Judges 16 29

Judges 16:29 kjv

And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.

Judges 16:29 nkjv

And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.

Judges 16:29 niv

Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other,

Judges 16:29 esv

And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other.

Judges 16:29 nlt

Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands,

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 29 Meaning

Judges 16:29 depicts a pivotal moment for Samson. Having been captured, blinded, and humiliated by the Philistines, he reaches out to the Lord God in fervent prayer. His plea is for a final surge of divine strength, "just this once," so that he might avenge himself for the loss of his two eyes upon his oppressors. This marks a profound shift in Samson, moving from a self-reliant hero to one who finally recognizes his utter dependence on God for power and deliverance, even in his broken state. His prayer for vengeance is deeply intertwined with God's original purpose for him—to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines.

Judges 16 29 Context

Judges chapter 16 brings Samson's narrative to its tragic, yet triumphant, climax. Following numerous displays of immense physical strength marred by moral weakness and impulsive decisions, Samson's undoing comes at the hands of Delilah, who finally extorts the secret of his strength – his Nazarite vow symbolized by his unshorn hair. After his hair is cut, the Lord departs from him, rendering him powerless. The Philistines capture him, gouge out his eyes, and compel him to grind grain in their prison, effectively reducing the mighty judge of Israel to a humiliated slave.

This specific verse, Judges 16:29, occurs at a grand Philistine festival celebrating their god Dagon. Thousands have gathered in the temple, and Samson is brought out to entertain them and further demonstrate Dagon's supposed victory over Israel's God. It is in this moment of utter disgrace and weakness that Samson, physically powerless and spiritually broken, calls out to the true God. This marks a profound return to the spiritual essence of his judgeship. Historically, the Philistines were a formidable foe of Israel during the period of the Judges, dominating significant portions of their land. Their polytheistic religion, centered around deities like Dagon (a fish-god), stood in stark contrast to Israel's monotheistic worship of Yahweh. Samson's final act is not merely personal vengeance but also a decisive blow against Philistine religious pride, demonstrating the supremacy of Israel's God over Dagon and their supposed strength.

Judges 16 29 Word analysis

• Then (וַיִּקְרָא - vayyiqrā')
  • Significance: Connects this desperate prayer directly to the preceding humiliation. It implies an immediate action born out of the extreme circumstance.
  • Original Context: The 'waw-conversive' structure in Hebrew (vav with imperfect verb) indicates a sequential action, emphasizing the prayer as a turning point after his suffering.
• Samson (שִׁמְשׁוֹן - shimšôn)
  • Significance: His name means "sun-like" or "man of the sun," possibly linked to his eyes or brilliant displays, now ironically blinded. He represents a figure chosen by God but deeply flawed.
  • Biblical Connection: Mentioned in Heb 11:32 as a man of faith, implying this moment of turning to God.
• called (וַיִּקְרָא - vayyiqrā')
  • Significance: Implies a fervent, urgent, and desperate appeal, a cry from the depths. This is not a casual request.
  • Biblical Connection: A common phrase for a direct and often anguished prayer to God (e.g., Ps 107:13, Jon 2:2).
• to the Lord (אֶל־יְהוָה - ʾel-Yĕhwâ)
  • Significance: Addresses God by His covenant name (YHWH/Yahweh), signifying a return to his spiritual roots and recognition of the one true God, unlike the Philistines bowing to Dagon.
  • Original Language: Yĕhwâ (יְהוָה) emphasizes God's personal, unchanging nature, His covenant faithfulness. This contrasts sharply with Samson's prior unfaithfulness.
• saying (וַיֹּאמַר - wayyōmar)
  • Significance: Indicates a direct address and the vocal nature of his prayer.
• O Lord God (אֲדֹנָי יְהוָה - ʾăḏōnāy Yĕhwâ)
  • Significance: "Adonai" (my Lord, my Master) often used by speakers to address God when referring to God as sovereign Master, reinforcing reverence and dependence. The double invocation (Adonai YHVH) emphasizes a deeply earnest, respectful, and authoritative plea to the sovereign covenant God.
• please strengthen me (חַזְּקֵנִי נָא - ḥazzĕqēnî nā')
  • Significance: An urgent plea for supernatural power, acknowledging his physical weakness and divine origin of his true strength. Nā' adds a tone of polite, desperate request, "please."
  • Original Language: ḥazzĕqēnî is an imperative, an urgent command-like request to God.
• just this once (אַךְ הַפַּעַם הַזֶּה - ʾak happaʿam hazzeh)
  • Significance: Reflects Samson's understanding that his life is ending, or his prior misuses of divine strength. It's a last, desperate act of faith, perhaps also an admission of his prior failures and reliance on God solely in extremis.
  • Cultural Context: In this context of captivity and public humiliation, it highlights his final desperate resolve to fulfill God's calling even in death.
• O God (הָאֱלֹהִים - hāʾělōhîm)
  • Significance: A third invocation of God in this short verse. While 'Elohim' is a general term for God, its use here alongside YHWH and Adonai stresses the comprehensive power and deity of the one he is addressing. This repetition highlights his fervent earnestness.
• that I may be avenged (וְאִנָּקְמָה - wəʾinnāqəmâ)
  • Significance: Samson seeks divine retribution. This raises theological tension: is it personal revenge or divine judgment executed through him? Given God's prior purpose for Samson (Judg 13:5), it is more likely Samson seeking to fulfill God's justice on Israel's oppressors, wrapped in personal suffering.
  • Polemics: This is a polemic against the Philistine gods, particularly Dagon, whose worshippers attributed their victory to him. Samson's act will prove the supremacy of Yahweh.
• on the Philistines (בִּפְלִשְׁתִּים - bifəlištim)
  • Significance: The perennial oppressors of Israel during Samson's time, highlighting the national dimension of this act beyond mere personal vengeance.
• for my two eyes (שְׁתֵּי עֵינַי - šəttê ʿênay)
  • Significance: Symbolizes his utter humiliation and powerlessness. The blinding was a particularly cruel and dehumanizing act, typical of ancient warfare, emphasizing Philistine dominance and his personal loss. His revenge is thus personal, but through his death, serves a broader purpose of judgment.

