Judges 16:19

And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

And she made him sleep {H3462} upon her knees {H1290}; and she called {H7121} for a man {H376}, and she caused him to shave off {H1548} the seven {H7651} locks {H4253} of his head {H7218}; and she began {H2490} to afflict {H6031} him, and his strength {H3581} went {H5493} from him.

She had him go to sleep in her lap and called for a man to shave off his seven locks of hair. Then she began tormenting him, but his strength had gone away.

And having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him.

And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

Commentary

Judges 16:19 (KJV) marks the tragic culmination of Delilah's persistent betrayal, revealing the precise moment Samson's extraordinary, divinely-granted strength departed from him. This verse depicts the ultimate act of deception that led to the downfall of one of Israel's most powerful judges.

Context

The Book of Judges portrays a cyclical pattern in Israel's history: disobedience, oppression by foreign powers, crying out to God, and deliverance through a judge. Samson was the last of the major judges, uniquely set apart from birth as a Nazarite, a vow that included a prohibition against cutting his hair (Numbers 6:5). His strength was not inherent but a miraculous empowerment from the Lord, contingent upon his faithfulness to this vow. The Philistines, Israel's oppressors, repeatedly sought to discover the secret of Samson's immense power, eventually enlisting Delilah, a woman from the valley of Sorek, to seduce and betray him. This verse follows Delilah's three previous failed attempts to extract the truth from Samson (Judges 16:6-18), each time met with a false answer until his final, fatal confession.

Key Themes

  • The Cost of Compromise: Samson's repeated yielding to Delilah's seductive pressure, despite knowing her intentions, highlights the dangers of spiritual compromise and neglecting divine warnings.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The cutting of Samson's hair, a direct violation of his Nazarite vow, immediately resulted in the loss of his strength, demonstrating that disobedience to God's specific commands has direct consequences.
  • Divine Source of Strength: This verse underscores that Samson's strength was not his own but a gift from God. When he broke the covenant symbol (his hair), the divine power that flowed through him departed, emphasizing that true spiritual strength comes from the Lord and not from human ability.
  • Betrayal and Deception: Delilah's calculated and heartless betrayal, driven by monetary gain, serves as a stark warning about misplaced trust and the destructive nature of deceit.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "she began to afflict him" in the KJV is significant. The Hebrew verb αΈ₯ālal (Χ—ΦΈΧœΦ·Χœ) can mean to profane, pollute, or wound. Here, it suggests that as soon as his hair was cut, Samson became vulnerable and weakened, not just physically but also in his spirit. It implies the immediate onset of his humiliation and the stripping away of his unique status, even before the Philistines physically bound him. The loss of his strength was instantaneous, setting the stage for his capture and further torment.

Practical Application

Judges 16:19 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Guard Your Commitments: Just as Samson's strength was tied to his vow, our spiritual vitality is often linked to our faithfulness to God's Word and our personal commitments to Him. Be vigilant against temptations that seek to undermine your walk with God.
  • Discern Relationships: Samson's tragic fall was facilitated by a relationship built on deceit. This verse reminds us of the importance of discernment in choosing companions and being aware of those who might seek to draw us away from our faith or values.
  • Beware of Persistent Temptation: Delilah's relentless questioning illustrates how persistent temptation can wear down resistance. We must be firm in our resolve against sin, recognizing that small compromises can lead to significant falls.
  • Reliance on God: Samson's story is a powerful reminder that our true strength, wisdom, and protection come from God. When we stray from Him, we lose access to that divine empowerment, as seen in Samson's unawareness that the Lord had departed from him.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 7:21

    With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

  • Proverbs 7:23

    Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it [is] for his life.

  • Proverbs 7:26

    For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong [men] have been slain by her.

  • Proverbs 7:27

    Her house [is] the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

  • Proverbs 23:33

    Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

  • Proverbs 23:34

    Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:26

    And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
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