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

21The Philistines took hold of Samson. They cut out his eyes. They tied him up with bronze chains. They made him do hard work as their prisoner. He had to push a heavy stone to make grain into flour. 22But after they had cut off Samson's hair, it began to grow again. One day, the rulers of the Philistines met together to have a big feast. They offered a great sacrifice to their god, Dagon. They said, ‘Dagon has put our enemy, Samson, under our power.’ 24When the people saw what had happened to Samson, they praised their god. They said, ‘Our god has let us catch our enemy. He was the enemy who destroyed our land and who killed many of us.’ 25The people were very happy at the feast. They shouted, ‘Bring Samson here for us to see him! He can help us to enjoy our party.’ So they brought Samson out of the prison. The people were happy to see him. They made him stand between the pillars of the temple.

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 carried it into the temple of Dagon, their god. They put the box next to the idol of Dagon.
• Jeremiah 2:11Have any other nations turned against their gods? No! They have not done that, even to their false gods! But my people have turned against me, the true God who makes them great.’
• Micah 4:5People from other countries may be the servants of other gods. But we will be servants of the Lord our God. We will obey him always.
• Romans 1:23They refused to worship the great God who can never die. Instead, they made false gods for themselves. They worshipped idols that were like people who must die. They also made idols that looked like birds, animals and snakes, and they worshipped them.
• 1 Corinthians 8:4So think about food that people have offered to idols. You ask, ‘Should Christians eat that food?’ We know that no idol is really alive. We also know that there is only one God.
• 1 Corinthians 10:20But the people who offer food to idols are worshipping demons. They are not worshipping God when they do that. I do not want you to share in what they do to worship demons.
• Job 30:9But now their sons sing songs that insult me. They tell jokes about me.
• Psalms 35:15But when I had troubles myself, they were happy. They stood together and they laughed at me. Even strangers attacked me and they would not stop.
• Proverbs 24:1728. Do not shout with joy when your enemy falls down. Do not be happy when his foot slips.

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