Keraia
Judges 16

Judges 16:20

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

Translations

Modern
Then 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.
Traditional
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
Literal
And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson.” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as before at other times and shake myself free.” And he did not know that YHWH had turned aside from him.
Latin
Dixitque: Philisthiim super te, Samson. Qui de somno consurgens, dixit in animo suo: Egrediar sicut ante feci, et me excutiam: nesciens quod recessisset ab eo Dominus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then 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.

Notes

Judges 16:20

Similar to the regretful but overconfident Israelites from earlier times (Numbers 14:40–45), Samson did not notice his hair was cut and that God's presence had left him (compare Hosea 7:9).

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.

People

Samson: Israelite judge with great strength from God

Places

Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan

Glossary

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

Topics

Blindness: Spiritual Conspiracy: Delilah, Against Samson Deception: Delilah Deceives Samson Friends: False Friends: Delilah Was False to Samson Holy Spirit: 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