Judges 16:7

7 Samson answered her, "Let someone tie me up with seven new leather straps. They must be straps that aren't completely dry. Then I'll become as weak as any other man."

Judges 16:7 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 16:7

And Samson said unto her
In answer to her pressing solicitations:

if they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried;
the word is sometimes used for nerves, and cords or ropes; but neither of these can be here meant, since these, if moistened or made wet, are the less fit to bind with, and the drier the better; but rods or branches of trees just cut off, such as faggots are bound up with, or green osiers, which are easily bent and twisted, and may bind with; Josephus ^F21 calls them vine branches:

then shall I be weak, and be as another man;
which cannot well be excused from a lie; for Samson knew full well that being bound would not weaken his strength; but as he had fallen into one sin, it is no wonder he was drawn into another: unless this can be understood, as it is by some, as jesting with her; however, it shows that he was "compos mentis", as Josephus ^F23 observes, and was upon his guard with respect to the secret of his strength.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F21 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 9.)
F23 Ibid.

Judges 16:7 In-Context

5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her. They said, "See if you can get him to tell you the secret of why he's so strong. Find out how we can overpower him. Then we can tie him up. We can bring him under our control. Each of us will give you 28 pounds of silver."

6 So Delilah spoke to Samson. She said, "Tell me the secret of why you are so strong. Tell me how you can be tied up and controlled."

7 Samson answered her, "Let someone tie me up with seven new leather straps. They must be straps that aren't completely dry. Then I'll become as weak as any other man."

8 So the Philistine rulers brought seven new leather straps to her. They weren't completely dry. Delilah tied Samson up with them.

9 Men were hiding in the room. She called out to him. She said, "Samson! The Philistines are attacking you!" But he snapped the leather straps easily. They were like pieces of string that had come too close to a flame. So the secret of why he was so strong wasn't discovered.