Focused Passage

Judges 16:18-20

Samson's Fall, Blindness, Final Prayer, and Death

Judges 16 moves from Samson's repeated entanglement with Philistine women to his exposed weakness, captivity, and final prayer, showing that the LORD can judge His enemies through a broken deliverer while still warning that consecration cannot be treated casually.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

18When Delilah realized that he had revealed to her all that was in his heart, she sent this message to the lords of the Philistines: “Come up once more, for he has revealed to me all that is in his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came to her, bringing the money in their hands.

19And having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him.

20Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 18

Cross-references

1 Timothy 6:10Classic cross-references Matthew 26:15Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 7:26Classic cross-references Jeremiah 9:4Classic cross-references Judges 16:5Classic cross-references

Original words

When Delilahדְלִילָ֗הH1807Noun - proper - feminine singularrealizedוַתֵּ֣רֶאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionhe had revealedהִגִּ֣ידH5046Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularto herלָהּ֮Preposition | third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerall [that was]כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructin his heartלִבּוֹ֒H3820Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularshe sentוַתִּשְׁלַ֡חH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .וַתִּקְרָא֩H7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularthis messageלֵאמֹר֙H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructto the lordsלְסַרְנֵ֨יH5633Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural constructof the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֤יםH6430Noun - proper - masculine pluralCome upעֲל֣וּH5927Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralonce moreהַפַּ֔עַםH6471Article | Noun - feminine singularforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionhe has revealedהִגִּ֥ידH5046Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularto meלָהּPreposition | first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerall [that is]כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructin his heartלִבּ֑וֹH3820Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularThen the lordsסַרְנֵ֣יH5633Noun - masculine plural constructof the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםH6430Noun - proper - masculine pluralcameוְעָל֤וּH5927Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralto herאֵלֶ֙יהָ֙H413Preposition | third person feminine singularbringingוַיַּעֲל֥וּH5927Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe moneyהַכֶּ֖סֶףH3701Article | Noun - masculine singularin their handsבְּיָדָֽם׃H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 19

Cross-references

Proverbs 7:26Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 7:26Classic cross-references Jonah 1:5Classic cross-references Proverbs 7:21Classic cross-references

Original words

And having lulled him to sleepוַתְּיַשְּׁנֵ֙הוּ֙H3462Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singularonעַל־H5921Prepositionher lapבִּרְכֶּ֔יהָH1290Noun - feminine dual construct | third person feminine singularshe calledוַתִּקְרָ֣אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singulara manלָאִ֔ישׁH376Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularto shave offוַתְּגַלַּ֕חH1548Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe sevenשֶׁ֖בַעH7651Number - feminine singularbraidsמַחְלְפ֣וֹתH4253Noun - feminine plural constructof his headרֹאשׁ֑וֹH7218Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularIn this way she beganוַתָּ֙חֶל֙H2490Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularto subdue himלְעַנּוֹת֔וֹH6031Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularand his strengthכֹּח֖וֹH3581Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular. . .מֵעָלָֽיו׃H5921Preposition-m | third person masculine singularleft himוַיָּ֥סַרH5493Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts he began to grow weak

Verse 20

Cross-references

Numbers 14:42Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 16:14Classic cross-references Psalms 51:11Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 18:12Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 15:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Then she called outוַתֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularSamsonשִׁמְשׁ֑וֹןH8123Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Philistines [are]פְּלִשְׁתִּ֥יםH6430Noun - proper - masculine pluralhereעָלֶ֖יךָH5921Preposition | second person masculine singularWhen [Samson] awokeוַיִּקַ֣ץH3364Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularfrom his sleepמִשְּׁנָת֗וֹH8142Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularhe thoughtוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularI will escapeאֵצֵ֞אH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularas I did beforeכְּפַ֤עַםH6471Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular. . .בְּפַ֙עַם֙H6471Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularand shake myself freeוְאִנָּעֵ֔רH5287Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularBut heוְהוּא֙H1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardid notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleknowיָדַ֔עH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthatכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhad departedסָ֥רH5493Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularfrom himמֵעָלָֽיו׃H5921Preposition-m | third person masculine singular

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