Judges 16:12

12 So Deli'lah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And the men lying in wait were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off 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 And Deli'lah said to Samson, "Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies; please tell me how you might be bound."
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."
12 So Deli'lah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And the men lying in wait were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.
13 And Deli'lah said to Samson, "Until now you have mocked me, and told me lies; tell me how you might be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and make it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man."
14 So while he slept, Deli'lah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.