Judges 16:30

KJV

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with [all his] might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that [were] therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Samson {H8123} said {H559}, Let me die {H4191}{H5315} with the Philistines {H6430}. And he bowed {H5186} himself with all his might {H3581}; and the house {H1004} fell {H5307} upon the lords {H5633}, and upon all the people {H5971} that were therein. So the dead {H4191} which he slew {H4191} at his death {H4194} were more {H7227} than they which he slew {H4191} in his life {H2416}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then, crying, "Let me die with the P'lishtim!" he pushed with all his might; and the building collapsed on the chiefs and on all the people inside. So he killed more at his death than he had killed during his life.

Berean Standard Bible

Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people in it. So in his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.

American Standard Version

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The climactic and paradoxical end of Samson's life is depicted, showing his final, divinely empowered act of vengeance and deliverance. Blinded and humiliated by the Philistines, Samson, after a desperate prayer for renewed strength, collapses the temple of Dagon upon himself and thousands of Philistine lords and people. This devastating act results in a greater number of Philistine casualties in his death than in his entire life, serving as a powerful testament to God's ultimate sovereignty and judgment over idolatry, even through a deeply flawed instrument.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 16:30 marks the culmination of Samson's tumultuous narrative, which began with his miraculous birth and Nazarite vow in [Judges 13](/judges/13 "Judges 13 - The Birth of Samson"). The preceding verses detail his capture, blinding, and forced labor in Gaza, followed by his public humiliation at a grand Philistine festival dedicated to their god, Dagon. Samson, brought out for entertainment, requests to be placed between the supporting pillars of the temple. His prayer in [Judges 16:28](/judges/16-28 "Judges 16:28 - Samson's Final Prayer") for "one more time" to avenge his eyes sets the immediate stage for this final, decisive act, concluding the account of Israel's last judge before the period of Samuel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This event unfolds during a period of intense Philistine oppression over Israel, approximately 11th-12th century BC. The Philistines, a powerful maritime people, had established strongholds along the coastal plain, including Gaza, and frequently clashed with the Israelites. Their primary deity, Dagon, was a prominent Canaanite-Philistine god, often depicted as a fish-man or associated with grain. The Philistine festival described was a public demonstration of their perceived triumph over Samson and, by extension, over Yahweh, the God of Israel. Such festivals were deeply religious and political, designed to assert dominance and celebrate their gods. Samson's Nazarite vow, as outlined in [Numbers 6](/numbers/6 "Numbers 6 - The Law of the Nazarite"), set him apart for God's service, but his repeated failures to adhere to its principles (e.g., touching dead bodies, allowing his hair to be cut) highlight his human frailty amidst divine calling.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several key themes prevalent in the book of Judges and Samson's story. It underscores **Divine Empowerment in Weakness**, demonstrating that God can use even a physically debilitated and morally compromised individual to accomplish His purposes, as seen in Samson's final prayer and strength. It highlights **God's Sovereignty and Judgment over Idolatry**, with the dramatic collapse of Dagon's temple serving as a decisive blow against the Philistine god and a vindication of Yahweh's supremacy, echoing similar judgments found in [1 Samuel 5](/1_samuel/5 "1 Samuel 5 - The Ark of God in Philistine Captivity"). Furthermore, it presents a **Paradoxical Victory through Self-Sacrifice**, where Samson's death, though seemingly tragic, results in a greater deliverance for Israel than all his previous exploits combined, foreshadowing a deeper theological principle of victory through apparent defeat, a theme found throughout [the biblical narrative](/bible "The Holy Bible").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Might (Hebrew, _koach_):** This noun (כֹּחַ) denotes strength, power, or ability. In Samson's context, it refers not merely to physical prowess but to a divinely endowed, supernatural strength. The phrase "with all his might" emphasizes the totality of the effort Samson exerted, empowered by God's response to his final prayer. It signifies a complete reliance on the strength granted by God, rather than his own inherent ability, which he had lost.
* **Die (Hebrew, _mut_):** The verb (מוּת) means "to die" or "to be put to death." Samson's declaration, "Let me die with the Philistines," reveals a conscious choice to embrace his own demise as a means of fulfilling his mission of vengeance and deliverance. It is a desperate plea for God to use his death as the instrument of a final, decisive blow against Israel's oppressors, rather than a simple act of despair.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines."**: This opening clause reveals Samson's final, desperate, and divinely inspired prayer. It is a plea for God to grant him the strength for one last act of vengeance against his tormentors, implicitly accepting his own death as the cost. This statement, following his prayer in [Judges 16:28](/judges/16-28 "Judges 16:28 - Samson's Final Prayer"), underscores his willingness to sacrifice himself for the sake of his people and God's judgment on the Philistines, even if his motivations were complex.
* **"And he bowed himself with [all his] might;"**: This describes Samson's physical action, empowered by God. The verb "bowed" (נָטָה, _natah_) implies a stretching or inclining, suggesting he braced himself against the pillars. The phrase "with all his might" (בְּכֹחַ, _bekoach_) emphasizes the immense, supernatural strength God imparted to him in that moment, enabling him to perform an impossible feat of collapsing the massive structure.
* **"and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that [were] therein."**: This is the immediate consequence of Samson's act. The "house" refers to the temple of Dagon, a large structure filled with Philistine leadership ("lords") and a vast crowd ("all the people"). Its collapse signifies a catastrophic loss for the Philistines, both in terms of human life and the destruction of their religious center, a direct judgment from God.
* **"So the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life."**: This concluding statement is a powerful summary of Samson's legacy. It highlights the paradoxical nature of his life and death: his greatest impact as a deliverer of Israel came in his final, self-sacrificial act. This numerical comparison emphasizes the profound and ultimate victory achieved through his death, solidifying his role as a judge who, despite his flaws, was used by God for His redemptive purposes.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 16:30 is rich with **Irony** and **Paradox**. The primary irony lies in Samson, the formerly mighty warrior, achieving his greatest victory in a state of physical weakness (blind and imprisoned) and through his own death. This is also a profound **Paradox**: strength is made perfect in weakness, and life's ultimate purpose is fulfilled through death. The narrative employs **Hyperbole** (or at least significant emphasis) in stating that "the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life," underscoring the magnitude of this final act and its decisive impact. Furthermore, the collapse of Dagon's temple serves as powerful **Symbolism**, representing God's absolute supremacy over pagan deities and His decisive judgment against idolatry and the oppressors of His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 16:30 stands as a profound theological statement on God's unwavering sovereignty and His capacity to work through flawed human instruments to accomplish His divine will. Despite Samson's repeated moral failures, God responds to his final, desperate prayer, demonstrating His grace and commitment to His covenant purposes. This act is not merely personal vengeance but a divinely orchestrated judgment against the Philistines and their false god, Dagon, asserting Yahweh's supremacy. It also introduces the paradoxical theme of victory through apparent defeat or self-sacrifice, where a life's greatest impact can be realized in its end, a concept that resonates deeply throughout biblical theology.

