Judges 16:12

12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" For the men were lying in wait in the inner room. But he snapped the ropes from his arms like a thread.

Judges 16:12 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 16:12

Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith,
&c.] Tried this experiment with him, according to his directions, being very desirous of getting the sum of money offered her:

and said unto him, the Philistines be upon thee, Samson:
using the same words, and with the same view as she had done before, ( Judges 16:9 )

(and there were liers in wait abiding the chamber);
as before, ready upon occasion to rush in upon him, as soon as any notice was given them:

and he brake them from off his arms like a thread;
as easily as a thread of linen can be snapped asunder.

Judges 16:12 In-Context

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Behold, you have deceived me and told me lies; now please tell me how you may be bound."

11 He said to her, "If they bind me tightly with new ropes which have not been used, then I will become weak and be like any other man."

12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" For the men were lying in wait in the inner room. But he snapped the ropes from his arms like a thread.

13 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have deceived me and told me lies; tell me how you may be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my hair with the web [and fasten it with a pin, then I will become weak and be like any other man."

14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his hair and wove them into the web ]. And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the loom and the web.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "them"