Keraia
Judges 16

Judges 16:6

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

Translations

Modern
So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”
Traditional
And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
Literal
And Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me, please, in what is your great power, and with what may you be bound to afflict you.”
Latin
Locuta est ergo Dalila ad Samson: Dic mihi, obsecro, in quo sit tua maxima fortitudo, et quid sit quo ligatus erumpere nequeas?

Original

Hebrew
English
So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

Notes

Judges 16:6

Delilah seemed more interested in silver than in self-preservation (see Judges 14:15). She apparently did not return Samson's love.

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

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

Topics

Conspiracy: Delilah, Against Samson Deception: Delilah Deceives Samson Delilah: Samson's Mistress 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