Judges 16 12

Judges 16:12 kjv

Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

Judges 16:12 nkjv

Therefore Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And men were lying in wait, staying in the room. But he broke them off his arms like a thread.

Judges 16:12 niv

So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.

Judges 16:12 esv

So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.

Judges 16:12 nlt

So Delilah took new ropes and tied him up with them. The men were hiding in the inner room as before, and again Delilah cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!" But again Samson snapped the ropes from his arms as if they were thread.

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 12 Meaning

The verse describes the second of Delilah's attempts to discover the source of Samson's extraordinary strength. She binds him with new, unused ropes and then cries out that the Philistines are upon him. In response, Samson effortlessly snaps the ropes from his arms, as easily as if they were fragile threads. This highlights his phenomenal God-given physical power while subtly foreshadowing his moral weakness in continually succumbing to Delilah's probing.

Judges 16 12 Context

Judges chapter 16 depicts Samson's fatal infatuation with Delilah in the Valley of Sorek. This verse marks the second attempt by Delilah, spurred by the Philistine lords' promise of immense silver, to extract the secret of Samson's extraordinary strength. Historically, the Philistines were Israel's major oppressors during the time of the Judges. Samson, as a divinely appointed Nazirite, was raised to begin Israel's deliverance from them. However, his personal weaknesses, particularly his lust and pride, consistently overshadowed his God-given strength. This ongoing series of attempts demonstrates Delilah's manipulative nature and Samson's dangerous overconfidence, bordering on self-destruction, as he repeatedly flirts with revealing the very source of his power that distinguishes him.

Judges 16 12 Word analysis

• So: Indicates a direct consequence or next step in Delilah's escalating attempts, linking this incident to her prior failure.
• Delilah: דְּלִילָה (Dᵉliylah) - While its precise meaning is debated, some scholars associate it with ideas of "weak" or "languishing." Her name ironically contrasts with Samson's immense power, yet she becomes the agent of his eventual weakening and capture.
• took: Signifies a deliberate action on Delilah's part, indicating her calculated and methodical approach to uncovering Samson's secret, not a spontaneous one.
• new: חֲדָשִׁים (ḥaḏāšîm) - Implies unused, fresh, and therefore at their optimal strength. This specification directly addresses Samson's previous lie about "fresh bowstrings that have not been dried" (Jdg 16:7), showing Delilah's learning from experience.
• ropes: חֲבָלִים (ḥaḇliym) - Refers to strong cords or cables suitable for binding. In Hebrew, the same root can denote "pangs" or "travail," forming a poignant contrast to the pain Samson will eventually endure.
• and tied him with them: וַתַּאַסְרֵהוּ (wattā’sərḗhû) - From the verb אסר (asar), meaning "to bind" or "to imprison." This action explicitly states her attempt to restrain him physically.
• and said to him: A standard narrative transition introducing direct speech or an urgent declaration.
• “The Philistines: פְלִשְׁתִּים (Pelištim) - The long-standing oppressors of Israel and the primary adversaries Samson was called to confront. Their very presence signals danger and confrontation.
• are upon you,: עָלֶיךָ (`ālāyḵā) - Literally, "upon you." This urgent phrase functions as an alarm, signifying an imminent attack and the need for immediate, decisive action.
• Samson!”: שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Šimšon) - "Man of the sun," a name reflecting his connection to divine light and power, though his moral choices are depicted as anything but luminous. Calling his name personalizes the warning.
• And he broke them off: וַיְנַתְּקֵם (waynattəqēm) - From the verb נתק (nathaq), meaning "to pull away," "tear loose," or "wrench off." It conveys a sudden, forceful, and complete severing of the bonds with apparent ease.
• his arms: זְרוֹעֹתָיו (zərō`ōṯāw) - Refers to the entire upper limb, highlighting that his immense physical power extended throughout his being. Biblically, "arm" often symbolizes strength or power (e.g., God's strong arm).
• like a thread: כְחוּט (kəḥūṭ) - A vivid simile using חוּט (ḥūṭ), meaning a thin strand or string. This powerful imagery drastically contrasts the perceived strength of the "new ropes" with the effortlessness of Samson's response, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of his God-given might.

Words-group analysis:

• "Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them": This phrase details the calculated and repeated methodology Delilah employs. The emphasis on "new ropes" highlights her attention to Samson's prior evasive answers, indicating she is learning and escalating her traps with stronger materials. It reveals her persistent and systematic attempt to incapacitate Samson based on the Philistine lords' instruction.
• "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!": This serves as Delilah's repeated trigger or signal for Samson to react with his strength. It creates a false sense of immediate danger, playing into Samson's expected role as a deliverer. The repeated nature of this cry throughout the narrative underscores her manipulative behavior and Samson's dangerous confidence.
• "And he broke them off his arms like a thread": This climactic description vividly illustrates Samson's unmatched, divinely sourced physical power. The juxtaposition of robust "new ropes" being severed as easily as "a thread" conveys the absolute inadequacy of human attempts to restrain God-empowered might. It dramatically emphasizes his physical invincibility in these instances, which contrasts sharply with his burgeoning moral vulnerability and foolishness.

Judges 16 12 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of Delilah's testing and Samson's responses (Jdg 16:7-9, 11-12, 13-14) is a literary device highlighting Samson's hubris and spiritual dullness. Each successful breaking of the bonds deepens his false sense of security and strengthens his conviction that he controls the game, despite Delilah's obvious intentions and the consistent cry of "The Philistines are upon you!" This pattern underscores a tragic progression where physical strength is repeatedly demonstrated, but spiritual integrity erodes, leading him closer to the catastrophic moment when his true weakness will be revealed. This verse, like the others in this sequence, warns against toying with temptation and ignoring clear signs of danger.

Judges 16 12 Commentary

Judges 16:12 succinctly captures a moment of Samson's unmatched, God-given physical strength. Delilah's employment of "new ropes" reflects her persistence and her attempts to find a restraint that truly holds him, building on her past failures. Yet, Samson's effortless breaking of these seemingly strong bonds "like a thread" once again showcases the miraculous nature of his power, derived directly from the Spirit of the Lord. However, beyond the display of physical might, this verse serves as a crucial point in the narrative of Samson's deepening moral compromise. His continued engagement in Delilah's deceitful game, despite knowing her intentions, exposes a spiritual blindness and a dangerous overconfidence. He consistently risks the source of his strength for trivial, seductive amusement, indicating a profound internal weakness that ironically overshadows his unparalleled physical power and foreshadows his ultimate downfall.