Judges 16:7

Judges 16:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
• New International Version (NIV)Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

Context of Judges 16:7

5So the [five] lords (governors) of the Philistines came to her and said to her, “Persuade him, and see where his great strength lies and [find out] how we may overpower him so that we may bind him to subdue him. And each of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.” 6So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies and with what you may be bound and subdued.” Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh cords (tendons) that have not been dried, then I will be weak and be like any [other] man.” 8Then the Philistine lords brought her seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner room. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he broke the cords as a string of tow breaks when it touches fire. So [the secret of] his strength was not discovered.

Judges 16:7 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן אִם־יַאַסְרֻ֗נִי בְּשִׁבְעָ֛ה יְתָרִ֥ים לַחִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־חֹרָ֑בוּ וְחָלִ֥יתִי וְהָיִ֖יתִי כְּאַחַ֥ד הָאָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןshimshôn · SamsonH8123
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto her, If they bindאָסַר'âsar · to bindH631
• me with sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
• greenלַחlach · freshH3892
• withsיֶ֫תֶרyether · cordH3499
• that were never driedחָרֵבchârab chârêb · to dryH2717
• then shall I be weakחָלָהchâlâh · be weak: weakH2470
• and be as anotherאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Cross-references for Judges 16:7

• Judges 16:10Then Delilah said to Samson, “See now, you have mocked me and told me lies; now please tell me [truthfully] how you may be bound.”
• 1 Samuel 19:17Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’ ”
• 1 Samuel 21:2David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commissioned me with a matter and has told me, ‘Let no one know anything about the matter for which I am sending you and with which I have commissioned you. I have directed the young men to a certain place.’
• 1 Samuel 27:10When Achish asked, “Where did you raid today?” David replied, “Against the Negev (the South country) of Judah, and against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites.”
• Proverbs 12:19Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is [credited] only for a moment.
• Proverbs 17:7Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind], Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.
• Romans 3:8And why not say, (as some slanderously report and claim that we teach) “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? Their condemnation [by God] is just.
• Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.
• Colossians 3:9Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices,

Commentaries on Judges 16:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Seven green withs - That is, any kind of pliant, tough wood, twisted in the form of a cord or rope. Such are used in many countries formed out of osiers, hazel, etc. And in Ireland, very long and strong ropes are made of the fibres of bog-wood, or the larger roots of the fir, which is often dug up in the bogs or mosses of that country. But the Septuagint, by translating the Hebrew לחים יתרים yetharim lachim by ̔, and the Vulgate by nerviceis funibus…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-17Verses 4-17 Samson had been more than once brought into mischief and danger by the love of women, yet he would not take warning, but is again taken in the same snare, and this third time is fatal. Licentiousness is one of the things that take away the heart. This is a deep pit into which many have fallen; but from which few have escaped, and those by a miracle of mercy, with the loss of reputation and usefulness, of almost all, except their souls. The…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7People often made bowstrings from dried animal tendons or gut. The number seven was symbolic, possibly linked to the Philistines' belief in magic. Samson appears more comfortable in Philistine culture than in following his Israelite vows as a Nazirite.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Samson said ..., If they bind me with seven green withs--Vine tendrils, pliant twigs, or twists made of crude vegetable stalks are used in many Eastern countries for ropes at the present day.Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 16:7

• Conspiracy
• Deception
• Delilah
• Friends
• Samson
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Samson
• Delilah
• Feel
• Mock
• Quiet
• Sport
• Told
• Color; Colors
• Cord
• Dagon

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