Keraia
Judges 16

Judges 16:17

Delilah Learns the Secret · Judges 16:15–22
Read Judges 16

Translations

Modern
Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”
Traditional
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
Literal
…that he told her all his heart and said to her, “A razor has not ever come upon my head. For I am a Nazirite to God from the womb of my mother. If I am shaven, my power will leave me, and I shall become weak and be as any man.”
Latin
Tunc aperiens veritatem rei, dixit ad eam: Ferrum numquam ascendit super caput meum, quia nazaræus, id est, consecratus Deo, sum de utero matris meæ: si rasum fuerit caput meum, recedet a me fortitudo mea, et deficiam, eroque sicut ceteri homines.

Original

Hebrew
English
Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

Notes

Judges 16:17–19

Samson's hair symbolized his promise to the Lord. Cutting his hair would break this promise. The seven braided locks were just a symbol; the Lord's presence was the true source of his strength.

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

Nazirites: Person who took a special vow of dedication

Glossary

Delilah Judges, Book of Nazarite, Nazirite Philistia, Philistines Razor Samson Tribe of Dan

Topics

Beard: Samson Conspiracy: Delilah, Against Samson Deception: Delilah Deceives Samson Delilah: Samson's Mistress Friends: False Friends: Delilah Was False to Samson Men and Long Hair Nazarite: Samson Nazarites: Prohibited From: Cutting or Shaving the Head Samson: Cohabits with Delilah, a Prostitute; Her Machinations with the Philistines to Overcome Him The Hair of Nazarites: Not to be Cut or Shorn During Their Vow Total Abstinence: Samson Women: Delilah, in Her Conspiracy Against Samson