Judges 15 14

Judges 15:14 kjv

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.

Judges 15:14 nkjv

When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.

Judges 15:14 niv

As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands.

Judges 15:14 esv

When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.

Judges 15:14 nlt

As Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph. But the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists.

Judges 15 verses

Judges 15 14 Meaning

When Samson, delivered to the Philistines by the men of Judah and bound with new ropes, reached Lehi, the Philistines celebrated with shouts of victory. However, at that moment, the Spirit of the LORD powerfully rushed upon him, causing the new ropes on his arms to instantly disintegrate as easily as flax burning in fire, and his hand bonds dissolved without effort. This instantaneous release demonstrated God's miraculous intervention, freeing Samson from his human captors through supernatural empowerment, turning a moment of anticipated Philistine triumph into an immediate display of divine might.

Judges 15 14 Context

Judges chapter 15 continues the account of Samson's escalating conflicts with the Philistines. Following Samson's destructive revenge of setting 300 foxes with torches into the Philistines' grain fields, vineyards, and olive groves, the Philistines retaliated by burning his Philistine wife and her father. In response, Samson declared war on them, striking them "hip and thigh with a great slaughter" (Jdg 15:8). Fearing further Philistine reprisal, three thousand men of Judah came to Etam and convinced Samson to surrender, promising not to kill him themselves, but to bind him and hand him over to the Philistines. The men of Judah bound Samson with two new ropes and brought him from the rock to Lehi. As the Philistines advanced, shouting triumphantly, Samson's divine empowerment in verse 14 provides a dramatic turning point, demonstrating God's unwavering support for His chosen, albeit flawed, deliverer against the oppressors of Israel.

Judges 15 14 Word analysis

• When he came to Lehi (וַיָּבֹא עַד־לֶחִי - Vayavo ad-Lekhi):
  • Lehi (לֶחִי - Lekhi): Means "jawbone." This place name is highly significant as it immediately foreshadows Samson's subsequent weapon in verse 15. The location itself bears the mark of his coming victory, even before it occurs. It serves as a reminder that God works in surprising ways, turning ordinary objects into instruments of His power.
  • came: The arrival at Lehi is not coincidental; it sets the stage for God's intended display of power.
• the Philistines came shouting against him (וּפְלִשְׁתִּים הִגִּיעוּ הֲלִילָה לִקְרָאתוֹ - uPhlishtim higi'u halila liqra'ato):
  • Philistines: Israel's long-standing oppressors, often symbolizing forces hostile to God's people.
  • shouting (הֲלִילָה - halila): From the root הָלַל (halal), meaning "to shout, wail, boast, rave." Here, it signifies a triumphant, mocking cry of anticipated victory. This collective cheer contrasts sharply with the solitary and bound Samson, emphasizing the Philistines' confidence in their impending success.
  • against him: Their aggressive intention is clear; they perceived Samson as bound and vulnerable.
• And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him (וְרוּחַ יְהוָה צָלְחָה עָלָיו - VeRuach Adonai tsalcha alav):
  • Spirit of the LORD (רוּחַ יְהוָה - Ruach Adonai): The divine agent, the power of God Himself. This phrase is key to understanding Samson's extraordinary feats (Jdg 13:25, 14:6, 14:19). His strength is not inherent but supernatural.
  • rushed (צָלְחָה - tsalcha): This verb signifies a sudden, powerful, overwhelming, and successful penetration or empowerment. It describes the divine energy impacting Samson with instantaneous force, like an overwhelming flood or surge, ensuring complete efficacy. It highlights the divine initiative and immediate power.
  • upon him: Direct divine anointing and enablement for a specific purpose of deliverance.
• and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire (וְהָעֲבֹתִים אֲשֶׁר עַל־זְרֹעוֹתָיו הָיוּ כַּפִּשְׁתִּים אֲשֶׁר בָּעֲרוּ בָאֵשׁ - veha'avotim asher al-zero'otav hayu kappishtim asher ba'aru va'esh):
  • ropes (עֲבֹתִים - avotim): Symbol of human strength, control, and attempt to confine. These were "new ropes" (Jdg 15:13), suggesting fresh, strong bonds thought unbreakable.
  • flax (פִשְׁתִּים - pishtim): A very weak, combustible material. A common crop in the region, easily burned.
  • caught fire (בָּעֲרוּ בָאֵשׁ - ba'aru ba'esh): Literally "burned in fire." The simile emphasizes the instantaneous, effortless, and complete disintegration of the strong ropes. What seemed strong became utterly feeble in the face of divine power. This vivid image shows the immediate futility of human restraint against God's power.
• and his bonds melted off his hands (וַיִּנָּתְקוּ אֲסוּרָיו מֵעַל יָדָיו - vayinnaatku asurav me'al yadav):
  • bonds (אֲסוּרָיו - asurav): Refers to the restraints, the ropes specifically.
  • melted off (וַיִּנָּתְקוּ - vayinnaatku): From the root נָתַק (nataq), meaning "to tear off, break away, pull apart, pluck off, disconnect." It implies a spontaneous, complete loosening or breaking apart, as if the bonds had no substance or became fluid, dropping off without struggle. It emphasizes the absolute ease with which divine power overcomes human efforts. This complements the previous simile, describing the effect of the "flax caught fire" action.
  • his hands: Indicating complete liberation of his power to act.
• Words-group analysis:
  • When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him: Establishes a scene of perceived triumph for the Philistines and dire jeopardy for Samson, setting up a dramatic divine intervention. The chosen place name Lehi underscores divine orchestration.
  • And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him: This single phrase highlights the direct, sovereign, and irresistible power of God as the sole source of Samson's liberation and strength. It contrasts sharply with the weakness of Judah's men who bound him.
  • and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands: This compound description vividly illustrates the immediate and utter helplessness of human bonds and forces against the empowering Spirit of God. The physical release symbolizes the breaking of oppression, facilitated by divine agency.

