Judges 16:11

11 He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

Judges 16:11 in Other Translations

11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

11 And he said to her, "If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man."

11 Samson replied, “If I were tied up with brand-new ropes that had never been used, I would become as weak as anyone else.”

11 He told her, "If you were to tie me up tight with new ropes, ropes never used for work, then I would be helpless, just like anybody else."

11 He told her, "If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become weak and be like any other man."

Judges 16:11 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 16:11

And he said unto her
Abarbinel presents Samson replying to her, that he had told her the truth at first, only forgot one circumstance, that the "cords", for so he takes the word for "withs" to signify, should be "new", such as were never used, as follows:

if they bind me fast with new ropes, that never were occupied;
the word signifies thick ropes, which, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, were trebled, or made of three cords twisted together, and those such as were just made, and had never been put to any use, and so strong and firm:

then shall I be weak, and be as another man;
see ( Judges 16:7 ) .

Judges 16:11 In-Context

9 With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”

11 He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

12 So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.

13 Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.” He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric

Cross References

• 1. S Judges 15:13