Judges 16:23

Judges 16:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
• New International Version (NIV)Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, "Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!”

Context of Judges 16:23

21Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with [two] bronze chains; and he was forced to be a grinder [of grain into flour at the mill] in the prison. 22But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved off. Now the Philistine lords gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to celebrate, for they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands!” 24When the people saw Samson, they praised their god, for they said, “Our god has handed over our enemy to us, The ravager of our country, Who has killed many of us.” 25Now when they were in high spirits, they said, “Call for Samson, so that he may amuse us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars.

Judges 16:23 word by word

וְסַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים נֶֽאֱסְפוּ֙ לִזְבֹּ֧חַ זֶֽבַח־גָּד֛וֹל לְדָג֥וֹן אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ נָתַ֤ן אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ בְּיָדֵ֔נוּ אֵ֖ת שִׁמְשׁ֥וֹן אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then the lordsסֶ֫רֶןseren · lordH5633
• of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• gathered them togetherאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
• for to offerזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
• a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• sacrificeזֶ֫בַחzebach · sacrificeH2077
• unto Dagonדָּגוֹןdâgôn · DagonH1712
• their godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• and to rejoiceשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
• for they saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• hath deliveredנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןshimshôn · SamsonH8123
• our enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• into our handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027

Cross-references for Judges 16:23

• 1 Samuel 5:2They took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it beside [the image of] Dagon [their chief idol].
• Jeremiah 2:11Has a nation [ever] changed gods Even though they were not gods [but merely man-made objects]? But My people have exchanged their Glory (the true God) For that [man-made idol] which does not benefit [them].
• Micah 4:5For all the peoples [now] walk Each in the name of his god [in a transient relationship], As for us, we shall walk [securely] In the name of the Lord our [true] God forever and ever.
• Romans 1:23and exchanged the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God for an image [worthless idols] in the shape of mortal man and birds and four-footed animals and reptiles.
• 1 Corinthians 8:4In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world [it has no real existence], and that there is no God but one.
• 1 Corinthians 10:20On the contrary, the things which the Gentiles (pagans) sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons [in effect], and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons [by eating at feasts in pagan temples].
• Job 30:9“And now I have become [the subject of] their taunting; Yes, I am a byword and a laughingstock to them.
• Psalms 35:15But in my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together [against me]; The slanderers whom I did not know gathered against me; They slandered and reviled me without ceasing.
• Proverbs 24:17Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles,

Commentaries on Judges 16:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Unto Dagon their god - Diodorus Siculus describes their god thus: , ' ; "It had the head of a woman, but all the rest of the body resembled a fish." Dagon was called Dorceto among the heathens. Horace, in the following lines, especially in the third and fourth, seems to have in view the image of Dagon: - Humano capiti cervicem pictor equinam Pingere si velit; et varias inducere plumas, Undique collatis Inembris; ut turpiter atrum Desinat in piscem mulier…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Dagon was the national idol of the Philistines 1 Chronicles 10:10, so called from Dag, a fish. The description of Dagon, in his temple at Ashdod 1 Samuel 5:4, exactly agrees with the representations of a fish-god on the walls of Khorsabad, on slabs at Kouyunjik, and on sundry antique cylinders and gems. In these the figures vary. Some have a human form down to the waist, with that of a fish below the waist; others have a human head, arms, and legs…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-24Verses 22-24 Samson's afflictions were the means of bringing him to deep repentance. By the loss of his bodily sight the eyes of his understanding were opened; and by depriving him of bodily strength, the Lord was pleased to renew his spiritual strength. The Lord permits some few to wander wide and sink deep, yet he recovers them at last, and marking his displeasure at sin in their severe temporal sufferings, preserves them from sinking into the pit of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-24The Philistines celebrated joyfully, giving all the credit to their god, Dagon. They believed a nation's strength showed the power of its gods.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2523. the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon--It was a common practice in heathen nations, on the return of their solemn religious festivals, to bring forth their war prisoners from their places of confinement or slavery; and, in heaping on them every species of indignity, they would offer their grateful tribute to the gods by whose aid they had triumphed over their enemies. Dagon was a sea idol…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 16:23

• Amusements and Worldly Pleasures
• Dagon
• Gaza
• Samson

In the dictionaries

• God
• Philistines
• Samson
• Lords of the Philistines
• Banquet
• Dagon
• Feel
• Gaza
• Mock
• Quiet

Commentaries on Judges 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings