Judges 16 20

Judges 16:20 kjv

And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

Judges 16:20 nkjv

And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.

Judges 16:20 niv

Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

Judges 16:20 esv

And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

Judges 16:20 nlt

Then she cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!" When he woke up, he thought, "I will do as before and shake myself free." But he didn't realize the LORD had left him.

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 20 Meaning

Judges 16:20 records the pivotal moment of Samson's capture, revealing his fatal presumption and the profound spiritual reality of his separation from God. Despite repeated provocations and Delilah's deceit, Samson believes his strength remains inherent, failing to comprehend that it was a divinely gifted power which had now been withdrawn due to his persistent disobedience and violation of his Nazarite vows. The verse underscores the devastating consequences of spiritual ignorance and self-reliance in the absence of God's enabling presence.

Judges 16 20 Context

Judges 16 details the final and tragic period of Samson's life, primarily focusing on his relationship with Delilah. His strength was not innate but a supernatural endowment from God, conditioned on his Nazirite vow (Num 6). Samson had consistently played fast and loose with his vows (e.g., touching a dead lion, engaging with a harlot), yet God's Spirit continued to empower him. Delilah's relentless badgering in exchange for Philistine silver finally breaks Samson. He reveals that his strength lay in his hair, a direct link to his Nazarite dedication. While he sleeps, his hair is cut. The context reveals Samson's growing complacency, spiritual compromise, and ultimately, his profound spiritual blindness, mistaking God's patient grace for his own inherent ability. This verse is the climax of his downfall, illustrating how accumulated disobedience can lead to the removal of divine empowerment, often without immediate awareness on the part of the unfaithful individual. It's a stark example within Israel's historical narrative of the consequence of turning away from the covenant God, a repeated cycle during the period of the Judges.

Judges 16 20 Word analysis

• And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!":

  • And she said: Delilah, driven by greed and Philistine alliance, makes this declaration. It is the fourth time she uses this phrase (Jdg 16:9, 12, 14), signifying a recurring test and Samson's deepening complacency.
  • "The Philistines are upon you!": Hebrew: Pelishtimaleka!(פְּלִשְׁתִּים עָלֶיךָ). This cry, a warning and a signal to the hidden Philistines, underscores the imminent danger and betrayal.aleka` (upon you) conveys the idea of an attack or ambush. The Philistines, a dominant foreign power, represent the external threat against God's people.

• And he awoke from his sleep:

  • awoke: Hebrew: wayyiqaẓ (וַיִּיקַץ), "he awoke." This signifies a physical awakening, but tragically, he remained spiritually asleep to his true condition. This contrast highlights his ignorance.
  • from his sleep: A deep sleep, induced by exhaustion and perhaps Delilah's enticements. It symbolizes the spiritual stupor into which Samson had fallen through his sin.

• and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.":

  • "I will go out": Hebrew: ʾeṣēʾ (אֵצֵא), "I will go out, proceed." Samson assumes his past invincibility will continue.
  • "as at other times": Hebrew: ka-paʿam b'paʿam (כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם). Literally "as time after time" or "as time upon time." This phrase indicates a pattern, a past experience he expects to repeat. It reveals a deep self-reliance and presumption based on previous deliverances, without acknowledging the divine source of that power. He is relying on habit, not God.
  • "and shake myself free": Hebrew: wə'hitnaʿēr (וְהִתְנָעֵר). The reflexive verb implies action taken by oneself, to exert oneself, or clear oneself. Samson's confidence in his own inherent ability to overcome, without a thought for God. He expects to simply "shake off" his adversaries, like shaking dust from clothes.

• But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

  • But he did not know: Hebrew: wə-huʾ loʾ yādaʿ (וְהוּא לֹא יָדַע). This is the devastating core of the verse. yādaʿ means to know, perceive, understand, be aware of. His ignorance is not just intellectual; it's a deep spiritual blindness. This highlights the dangers of complacency in sin, where spiritual realities become obscured.
  • that the Lord: Hebrew: ki YHWH (כִּי יְהוָה). The use of the divine covenant name YHWH (Yahweh) emphasizes the personal, covenantal relationship that had been fractured. It was not merely "strength" that departed, but the presence of the Living God.
  • had departed from him: Hebrew: sār mēʿālāyw (סָר מֵעָלָיו). sār means to turn aside, depart, remove oneself. This signifies God's deliberate withdrawal. The Spirit of the Lord that empowered him (Jdg 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14) had withdrawn. This departure is a solemn act of divine judgment and discipline, reflecting Samson's persistent rebellion against his Nazarite calling.

Judges 16 20 Bonus section

• The parallel between Samson's spiritual blindness and Israel's spiritual state during the Judges period is striking. Just as Samson failed to recognize God's departure from him, Israel often failed to acknowledge their own rebellion and God's resultant withdrawal of blessing or protection.
• The cutting of Samson's hair, a seemingly external act, was the culmination of numerous internal violations of his Nazarite covenant, serving as a visual metaphor for the complete severing of his dedicated relationship with God.
• Samson's "sleep" can be seen as spiritual apathy, leading to vulnerability to temptation and ultimate downfall.
• The polemic against relying on human strength or ritualistic performance is clear: Samson, despite his unique birth and anointing, ultimately failed because he trusted in himself rather than continually submitting to Yahweh, the true source of his power. This is a critique against any human-centric view of spiritual success.
• This verse provides a sobering counterpoint to instances of God's continuous presence (e.g., God with Joseph in Gen 39:2, 21, 23). While God's general presence is constant, His specific enabling or manifest empowering presence can be withdrawn from individuals or groups who persistently rebel against His will, highlighting God's justice and sovereignty.

Judges 16 20 Commentary

Judges 16:20 stands as a poignant and tragic turning point in the life of Samson, serving as a powerful spiritual warning. It depicts Samson's ultimate undoing, not by the cunning of Delilah or the strength of the Philistines, but by his own spiritual blindness and presumptuousness. His repeated testing of God's boundaries, his blatant disregard for his sacred vows, and his indulgence in fleshly desires had slowly but surely eroded the very foundation of his strength: the presence and anointing of God's Spirit.

The crucial phrase, "But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him," reveals the profound spiritual lethargy into which Samson had fallen. He relied on past experience and presumed upon God's grace, believing his power was inherent. This unawareness highlights the insidious nature of sin: it hardens the heart, dulls spiritual perception, and separates one from the source of true strength and wisdom, often without immediate notice to the individual. Like a river whose flow diminishes little by little, Samson’s connection to the divine had weakened, yet he only recognized the full impact when it was too late. This serves as a potent warning against relying on outward appearances or past blessings while living in continued disobedience. God's empowerment is a gift, not a right, and His Spirit can be quenched or withdrawn when persistently dishonored. Samson's fall illustrates that spiritual power and anointing are entirely dependent on communion with God and obedience to His Word, not on personal merit or charisma.