Judges 15 19

Judges 15:19 kjv

But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.

Judges 15:19 nkjv

So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.

Judges 15:19 niv

Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.

Judges 15:19 esv

And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; it is at Lehi to this day.

Judges 15:19 nlt

So God caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground at Lehi, and Samson was revived as he drank. Then he named that place "The Spring of the One Who Cried Out," and it is still in Lehi to this day.

Judges 15 verses

Judges 15 19 Meaning

This verse details a miraculous act of God's provision for Samson after his great victory over the Philistines. Overwhelmed by thirst and exhaustion, Samson was at the point of death, having previously attributed his strength and success to the Lord. In response to his desperate cry, God split open a rock or hollow place, causing water to flow forth. Samson drank, recovered his vitality, and was revived, demonstrating that true sustenance and power come directly from God, even for the physically strongest among humans. The site was subsequently named En-hakkore, meaning "Spring of him who calls," as a lasting memorial to God's response to Samson's prayer.

Judges 15 19 Context

Judges chapter 15 records Samson's escalating conflicts with the Philistines following the burning of his wife and her father. After smiting the Philistines "hip and thigh with a great slaughter" (Jdg 15:8), Samson then delivered himself to the men of Judah to be handed over to the Philistines. Bound, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, causing his bonds to snap. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, Samson struck down a thousand Philistines. Exhausted but triumphant, Samson named the place Ramath-Lehi ("Height of the Jawbone"). Immediately after this immense feat of strength, the greatest physical champion faced a new, desperate foe: crippling thirst (Jdg 15:18). This verse marks God's direct and compassionate response to Samson's desperate cry for life, highlighting that even Samson's extraordinary strength was utterly dependent on God for fundamental survival.

Judges 15 19 Word analysis

• But God (וַיִּבְקַּע אֱלֹהִים - Va-yibqa' Elohim):
  • Elohim is a general term for God, emphasizing His sovereignty and creative power.
  • The phrase "But God" serves as a literary pivot, shifting the narrative focus from Samson's immense physical strength and human actions (smashing a thousand men) to God's divine and indispensable intervention. It underlines that ultimate power and salvation come from God alone, not from human might.
• split open (וַיִּבְקַּע - Va-yibqa'):
  • This Hebrew verb signifies a forceful, decisive breaking, tearing, or bursting open.
  • It is the same verb used for the parting of the Red Sea (Ex 14:21) and the splitting of the Jordan River (Josh 3:16).
  • Its use here emphasizes the miraculous, supernatural nature of the event – not a natural welling up, but a direct, powerful act of divine intervention to create a source of water.
• the hollow place (הַמַּכְתֵּשׁ - ha-Makhtesh):
  • Literally means "the mortar" (as in a mortar and pestle) or a hollow depression.
  • The specific meaning in this context has been debated; it could refer to a natural bowl-shaped depression in the ground, or potentially a socket/hollow within the jawbone Samson had used (though less likely given "in Lehi").
  • The common scholarly view is that it refers to a concave rock formation or natural hollow in the geographical area of Lehi, which God miraculously made to spring water.
• that was in Lehi (אֲשֶׁר בַּלֶּחִי - asher ba-Lekhi):
  • "Lehi" means "jawbone." It is both the name of the place where Samson fought (given earlier by Samson himself) and the instrument he used.
  • This phrase clarifies that the miracle occurred at the geographical location known as Lehi, not necessarily within the literal jawbone weapon. It connects the site of his human triumph with the site of his divine sustenance.
• and water came out from it (מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם - mi-mmennu Mayim):
  • "Water" is Mayim, signifying a fundamental life-sustaining element.
  • The direct emergence of water from a previously dry hollow marks it as an extraordinary miracle, similar to God providing water from a rock in the wilderness.
• And when he drank (וַיֵּשְׁתְּ - va-Yeesht'):
  • A simple, direct verb emphasizing Samson's immediate and desperate action.
• his spirit returned (וַתָּשָׁב רוּחוֹ - va-Tashav Rucho):
  • "Spirit" (Ruach) refers to life, vitality, inner strength, and mental state.
  • "Returned" (Shuv) signifies a restoration, a reversal from near death or collapse.
  • This implies a full physical and mental recovery from exhaustion, weakness, and despair. Samson was not merely rehydrated but completely reinvigorated.
• and he was revived (וַיֶּחִי - va-Yechi):
  • "He lived" or "he revived." This strongly echoes the return of his spirit. It means he was restored to full life and vigor.
  • It shows the immediate and complete effect of God's provision.
• Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore (עַל כֵּן קָרָא שְׁמָהּ עֵין הַקּוֹרֵא - 'al ken qara shma En ha-Qore):
  • "En-hakkore" literally translates to "Spring of him who calls" or "Fountain of the crier/caller."
  • This naming is a memorial act, directly linking the miracle to Samson's desperate prayer in Judges 15:18, "he called upon the Lord." It affirms God's faithfulness in hearing and answering prayer.
• it is in Lehi to this day (אֲשֶׁר בַּלֶּחִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - asher ba-Lehi 'ad ha-yom ha-zeh):
  • This phrase indicates the continuing existence and identifiable location of the spring at the time the book of Judges was written, reinforcing the historicity and factual basis of the event for its original audience.

Judges 15 19 Bonus section

This incident highlights a consistent biblical pattern: God's most powerful interventions often occur at moments of profound human weakness and desperation. It underscores the truth that "my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9). This miracle at Lehi echoes the wilderness provisions for Israel (e.g., water from the rock at Rephidim/Meribah), establishing a continuity in God's character as provider. The event firmly grounds Samson's spiritual state and acknowledges God as the true hero. The miraculous water not only saved Samson physically but also spiritually re-centered him, demonstrating that his special anointing by God’s Spirit also meant dependence upon God for fundamental sustenance, reminding him where his true help came from. This dependence is again echoed later in his final prayer (Jdg 16:28), solidifying the understanding that his life was lived solely through God's power and provision.

Judges 15 19 Commentary

Judges 15:19 stands as a pivotal moment in the narrative of Samson, demonstrating that his extraordinary physical strength was merely a gift from God, and ultimately, even the mightiest human must rely on divine provision for basic survival. After single-handedly slaying a thousand Philistines, Samson's pride (expressed in his self-named victory celebration in Jdg 15:16) quickly gives way to the stark reality of human vulnerability – a thirst so profound it threatened his life. His subsequent desperate prayer, "You have granted this great salvation by the hand of Your servant, and now shall I die of thirst...?" (Jdg 15:18), reveals his sudden realization of absolute dependence. God's swift and miraculous response by splitting open the "hollow place" at Lehi and causing water to flow signifies not just physical hydration, but a spiritual refreshing and renewed awareness of God's sovereignty. The naming of the spring "En-hakkore," "the Spring of him who calls," immortalizes God's responsiveness to a genuine cry for help, shifting the focus from Samson's physical prowess to God's divine power and faithfulness. This act also serves as a polemic against reliance on human strength or idolatrous sources, emphatically teaching that God alone is the source of all life and victory. It’s a timeless lesson in humility and reliance on the Lord.