Judges 15 14 Bonus section

• The repetition of "the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him" throughout Samson's story (Jdg 13:25, 14:6, 14:19, 15:14) emphasizes that Samson's strength was supernatural and conditional upon God's empowering presence, not inherent or a magical ability. This pattern teaches that spiritual power comes from divine anointing, not personal will or strength.
• The place name Lehi ("jawbone") is not random. God, in His providence, positioned Samson at a location whose very name alluded to the instrument he would shortly use for his next mighty feat (Jdg 15:15). This demonstrates God's intricate orchestration of events and His ability to use the humble and unexpected to achieve His purposes.
• The action serves as a strong rebuke to the men of Judah, who out of fear delivered Samson to their enemies. God demonstrates that He needs no human assistance or alliances to deliver His people, but rather provides the necessary power directly to His chosen instrument, regardless of the faith or cooperation of His people.

Judges 15 14 Commentary

Judges 15:14 provides a powerful display of God's sovereign power overruling human limitations and enemies. The scene begins with the Philistines in a state of victory, loudly proclaiming their triumph over Samson. Their confidence, however, is short-lived. The pivotal moment is the intervention of the "Spirit of the LORD," which "rushed upon" Samson. This recurrent phrase in Samson's narrative underscores that his extraordinary strength was not personal might but a direct divine endowment for his role as deliverer. The imagery of strong ropes becoming "as flax that has caught fire" and his bonds "melting off" vividly portrays the absolute ease with which God disarms human attempts at control. This act serves as a polemic against the Philistine gods, demonstrating their impotence against the true God of Israel. It also highlights the futility of relying on human strength or political appeasement (like the men of Judah) when God's purpose is at play. The miraculous release at Lehi (meaning "jawbone") is divinely preordained, setting the stage for Samson's next act of delivering Israel through unconventional means, using the very ground he stands on as a weapon. This instance foreshadows God's ultimate victory over the bonds of sin and death through Christ, where no power can hold those whom God has appointed for a divine task.