the preceding verses, as Delilah's persistent questioning and Samson's weakening resolve clearly point towards this inevitable disclosure. The verse itself contains a form of prophecy or prediction, as Samson accurately foretells the consequence of his hair being shaven. There is significant irony in Samson, the physically strongest man, being emotionally and spiritually weak enough to succumb to Delilah's nagging. His "strength" (physical) is tied to a "vow" (spiritual), and the breaking of the spiritual vow leads to the loss of physical power, creating a powerful cause-and-effect relationship. The phrase "like any other man" serves as a simile, vividly illustrating the profound loss of his unique, divine empowerment and his reduction to a common state of vulnerability.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Judges 16:17 profoundly illustrates the principle that divine empowerment is not an inherent quality but a gift contingent upon faithfulness and obedience to God's specific calling and covenant. Samson's strength was a manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord working through his Nazarite consecration, not a magical property of his hair itself. His revelation and subsequent breach of the vow highlight the dangers of spiritual compromise, misplaced trust, and the deceptive nature of sin, which often begins with small concessions that lead to catastrophic consequences. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing that true spiritual strength is maintained through a steadfast relationship with God and adherence to His commands, rather than relying on past anointing or personal ability.
Reflection and Application
Samson's tragic confession in Judges 16:17 offers profound lessons for believers today, serving as a stark reminder of the fragility of spiritual strength when confronted with persistent temptation and misplaced affections. It challenges us to examine the "vows" or commitments we have made to God – whether explicit or implicit – and to recognize that our spiritual effectiveness and divine empowerment are intricately linked to our faithfulness in upholding those commitments. Samson's downfall was not instantaneous but a gradual erosion of his resolve, culminating in this moment of profound compromise. This urges us to be vigilant against the subtle pressures and manipulative influences that seek to draw us away from our consecrated walk with God. We are called to cultivate discernment in our relationships, ensuring that our closest confidants are those who build us up in faith, not those who would exploit our vulnerabilities or tempt us to stray. Ultimately, our true strength lies not in our own abilities or past achievements, but in our ongoing, obedient reliance on God and the indwelling power of His Spirit.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was Samson's strength literally in his hair, or was it symbolic?
Samson's strength was not literally in his hair itself, but the uncut hair was the visible sign and condition of his lifelong Nazarite vow. His strength was a supernatural endowment from God, a manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord empowering him as long as he remained consecrated according to the terms of his vow. The hair was a symbol of his separation and obedience to God. When he allowed his hair to be cut, he was not merely losing hair; he was deliberately breaking his sacred covenant with God, which then caused the Spirit of the Lord to depart from him, resulting in the loss of his strength. The text clearly states, "the Lord had departed from him" (Judges 16:20), indicating the spiritual nature of his loss.
What is the significance of Samson being a Nazarite "from his mother's womb"?
The phrase "from my mother's womb" emphasizes that Samson's Nazarite vow was not a personal choice he made later in life but a divine decree established by God even before his birth. An angel of the Lord announced to his barren mother that she would conceive and that the child "shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb" (Judges 13:5). This highlights the unique and lifelong nature of his consecration, making his eventual breach of the vow all the more tragic and indicative of a profound rejection of his divine purpose and calling.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Samson's story, culminating in Judges 16:17, serves as a poignant backdrop against which the perfect obedience and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ shine even brighter. Samson, consecrated from birth, ultimately failed to uphold his vow, leading to the loss of his strength and his humiliation, becoming "like any other man." In stark contrast, Jesus, the true Nazarite (though not under the Mosaic vow, but truly "separated" and "consecrated" to God's will), perfectly fulfilled every righteous requirement. His strength was not contingent on external symbols but was inherent in His divine nature and His unwavering obedience to the Father, even unto death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). While Samson's strength departed, leading to his capture and blindness, Christ willingly laid down His life, demonstrating ultimate power over sin and death (John 10:18). Samson's weakness led to his enslavement, but Christ's redemptive work frees us from the bondage of sin, making us strong in Him (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Ultimately, Samson's failure underscores humanity's need for a perfect deliverer, one who would not succumb to temptation but would perfectly fulfill God's will, offering true and lasting strength to all who believe in Him (Hebrews 4:15).