Judges 16 21

Judges 16:21 kjv

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Judges 16:21 nkjv

Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.

Judges 16:21 niv

Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.

Judges 16:21 esv

And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.

Judges 16:21 nlt

So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 21 Meaning

Judges 16:21 powerfully depicts Samson's fall from mighty judge to humiliated captive. The Philistines seized him, blinding him as a cruel act of incapacitation and dominance. They then brought him to their chief city of Gaza, where he was bound with heavy bronze chains and forced into the degrading labor of grinding grain in the prison. This verse signifies the painful consequence of his disobedience, his total physical and social subjugation, and the temporary triumph of the Philistines and their god Dagon over the once-unstoppable Nazirite of the Lord. It highlights the stark contrast between his previous freedom and immense strength, and his current state of utter weakness and servitude.

Judges 16 21 Context

Judges 16:21 concludes a dramatic and tragic episode in the life of Samson, the last of Israel's judges before the monarchy. Chapter 16 focuses entirely on his entanglements with Delilah, a woman in the valley of Sorek whom the Philistine lords bribed to discover the secret of Samson's immense strength. After repeated failures, Delilah's persistent nagging wore Samson down until he revealed that his Nazirite vow, specifically the uncut hair, was the source of his strength (Jdg 16:17). The moment she had his head shaved, his strength departed because the Lord had left him (Jdg 16:19-20). The verse therefore details the immediate, horrifying consequence of this betrayal and loss of divine favor. Historically, the Philistines were a dominant maritime people settling along the southern coast of Canaan, constantly at war with Israel. Their acts of mutilation, like blinding, were common practices in the Ancient Near East used by victorious powers to publicly shame, disable, and prevent a powerful enemy from ever rising again. To bring him to Gaza was also a powerful act of humiliation, as Samson had previously demonstrated his physical supremacy over that city by tearing down and carrying away its gate (Jdg 16:3). This turn of events also subtly sets the stage for a spiritual conflict between Yahweh and Dagon, the chief Philistine deity.

Judges 16 21 Word analysis

• Then: Signifies immediate sequence, a direct consequence of Samson's previous revelation and betrayal.
• the Philistines: (פְלִשְׁתִּים - Pelishtim). The traditional enemies of Israel at this time, whose victory over Samson highlighted Israel's weakened spiritual state. Their collective action underscores their unified effort to finally capture him.
• took him: (לָקְחוּ - laq'khu - they took, seized). Emphasizes Samson's utter helplessness; he, who once seized city gates, is now himself seized effortlessly.
• and put out his eyes: (וַיְנַקְּרוּ אֶת־עֵינָיו - vay'naq'q'ru et-eynav - and they dug out his eyes). A horrific and painful act of mutilation. "Nippu" means to gouge, bore out, or pierce. This act was deeply symbolic:
  • Disarmament: Physically disabled him, preventing future escape or acts of aggression.
  • Humiliation: Stripped him of his glory, perception, and light. He who relied on sight (e.g., Delilah's beauty, Jdg 16:4) and looked upon others with scorn now sees nothing.
  • Spiritual Blindness: Metaphorically, Samson had been "blind" to God's warnings and the consequences of his actions for a long time. Now his spiritual blindness is mirrored by physical darkness.
  • Permanent Subjugation: A brutal act meant to ensure he would never again be a threat.
• and brought him down to Gaza: (וַיּוֹרִדֻהוּ עַזָּתָה - va'yo'ri'dhu'hu 'Azzah'tah - and they brought him down to Gaza). Gaza (עַזָּה - 'Azzah) was one of the five major Philistine cities, fortified and prominent. The act of "bringing him down" implies a descent, both geographically (often situated lower or to show degradation) and socially, emphasizing his capture and humiliation in a place where he once demonstrated great strength by carrying off its gates. It served as a symbolic prison and public display.
• and bound him with fetters of brass: (וַיַּאַסְרֻהוּ בַּנְחֻשְׁתַּיִם - va'ya'as'ru'hu ba'nechush'ta'yim - and they bound him with the two bronzes/bronze chains). "Fetters" (נְחֻשְׁתַּיִם - nechushtayim) specifically refers to dual bronze chains, likely binding both his hands and feet. Bronze (or brass) was a heavy and strong metal, making these chains more substantial and signifying Samson as a highly valuable or dangerous captive. The weight and constraint represented absolute captivity.
• and he did grind: (וַיְהִי טוֹחֵן - va'yehi tochen - and he became one grinding). "Tochen" (טוֹחֵן) refers to the act of grinding grain using a millstone. This was laborious, often performed by women, female slaves, or even animals (like donkeys or oxen).
  • Ultimate Degradation: For a warrior of Samson's renown, being forced to do such manual, feminized, or animal-like labor was the ultimate humiliation and degradation, a stark contrast to his past strength and liberty.
  • Endless Toil: Grinding was continuous, repetitive, and often done in a circular motion, symbolic of a trapped and pointless existence.
• in the prison house: (בְּבֵית הָאֲסִירִים - be'beyt ha'asirim - in the house of prisoners/bonds). The final confinement, a place of no freedom.

• The Philistines took him... and put out his eyes: This phrase emphasizes the collective, brutal action of Samson's enemies, who immediately neutralize his physical threat. The blinding, in particular, showcases their deep desire to humiliate and cripple him beyond recovery. It is a moment of stark power reversal.
• brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass: This part highlights the Philistines' careful and deliberate handling of their prize. Gaza, Samson's former playground, becomes his prison, demonstrating ironic justice. The use of heavy bronze fetters signifies both his prior importance as an enemy and their current determination to keep him absolutely subdued, leaving no chance for escape.
• and he did grind in the prison house: This phrase details Samson's ultimate degradation. The "grinding" activity itself is profoundly symbolic of his complete loss of dignity, strength, and purpose. It represents not just physical servitude but psychological brokenness, reduced to the level of a beast of burden or a despised slave. His grand Nazirite calling is reduced to meaningless toil in a dungeon.

Judges 16 21 Bonus section

Samson's blinding is often interpreted as poetic justice: having allowed his eyes (and desires) to lead him astray to Delilah, he physically loses the ability to see. The contrast between Samson's spiritual blindness throughout his life (failing to recognize God's will and warning signs) and his eventual physical blindness is striking. His imprisonment in Gaza, the very city where he previously displayed superhuman strength by removing its gates, creates a profound irony, showcasing his transition from conqueror to captive within the same locale. This serves as a strong polemic against the Philistine god Dagon; though Dagon appears victorious in Samson's humiliation, it sets the stage for Yahweh's ultimate vindication in the destruction of Dagon's temple later in the chapter. The "fetters of brass" could also be symbolic, signifying not only the Philistines' attempt at absolute control but also the heavy chains of sin and consequences that bound Samson due to his own choices.

Judges 16 21 Commentary

Judges 16:21 marks the climax of Samson's tragic fall, depicting his utter physical, social, and spiritual demise at the hands of the Philistines. No longer the awe-inspiring deliverer, he is transformed into a blind, chained slave grinding grain, the most degrading labor for a mighty warrior. This scene serves as a powerful testament to the destructive consequences of unfaithfulness to God, symbolized by Samson's disregard for his Nazirite vow and his pursuit of fleshly desires over divine calling. The Philistines' actions, particularly blinding him and forcing him into an animalistic task, underscore their perception of their complete triumph over both Samson and, implicitly, his God. However, in God's paradoxical plan, this lowest point becomes the crucible for Samson's spiritual repentance, where, stripped of his physical might and pride, he begins to truly seek the Lord's strength, paving the way for his final redemptive act.