Judges 16:22 kjv
Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
Judges 16:22 nkjv
However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven.
Judges 16:22 niv
But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Judges 16:22 esv
But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Judges 16:22 nlt
But before long, his hair began to grow back.
Judges 16 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 8:22 | While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night, shall not cease. | God's steadfast covenants and promises endure. |
| Deut 32:39 | "I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal..." | God's power to restore after affliction. |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. | God's sovereign power over life and death. |
| Psa 23:3 | He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. | God's capacity to restore and guide individuals. |
| Psa 51:10 | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. | A plea for divine renewal and inner strength. |
| Psa 51:12 | Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. | Restoration of joy and spiritual will by God. |
| Isa 40:29-31 | He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength... | God's promise to renew strength to the weary. |
| Isa 42:16 | I will lead the blind by ways they do not know... | God guiding the physically or spiritually blind. |
| Jer 24:7 | Then I will give them a heart to know Me... and they shall be My people. | God promises spiritual restoration and knowledge. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. | God's unfailing compassion and renewal daily. |
| Hos 6:1 | Come, let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us. | God's willingness to heal after causing affliction. |
| Joel 2:25 | So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten... | God's promise of physical and temporal restoration. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I am the Lord, I do not change..." | God's immutability and unchanging faithfulness. |
| Rom 11:29 | For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. | God's gifts and calling cannot be revoked by Him. |
| 2 Cor 12:9-10 | And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." | God's strength is magnified in human weakness. |
| Phil 1:6 | He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. | God's continuous work until completion in believers. |
| Heb 12:5-11 | For what son is there whom a father does not chastise?... | Discipline for growth and the peaceful fruit of righteousness. |
| Heb 13:8 | Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. | Christ's unchanging nature ensures His faithfulness. |
| Jas 4:8 | Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... | God's response to those who seek Him. |
| Rev 2:5 | Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works... | A call to remember past devotion and repent for renewal. |
Judges 16 verses
Judges 16 22 Meaning
Judges 16:22 marks a pivotal shift in the narrative of Samson, occurring after his betrayal, capture, blinding, and enslavement by the Philistines. This verse signifies a rekindling of divine purpose and strength within Samson, specifically through the regrowth of his hair, which was the physical sign of his Nazirite vow. It indicates that despite Samson's profound failure and weakened state, God's covenantal faithfulness was not completely revoked. The restoration of his hair points to the impending renewal of the supernatural strength previously bestowed upon him by the Holy Spirit, setting the stage for his final act of deliverance and self-sacrifice for God's people. This regrowth serves as a visible sign of God's patience, grace, and continued plan for Samson, even in his repentance and brokenness.
Judges 16 22 Context
Judges chapter 16 depicts the final phase of Samson's judgeship, characterized by his increasing moral decay and eventual capture. Before verse 22, Samson has been continually drawn by his desires, leading him into a compromising relationship with Delilah. His strength, divinely gifted, was tied to his Nazirite vow, signified by his unshaven hair. Delilah persistently probed the secret of his strength until he revealed it, leading to his hair being shaved while he slept. Subsequently, his strength departed, and he was captured by the Philistines, blinded, and made to grind grain in prison. Verse 22 acts as a crucial turning point, signaling a renewal of divine activity within Samson's life, implying a period of repentance and restoration on his part, setting the stage for the climactic conclusion of his story and his ultimate, albeit self-sacrificial, victory. It portrays God's enduring commitment despite human failure and His power to redeem seemingly hopeless situations.
Judges 16 22 Word analysis
But: (Hebrew: vav) This conjunction signifies a strong contrast or shift in narrative. It abruptly turns the focus from Samson's downfall and misery to a dawning hope, marking a critical transition point.
the hair: (Hebrew: שׁעַר, se'ar) In the context of the Nazirite vow (Num 6), long, unshorn hair was a physical sign of consecration to the Lord, representing a state of holiness and separation unto God. Samson's strength was not inherent in his hair itself, but the hair symbolized his adherence to the vow through which divine strength flowed. Its regrowth therefore implies a re-entry into a state where God's power could again manifest.
of his head: Specifies the location, directly linking it to the Nazirite injunction.
began to grow: (Hebrew: יָחֶל, yakhel, root חלל, halal, meaning "to begin" or "to make common/profane"; and צֶמַח, tzemach, meaning "to sprout/grow") The Hebrew emphasizes the natural process of growth. It was not an immediate, miraculous reappearance but a gradual return, implying God works through natural means while supernaturally upholding His purpose. This slow process allowed time for reflection and repentance on Samson's part.
again: Emphasizes the restoration of something that was lost or taken away. It denotes a return to a former state, specifically God's favour manifested through his unique strength.
after it had been shaven: This clause confirms the prior action (his Nazirite hair being cut) and directly links the regrowth to the source of his past power, highlighting the cyclical nature of divine grace following human failure and potential repentance.
"But the hair of his head": This phrase creates an immediate shift in focus from Samson's despair to a potential for renewal, pinpointing the very element that symbolized his vow and unique strength.
"began to grow again": This highlights the divine process of restoration, often gradual, suggesting that God's plan can unfold even after severe setbacks and sin. It indicates patience and an open door for redemption.
Judges 16 22 Bonus section
- The seemingly mundane detail of hair regrowth carries immense theological weight. It demonstrates that God's ultimate purpose is not thwarted by human sin, although individual actions have severe consequences.
- This verse subtly portrays divine mercy: even in judgment, there is an open door for redemption. Samson's physical blindness might have opened his spiritual eyes to his dependence on God, rather than his own abilities.
- The regrowth points to the Nazirite vow's ongoing significance for Samson's life and calling. Despite being profaned by his sin and shaved, the symbol could still be renewed, just as God's relationship with a repentant individual can be restored.
- The fact that it "began to grow" rather than instantaneously appearing emphasizes God's working through natural means, yet with a supernatural purpose, hinting at Samson's repentance taking time to manifest, and God honoring that process.
Judges 16 22 Commentary
Judges 16:22 serves as a beacon of hope amidst Samson's bleakest hour. Having failed miserably by revealing the secret of his strength and being stripped of his power, sight, and freedom, he was seemingly discarded. Yet, this verse quietly announces that God had not completely abandoned him. The regrowth of his hair signifies God's persistent grace and the irrevocable nature of His call (Rom 11:29). Samson's strength was always a gift from God, mediated through the sign of his Nazirite vow. His disobedience led to the removal of the manifestation of strength, but God's covenant with him remained. The gradual regrowth implies that Samson had time for reflection, possibly leading to genuine repentance. It's a testament to divine patience: God allows consequences for sin but is ready to restore when hearts turn back. This moment foreshadows Samson's final, Spirit-empowered act of justice, demonstrating that God's redemptive plan can unfold even through broken vessels and imperfect faith, culminating in His glory and the salvation of His people.