Judges 16 3

Judges 16:3 kjv

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.

Judges 16:3 nkjv

And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

Judges 16:3 niv

But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

Judges 16:3 esv

But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.

Judges 16:3 nlt

But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the doors of the town gate, including the two posts, and lifted them up, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron.

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 3 Meaning

Judges 16:3 vividly illustrates the extraordinary, divinely empowered strength of Samson. Discerning the ambush set by the Gazites at their city gate, Samson, under the Spirit's influence, performs an astonishing feat. He dismantles the massive, fortified city gates – including their posts and bars – and transports them a considerable distance, uphill, towards Hebron. This act not only signifies his escape from immediate danger but also serves as a profound humiliation of the Philistines and their stronghold, demonstrating God's sovereign power over their designs. It underscores the concept of divine strength manifested through an individual, often in unexpected ways.

Judges 16 3 Context

Judges 16 recounts Samson's entanglement with a harlot in Gaza, a significant Philistine city and one of their five principal strongholds. The Gazites, eager to capture their notorious tormentor, set an ambush at the city gates, planning to seize him at dawn. Samson, however, discerning their plot, does not wait for morning. His action in Judges 16:3 serves as a dramatic, preemptive escape, demonstrating his overwhelming, divinely given strength to confound their plans. This feat, taking the literal gates of their fortified city and carrying them miles away, was not merely an escape but a profound humiliation of the Philistine people and a testament to their inability to capture him by their own might. Historically, Gaza was a strategically vital city, a fortress that represented Philistine power and control. Hebron, to which Samson carried the gates, was a significant Israelite city, known as a city of refuge and the burial place of the patriarchs. The considerable distance and elevation difference between Gaza and Hebron underscore the miraculous nature of Samson's deed, publicly mocking the Philistine security and asserting Israel's divinely appointed strength, despite Samson's own moral failings.

Judges 16 3 Word analysis

• And Samson lay till midnight:
  • lay: (Hebrew: vayyishkav) - indicates a period of rest, likely suggesting a false sense of security or his continuing self-indulgence despite the dangerous circumstances.
  • midnight: (Hebrew: chatsi hallailah) - "half the night." This specific time is crucial. It suggests that Samson did not stay until morning (as the Gazites intended to ambush him) but rose before their planned assault. It is a time often associated with divine intervention, sudden action, or judgment in biblical narratives (e.g., Exod 12:29; Ruth 3:8; Acts 16:25). His waking at this hour highlights divine revelation or instinct rather than reliance on human information.
• and arose at midnight:
  • arose: (Hebrew: vayyakom) - Signifies a sudden decision and action, demonstrating his alertness and responsiveness to the danger, potentially guided by the Spirit of God.
• and took the doors of the gate of the city:
  • took: (Hebrew: vayye'echōz) - "and he grasped/seized." This word implies a powerful, firm hold, not just a casual picking up. It denotes intention and exertion.
  • doors of the gate of the city: Refers to the colossal wooden or metal doors, often fortified, that formed the main entrance to ancient walled cities. These were massive, incredibly heavy structures, symbols of a city's security, defense, and power. Dismantling and moving them was an inconceivable feat for any ordinary man.
• and the two posts:
  • posts: (Hebrew: u-shtei ha-mezuzot) - Refers to the main doorjambs or pillars to which the gate doors were hinged or secured. These would have been deep-set, sturdy, and heavy. Taking these along meant Samson effectively uprooted the entire entrance mechanism.
• and plucked them up:
  • plucked them up: (Hebrew: vayyaʿăqōrēm) - "and he uprooted them" or "tore them out." This word is used for uprooting trees or tearing out plants. It vividly conveys the force and completeness of the act – they were not merely dislodged but violently extracted from their foundational settings.
• bar and all:
  • bar: (Hebrew: ha-beriach) - Refers to the heavy wooden or iron bar that locked the gates from the inside. This detail emphasizes that Samson took the entire fortified gateway, demonstrating its complete dismantling and the Philistine's utter failure to secure him.
• and put them upon his shoulders:
  • upon his shoulders: The universal symbol of bearing a great burden or responsibility. In this context, it showcases the extraordinary load and his capacity to bear it single-handedly, contrasting sharply with the limitations of normal human strength.
• and carried them up to the top of an hill:
  • carried them up: (Hebrew: vayyiśśā'ēm) - "and he lifted them/carried them." The 'up' indicates the ascending nature of the journey.
  • top of an hill: The ascent makes the feat even more arduous, signifying his incredible power over gravitational and topographical challenges.
• that is before Hebron:
  • before Hebron: (Hebrew: 'al-pene Chévron) - "on the face of Hebron" or "opposite Hebron." Hebron was a major Israelite city, approximately 35-40 miles (55-65 km) south-east of Gaza, and at a significantly higher elevation. Carrying the gates this distance not only shows superhuman strength but also adds to the public humiliation of the Philistines. The gates of Gaza were literally transported into Israelite territory, a sign of contempt and dominance.

Judges 16 3 Bonus section

The act of taking the city gates holds significant symbolic weight beyond a mere escape. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, city gates were not only for defense but also served as the hub of judicial, commercial, and social life (e.g., Ruth 4:1-2; Deut 21:19). Dismantling them was an assault on the very identity, authority, and security of the city. For Samson to place these gates on a hill visible from Hebron, a key Israelite city of refuge and patriarchal significance, elevated the humiliation to a national level. It implied that the Philistine "gate," symbolizing their power and dominion, could be carried off and discarded on Israelite territory, emphasizing God's ultimate victory. Furthermore, Samson's act at midnight echoes divine judgment or unexpected divine activity seen elsewhere in Scripture, reinforcing the supernatural element of his escape. This incredible feat, while demonstrating immense strength, also paradoxically highlighted Samson's reliance on impulsive decisions and personal power displays, foreshadowing his eventual downfall when he presumed on his divine gift outside of divine guidance.

Judges 16 3 Commentary

Judges 16:3 is a profound display of Samson's God-given, albeit misused, strength. It illustrates the paradoxical nature of Samson's walk with God: despite his continued moral compromises (like staying with a harlot), the divine Spirit continues to operate powerfully through him for God's purposes – the deliverance and demonstration of power against Israel's enemies. This act was more than an escape; it was a defiant statement and a profound humiliation of the Philistines. By uprooting their city gates, which symbolized their power, security, and pride, and depositing them on a hill "before Hebron," Samson essentially stripped Gaza naked before the world, mocking its defenses and proving them useless against the power of God. The feat defies natural laws of physics and endurance, serving as a powerful reminder that "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zech 4:6). It showcases God's ability to act sovereignly through imperfect vessels to accomplish His will, providing a powerful object lesson to both Israel and her adversaries regarding the futility of relying on earthly fortifications against divine intervention. It serves as a stark reminder that physical barriers cannot hold back God's purposes or His chosen instruments.