Judges 16 6

Judges 16:6 kjv

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

Judges 16:6 nkjv

So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you."

Judges 16:6 niv

So Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued."

Judges 16:6 esv

So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you."

Judges 16:6 nlt

So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me what makes you so strong and what it would take to tie you up securely."

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 6 Meaning

Judges 16:6 describes Samson's initial deceitful reply to Delilah's repeated demands to uncover the secret of his extraordinary strength. He falsely states that if he were bound with "seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried," he would then become weak and lose his distinctive strength, becoming like any other ordinary man. This statement is a deliberate fabrication, designed to test Delilah's sincerity and her true intentions, while also indicating Samson's dangerous overconfidence in his ability to deceive and manage the escalating threat from her and the Philistines. It foreshadows his eventual vulnerability but links it to external, physical means rather than his Nazirite vow, which was the actual source of his strength from God.

Judges 16 6 Context

Judges 16 recounts the final, tragic events in the life of Samson, a judge specifically raised by God to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression. From birth, Samson was designated as a Nazirite, consecrated to God with specific vows, including not cutting his hair, which symbolized his unique strength granted by God's Spirit. Despite this divine calling, Samson repeatedly indulged in his carnal desires, leading him into compromising situations. The narrative directly preceding Judges 16:6 introduces Delilah, a woman from the Valley of Sorek, with whom Samson falls in love. The Philistine lords offer Delilah a substantial bribe to discover the source of Samson's strength, enabling them to capture and subdue him. Judges 16:6 initiates a perilous psychological game between Samson and Delilah, as she persistently presses him for his secret, and he, unwisely, plays along with deceptive answers, gradually giving away clues until his final undoing. This verse underscores his fatal flaw of spiritual complacency and fleshly indulgence in the face of imminent danger.

Judges 16 6 Word analysis

• Then (וַיֹּאמֶר – Vayomer): This connector indicates an immediate verbal response from Samson, following Delilah's persistent query in the previous verse (Jdg 16:5). It highlights the commencement of their deceptive verbal exchange.

• Samson (שִׁמְשׁוֹן – Shimshon): His name means "sun-like" or "little sun," yet ironically, his moral life often operated in spiritual darkness. His choice to engage in deception with Delilah reveals a deep misalignment between his name and his character.

• said to her (אֵלֶיהָ – eleiha): This phrase indicates the direct, private nature of the conversation with Delilah (דְּלִילָה – Delilah), whose name suggests "languishing" or "weakening"—a stark irony given her mission to weaken Samson.

• "If they bind me" (אִם־יַאַסְרֻנִי – im-ya'asruni): This is a conditional statement setting up a hypothetical situation for the deception. "Bind" (אָסַר – asar) implies the act of tying or restraining, forming the basis of his fabricated scenario for losing strength.

• "with seven fresh" (בְּשִׁבְעָה יְתָרִים לַחִים – beshiv'ah yetarim lachim):

  • Seven (שִׁבְעָה – shiv'ah): A biblically significant number often symbolizing completeness or perfection. Here, it adds a deceptive sense of fullness or specificity to Samson's lie.
  • Fresh (לַחִים – lachim): Meaning "moist," "new," or "undried." This implies a quality that would seemingly provide a plausible, albeit false, reason for a physical limitation if such bowstrings were used before proper preparation.

• bowstrings (יְתָרִים – yetarim): Literally "cords" or "bowstrings," typically made from animal sinew. These were known for their inherent strength when properly treated. Samson's suggestion leverages this understanding in his lie.

• "that have not been dried" (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־חֻמְּאוּ – asher lo-humme'u): "Dried" (חָמֵם – chamam) implies to be hot, scorched, or parched. This specific detail further embellishes Samson's fabricated explanation, making it sound more convincing by specifying the state of the material.

• "then I shall become weak" (וְחָלִיתִי – vechaliti): "Weak" (חָלָה – chalah) means to be sick, faint, or impaired. This is the desired outcome in Samson's feigned vulnerability, which ironically would become his ultimate fate.

• "and be like any other man" (וְהָיִיתִי כְּאַחַד הָאָדָם – vehayiyti ke'achad ha'adam): This phrase highlights the profound distinction between Samson's divinely endowed strength and the natural weakness of ordinary people. Losing his unique power to become "like any other man" was Samson's deepest fear and the ultimate consequence of his disobedience.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Then Samson said to her": This phrase immediately establishes Samson's engagement in the manipulative dynamic. His decision to speak rather than retreat signals his dangerous overconfidence and initial misjudgment of Delilah's determined malevolence.
  • "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried": This detailed, hypothetical scenario showcases Samson's cunning but also his fatal flaw of playing with truth. The precision of "seven" and the description "fresh...not been dried" indicate a calculated lie, one designed to appear credible based on properties of the material, diverting attention from the spiritual source of his strength. This also indicates Samson's initial belief he can control the deceit.
  • "then I shall become weak and be like any other man": This part of Samson's lie directly expresses the perceived consequence of his fabricated condition. It highlights his acute awareness of his unique status ("not like any other man") and what the loss of his power would entail—utter humiliation and vulnerability, the very state his special calling was meant to prevent.

Judges 16 6 Bonus section

The consistent pursuit by Delilah, often called "nagging" in biblical accounts (Judges 16:16), represents the relentless nature of temptation and worldly enticement when yielded to. Samson's lies, including the one in this verse, reflect a self-delusion where he believes he can maintain control of the situation and escape consequences, illustrating a common pitfall for those walking in compromise. His use of the number "seven" in his deception, a number often symbolizing divine perfection and completeness in the Bible, adds an ironic layer. It reflects Samson's playful mocking of what should have been a sacred reality, revealing a spiritual arrogance that undermined his anointing. The entire encounter with Delilah is a profound biblical illustration of the destructive power of succumbing to lust and trusting in one's own cleverness over God's divine wisdom and calling.

Judges 16 6 Commentary

Judges 16:6 serves as the opening act in a perilous psychological contest between Samson and Delilah. Samson's response is a deceptive test, revealing his flawed overconfidence rather than a genuine revelation. He is playing a dangerous game, believing his own wit can outsmart the persistent and malicious intentions of Delilah, who is clearly motivated by the enormous sum offered by the Philistines. His specific mention of "seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried" showcases his intelligence in fabricating a plausible but ultimately false means of vulnerability. This lie demonstrates Samson's casual disregard for the sacred nature of his God-given strength and his Nazirite vow. Instead of relying on divine wisdom or seeking God's protection, he toys with his supernatural endowment, hinting at its susceptibility to physical restraints. This moment is a stark indicator of Samson's spiritual blindness and moral decline, as he repeatedly puts himself in positions of compromise. His actions highlight the danger of unchecked carnal desires and pride, which can blind an individual to evident spiritual warfare and lead to tragic forfeiture of divine blessings.

For instance, this can be compared to someone with a powerful spiritual gift who, through pride or unrepentant sin, begins to "test" how far they can stray from God's principles while still appearing to operate in the gift. It's a caution against presuming upon God's grace or the anointing He provides.