Judges 16 27

Judges 16:27 kjv

Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

Judges 16:27 nkjv

Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there?about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.

Judges 16:27 niv

Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform.

Judges 16:27 esv

Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

Judges 16:27 nlt

Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 27 Meaning

Judges 16:27 vividly describes the climactic scene of Samson's final act: a Philistine house or temple, likely dedicated to Dagon, was filled to capacity with Philistine men and women. Among them were "all the lords of the Philistines," their five primary rulers, signaling a gathering of the highest political and religious authority. An additional estimated three thousand people crowded onto the roof, all intent on watching Samson, the once formidable Israelite judge, now blind and humiliated, being paraded as their source of amusement and mockery. This setting, representing the peak of Philistine pride and a unified celebration of their perceived triumph over Samson and his God, sets the stage for a dramatic divine reversal.

Judges 16 27 Context

Judges 16:27 serves as the climactic pivot in the tragic yet redemptive narrative of Samson. The chapter details his succumbing to Delilah's repeated betrayals, leading to the revelation of his Nazirite vow's secret strength. Consequently, he is captured, brutally blinded, and forced into servitude grinding grain in a Philistine prison. This verse specifically describes the great Philistine feast of triumph, held in a temple—implicitly to Dagon, their god, who they credit for Samson's capture (Judg 16:23). The immense crowd, including all their top leaders, signifies a moment of ultimate Philistine pride and a unified celebration over Israel's champion. This national mockery of Samson and, by extension, his God, sets the stage for a profound act of divine judgment, as the Philistines unknowingly congregate for their own destruction at the very place of their self-exaltation. Historically, this highlights the constant power struggle between Israel and the Philistines during the Judges period, with Yahweh powerfully asserting His sovereignty over the pagan gods and nations.

Judges 16 27 Word analysis

• "Now" (וְהַבַּיִת, vehabayith): A literary device connecting the unfolding narrative to the preceding actions, specifically the Philistines summoning Samson to entertain them (Judg 16:25). It signifies the setup of the crucial scene.
• "the house" (הַבַּיִת, habayith): Refers to a large structure, implicitly a temple of Dagon as suggested by the preceding verses (Judg 16:23). This building, designed for public assembly and religious ceremony, played a key role in ancient Philistine social and cultic life, and its structure with support pillars is critical to the coming events.
• "was full" (מָלֵא, male): Emphasizes the dense packing of people within the structure. This highlights the popularity and scale of the Philistine celebration, ensuring that the ensuing catastrophe would be widespread and impactful.
• "of men and women" (אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים, anashim v’nashim): Specifies the diversity and comprehensiveness of the crowd. It indicates that the entire population—not just soldiers or leaders—participated in this public display of triumphalism and mockery, underscoring the widespread nature of the Philistine contempt for Samson and his God.
• "all the lords of the Philistines" (כֹּל סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים, kol sarnei Pelishtim): The Hebrew word sarne (סַרְנֵי) refers to the "five lords" or rulers of the principal Philistine city-states (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron). Their collective presence underscores that this was a summit of Philistine political, military, and religious authority, ensuring that the judgment about to be rendered would strike at the very heart of their power structure.
• "were there" (שָׁם, sham): Confirms the physical presence of these vital figures at the center of the event, reinforcing the significance of the assembly.
• "and on the roof" (וְעַל הַגָּג, v’al hagog): Details typical ancient Near Eastern architecture where flat roofs served as additional viewing areas for large crowds. This detail significantly expands the total number of spectators and the overall scale of the gathering, indicating an even grander assembly beyond the interior capacity.
• "there were about three thousand men and women" (שָׁם כְּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה, sham k’shloshet alafim ish v’ishah): This specific numerical estimation, while approximate, conveys the enormous size of the audience. The scale emphasizes the depth of the national celebration of Philistine dominance and conversely, the profound impact of God's coming judgment on such a vast assembly.
• "who were watching" (הַמְּתֹאֲרִים, hamtahareem): Implies an eager, engrossed observation, with all attention fixed on Samson. They were thoroughly absorbed in their mockery and entertainment.
• "while Samson played before them" (בְּרֹאשֵׁם מְצַחֵק שִׁמְשׁוֹן, berosh'em metsakhkek shimshon): The verb tsakhak (צָחַק) in Hebrew means "to laugh, mock, jest, sport, or entertain." Here, it powerfully depicts Samson's ultimate degradation. The once feared, divinely empowered judge is reduced to a blind spectacle, a captive object of ridicule and amusement for his captors. His profound humiliation makes the divine reversal all the more potent.

• "the house was full of men and women": This phrase paints a picture of a thoroughly packed venue, highlighting that the entire populace—male and female, young and old—was involved in the celebratory taunting. It shows a collective Philistine triumph.
• "all the lords of the Philistines were there": This group identifies the specific presence of the highest ruling elite. Their attendance at the feast for Dagon, where Samson was displayed, underlines the national significance of the event and indicates that the impending divine judgment would target the core of Philistine leadership and authority.
• "on the roof there were about three thousand men and women": This adds architectural context to the scale. The use of the roof, coupled with the large numerical estimation, confirms the unprecedented size of the assembly, emphasizing that it was a major public holiday and spectacle, drawing a massive audience for their moment of victory.
• "who were watching while Samson played before them": This segment encapsulates the essence of Samson's debasement. He was not just imprisoned, but humiliated through performance. The phrase conveys the Philistine's absolute control and Samson's profound physical and social downfall, prior to God’s powerful intervention.

Judges 16 27 Bonus section

• The architectural detail of the Philistine temple, especially the reliance on central support pillars, makes Samson's final act historically plausible within ancient Near Eastern building techniques, allowing for a concentrated application of strength.
• The Hebrew term tsakhak ("played," "צָחַק") used for Samson's entertainment has a broader semantic range, which can include ridicule, sport, or even sexual jest. This broader understanding might suggest the extreme levels of debasement and public degradation Samson endured.
• The deliberate number of "three thousand men and women" present for the destruction, similar to the 3,000 Israelites who fell in Exodus 32:28 due to the golden calf idolatry, echoes a principle of divine judgment in the Bible—often reflecting the scale of a significant transgression or a precise divine reckoning.
• This final, powerful act by Samson, through renewed strength from God in response to his prayer (Judg 16:28), highlights that God uses flawed individuals to fulfill His sovereign plans, often bringing about His greatest victories from moments of profound human weakness and defeat.

Judges 16 27 Commentary

Judges 16:27 masterfully sets the stage for a momentous display of God's sovereignty. The meticulously described scene of a Philistine temple teeming with "all the lords" and thousands of ordinary citizens reveals the culmination of Philistine hubris—they gloat over a blinded Samson, their formidable enemy reduced to a pathetic spectacle, attributing their victory to their idol, Dagon. This mass congregation, uniting the highest authority with the common people in mocking Yahweh's champion, inadvertently serves as a strategic gathering for divine judgment. God allows Samson to be humiliated only to demonstrate His unparalleled power over false gods and oppressive nations, ensuring that the very act of Philistine triumph becomes the catalyst for their widespread and devastating downfall, vindicating His name and His justice through His weakened but repentant servant.