Keraia
Judges 16

Judges 16:19

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

Translations

Modern
And 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.
Traditional
And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
Literal
And she put him to sleep on her knees, and called for the man, and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. And she began to subdue him, and his power turned aside from him.
Latin
At illa dormire eum fecit super genua sua, et in sinu suo reclinare caput. Vocavitque tonsorem, et rasit septem crines ejus, et cœpit abigere eum, et a se repellere: statim enim ab eo fortitudo discessit.

Original

Hebrew
English
And 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.

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

Glossary

Delilah Judges, Book of Philistia, Philistines Samson Tribe of Dan

Topics

Conspiracy: Delilah, Against Samson Deception: Delilah Deceives Samson Dreadlocks Friends: False Friends: Delilah Was False to Samson 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 Women: Delilah, in Her Conspiracy Against Samson