Judges 16 29 Words-Group Analysis

• "Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, "O Lord God..." This opening phrase reveals Samson's desperation and newfound humility. It's a prayer born of extreme suffering, acknowledging YHVH as both covenant Lord (YHVH) and sovereign Master (Adonai). This immediate and direct appeal after his utter degradation highlights a return to genuine faith.
• "...please strengthen me just this once, O God..." This is a critical confession. "Please strengthen me" is a recognition that his own strength is gone and true power comes only from God. "Just this once" signifies his understanding of his imminent end and possibly, his awareness of how he had misused previous divine gifts. It implies a singular, final purpose, highlighting a redemptive prayer after years of self-serving power.
• "...that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes." This phrase blends personal pain with a divinely sanctioned act of judgment. While seemingly personal, Samson's act of "vengeance" becomes an instrument of God's justice against a people who had long oppressed Israel and defied Yahweh. His blindness, a result of his sin, becomes the very impetus for his final, greatest act of judgment on the enemies of God and Israel, also serving as a decisive humiliation for the Philistine deity, Dagon.

Judges 16 29 Bonus Section

• Polemics Against Dagon: The phrase "avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes" is not solely personal. Samson is also avenging the honor of God, as the Philistines paraded him as proof of Dagon's superiority. The crushing of Dagon's temple represents God's decisive victory over pagan idolatry (see 1 Sam 5:1-5 for further humiliation of Dagon's statue).
• Faith and Sacrifice: Samson's final act, calling upon God in weakness, demonstrates a kind of self-sacrifice for a greater purpose—the judgment of Israel's enemies and the temporary deliverance of his people. Though motivated in part by personal grievance, it ultimately aligns with God's ongoing work to liberate Israel from oppression.
• The Paradox of Strength in Weakness: This verse epitomizes a profound biblical principle: God's power is often made manifest in human weakness. Samson, blinded and enslaved, experiences the most powerful display of God's strength through him, teaching that dependence on God, not personal might, is the true source of spiritual effectiveness (2 Cor 12:9-10).
• Imperfect Instruments: Samson remains a complicated figure, yet God works through him despite his moral failings. This verse highlights God's sovereignty and His ability to achieve His purposes through flawed human agents, as long as they ultimately turn to Him.

Judges 16 29 Commentary

Judges 16:29 presents a poignant and theologically rich moment in Samson's narrative. Stripped of his strength, his sight, and his dignity, Samson finally turns in genuine humility to the true source of his power. His prayer, though framed in terms of personal vengeance for his eyes, transcends mere retribution. It becomes an act of national liberation and divine judgment. Scholars note this prayer as a sign of Samson's repentance, contrasting his former self-reliance with a deep, final dependence on God. His request, "just this once," is often interpreted as a desperate acknowledgement of his failures and a desire for one last act to fulfill his God-given purpose, even in death.

This verse also strongly portrays a clash of deities. The Philistines mock Yahweh by attributing their victory to Dagon. Samson's final act, empowered by God, devastates Dagon's temple and his worshippers, powerfully demonstrating the supremacy of Israel's God over all false idols. It is not just about Samson's eyes but God's glory vindicated. Samson, a flawed instrument chosen by God, ultimately serves the divine purpose, even through his self-sacrificial death. His inclusion in the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 affirms that despite his profound weaknesses, this final act of faith and dependence sealed his legacy as one who, in a distorted way, accomplished God's will.