Judges 16 7

Judges 16:7 kjv

And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

Judges 16:7 nkjv

And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man."

Judges 16:7 niv

Samson answered her, "If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I'll become as weak as any other man."

Judges 16:7 esv

Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man."

Judges 16:7 nlt

Samson replied, "If I were tied up with seven new bowstrings that have not yet been dried, I would become as weak as anyone else."

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 7 Meaning

Judges 16:7 records Samson's initial deceptive answer to Delilah regarding the source of his strength. He claims that if he is bound with "seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried," he will become as weak as any ordinary man. This statement is a deliberate misdirection, designed to test Delilah's loyalty and conceal the true secret of his Nazarite vow, yet it also sets the dangerous precedent of his playing with sacred truth.

Judges 16 7 Context

Judges chapter 16 plunges Samson, Israel's deliverer, into a narrative of increasing moral compromise. Having indulged his desires in Gaza by visiting a prostitute and escaping a Philistine ambush, he now finds himself "in the Valley of Sorek" (Jdg 16:4), ensnared by his affection for Delilah, a woman strongly implied to be a Philistine or aligned with them. This verse is the first of three false answers Samson gives to Delilah's insistent pleas, driven by a bribe of 1,100 pieces of silver from each of the Philistine lords, to uncover the source of Samson's immense strength. Historically, Samson operated as a solitary deliverer during a time of Philistine oppression, symbolizing Israel's reliance on God for strength, yet simultaneously demonstrating human fallibility and the destructive power of succumbing to fleshly desires. This interaction highlights Samson's dangerous game of playing with temptation, thinking he can control the situation, while simultaneously revealing Delilah's cunning and persistent malevolence driven by greed. The emphasis on physical objects or conditions (like bowstrings) also subtly presents a polemic against the idea that power derives from earthly elements rather than a divine covenant, which Samson, despite his calling, increasingly devalues.

Judges 16 7 Word analysis

• Samson said: This immediately follows Delilah's intense pressure (Jdg 16:6). Samson is actively responding, but not truthfully, demonstrating a self-assured cunning rather than wisdom or caution.
• to her: Delilah, the relentless interrogator and agent of the Philistines. The intimacy implied by speaking "to her" belies the treacherous nature of their interaction.
• "If they bind me": The use of "they" (impersonal, likely referring to the Philistines or her allies) suggests Samson anticipates capture, yet believes he controls the terms.
• with seven: (שִׁבְעָה, `shiv'ah`). The number seven often signifies completeness or perfection in biblical numerology. Here, it is ironically linked to deception and eventual vulnerability. It also subtly foreshadows the "seven locks of his hair" (Jdg 16:13), suggesting a subconscious connection or a testing of Delilah's knowledge of him.
• fresh bowstrings: (יְתָרִים לַחִים, `yetarim lachîm`).
  • יְתָרִים (`yetarim`): "Bowstrings" (or "sinews," "cords"). These were typically made from animal gut or tough fibers, known for their strength.
  • לַחִים (`lachîm`): "Fresh," "moist," "new." This signifies they are pliable and thus, supposedly at their strongest, not dried and brittle. The emphasis on "freshness" makes Samson's condition sound specific and plausible.
• that have not been dried: Reinforces the concept of "freshness" and maximum tensile strength. It aims to sound like a definitive condition that would genuinely impede any strong man.
• then I shall become weak: (יְדַלּוֹתִי, `yĕdhallôtî`). "I would be brought low," "I would become feeble." This indicates a complete loss of his unique, divine strength, reduced to a common human state.
• and be like any other man: (כְּכָל הָאָדָם, `kᵉḵāl hāʼādām`). This starkly contrasts his God-given extraordinary power with ordinary human limitations. It suggests Samson craves to appear "normal" under certain conditions, diminishing his miraculous identity for the sake of his game with Delilah. This phrase will echo ironically when his true strength departs and he does become like any other man, without realizing it (Jdg 16:20).

• Words-group Analysis:
• "Samson said to her": Initiates a deceptive dialogue, marking Samson's internal struggle between divine calling and personal indulgence.
• "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried": This phrase showcases Samson's meticulous description of a false condition, attempting to appear transparent while intricately misleading Delilah. The numerical precision ("seven") and material detail ("fresh bowstrings," "not been dried") serve to create an illusion of specificity and credibility in his lie.
• "then I shall become weak and be like any other man": This climactic clause states the deceptive outcome, a supposed reversion to ordinariness, underscoring Samson's casual attitude towards his extraordinary, God-given power, as if it were a switch to be toggled by external physical means.

Judges 16 7 Bonus section

• The specific number "seven" (which will reappear with his hair locks in later verses) serves as a subtle yet powerful link to the holistic nature of Samson's separation as a Nazirite. His constant association with "seven" details suggests an intricate, if misguided, awareness of the divine elements intertwined with his strength.
• Samson's consistent deception towards Delilah reflects a larger pattern in his life where he tries to control situations through cleverness or brute force rather than through consistent obedience to God. He often manipulated riddles and strength rather than submitting fully to his calling.
• The Philistines' reliance on Delilah to "coax" Samson (Jdg 16:6) rather than directly confront him speaks to the spiritual nature of Samson's strength, which they intuitively knew was not easily overcome by conventional means, driving them to cunning betrayal.

Judges 16 7 Commentary

Judges 16:7 portrays the initial thrust of Delilah's manipulative inquiry into Samson's divine strength, met by Samson's first deceptive evasion. Samson, aware of Delilah's betrayal (as seen by her attempts to bind him afterward), is seemingly playing a dangerous game, testing her and toying with his unique gift. He devises a plausible, yet false, scenario involving "seven fresh bowstrings" that implies his power can be nullified by specific, physical means. This act of dissimulation highlights Samson's arrogance and complacency, underestimating the pervasive power of persistent temptation and overestimating his own ability to manage his deceit. He speaks of becoming "like any other man," oblivious to the spiritual danger of trivializing the Nazarite vow that set him apart for God. His words, though untrue, foreshadow his actual weakness when he finally yields his secret, marking a spiritual decline from a man empowered by God's Spirit to one vulnerable to worldly enticement.