Keraia
Judges 16

Judges 16:13

Samson and Delilah · Judges 16:4–14
Read Judges 16

Translations

Modern
Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me all along! Tell me how you can be tied up.” He told her, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the web of a loom and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man.”
Traditional
And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
Literal
And Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told to me lies. Tell me with what you may be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head into the web of a loom and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man..”
Latin
Dixitque Dalila rursum ad eum: Usquequo decipis me, et falsum loqueris? ostende quo vinciri debeas. Cui respondit Samson: Si septem crines capitis mei cum licio plexueris, et clavum his circumligatum terræ fixeris, infirmus ero.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me all along! Tell me how you can be tied up.” He told her, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the web of a loom and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man.”

Notes

Judges 16:13–14

Samson's hair might have been woven into the fabric as the weft on the loom's warp, then tightened like in regular weaving.

Judges 16:4–22

Samson's downfall and defeat by Delilah, the temptress, is a universally appealing tragedy.

Judges 16:1–31

This last chapter of Samson's complicated history does not involve his role as a judge. Samson abandoned his calling and eventually lost his gifts. Only in his final encounter, when he prayed to the Lord again, did he regain any of his heroic stature.

Judges 13:1–16:31

Samson, who gets more attention in the book of Judges than any other judge, is more mysterious than Jephthah. Samson shows great inspiration as a leader. He also represents the unstoppable move toward chaos, which shows the need for a more organized society under a godly ruler.

Theme notes and profiles

Samson The Philistines

People

Delilah: Philistine woman who betrayed Samson Samson: Israelite judge with great strength from God

Glossary

Cloth and Cloth Manufacturing Delilah Judges, Book of Numbers and Numerology Philistia, Philistines Samson Tribe of Dan

Topics

Conspiracy: Delilah, Against Samson Deception: Delilah Deceives Samson Delilah: Samson's Mistress Dreadlocks Friends: False Friends: Delilah Was False to Samson Samson: Cohabits with Delilah, a Prostitute; Her Machinations with the Philistines to Overcome Him Women: Delilah, in Her Conspiracy Against Samson