* [Hebrews 11:32](/hebrews/11-32 "Hebrews 11:32 - Samson in the Hall of Faith")
* [2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Strength in Weakness")
* [1 Samuel 5:1-5](/1_samuel/5-1 "1 Samuel 5:1-5 - Dagon Falls Before the Ark")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Samson's final act in Judges 16:30 offers a powerful and complex message for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God's power is not limited by our past failures or present weaknesses. Even in our moments of deepest humiliation or physical debilitation, a genuine turning to God in prayer can unleash His supernatural strength for His purposes. Samson's story, culminating in this verse, teaches us that God's plan of deliverance and judgment will ultimately prevail, regardless of human imperfection. It challenges us to consider that our greatest impact for God's kingdom might not come through our perceived strengths or successes, but often through humble reliance on His power, even in circumstances that appear to be our end. It encourages us to trust in God's ability to use even our brokenness for His glory, reminding us that His grace can redeem and empower us for His purposes, even to our last breath.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Samson's final prayer and God's response challenge my understanding of God's grace towards imperfect people?**
* **In what areas of my life do I feel weakest, and how can I invite God's strength to be made perfect in those areas, as seen in Samson?**
* **What does the destruction of Dagon's temple teach me about God's ultimate victory over idolatry and opposing forces in my own life or in the world?**

### FAQ
**Was Samson's act in Judges 16:30 suicide, and is it condoned by God?**

Answer: The question of whether Samson's act was suicide is complex and debated among scholars. While it resulted in his death by his own hand, it is crucial to understand the context. Samson's action was not an act of despair or self-annihilation for personal escape, but a divinely empowered and purposeful act of judgment and deliverance. He prayed to God for strength specifically to avenge himself on the Philistines, who were God's enemies and oppressors of Israel. His death was a direct consequence of fulfilling his calling as a judge to deliver Israel from the Philistines, an act that God clearly empowered, as evidenced by the miraculous strength given to him. The narrative portrays it as God using Samson's final moments to achieve a decisive victory over the Philistines and their god Dagon, fulfilling his lifelong mission. Therefore, it is generally understood not as suicide in the conventional sense (which is condemned in scripture), but as a unique, divinely sanctioned, self-sacrificial act of war and judgment, akin to a soldier falling in battle for a greater cause. His inclusion in the "Hall of Faith" in [Hebrews 11:32](/hebrews/11-32 "Hebrews 11:32 - Samson in the Hall of Faith") further suggests that his final act was seen as an act of faith, despite its tragic nature.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Samson's final, self-sacrificial act in Judges 16:30, where his death brought about a greater deliverance and victory than his life, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate work of Jesus Christ. Samson, a flawed deliverer who died with the enemies of God's people, prefigures Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, who willingly laid down His life to conquer the ultimate enemies of humanity: sin, death, and the devil. Just as Samson's death brought down the temple of Dagon and defeated the Philistines, Christ's death on the cross destroyed the dominion of Satan and sin, as [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death") states, "that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil." The paradox of Samson's greatest victory coming in his death finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's crucifixion, which appeared to be a defeat but was, in fact, the decisive victory over all spiritual powers ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Through His death, Jesus delivered His people not from physical oppressors, but from eternal bondage, securing a far greater and everlasting salvation, making His "dead which he slew at his death" (the power of sin and death) infinitely more numerous and eternally significant than any victory achieved in His earthly ministry, culminating in the resurrection and the promise of eternal life for all who believe ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death")).

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.

Cross-References

Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Matthew 16:25

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Psalms 62:3

How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall [shall ye be, and as] a tottering fence.

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Job 20:5

That the triumphing of the wicked [is] short, and the joy of the hypocrite [but] for a moment?

Job 31:3

[Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity?

Acts 21:13

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.