New English Translation
Judges 15:14
14When he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the Lord’s spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands.
Judges 15:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
- New International Version (NIV)As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.
Context of Judges 15:14
12They said to him, “We have come down to take you prisoner so we can hand you over to the Philistines.” Samson said to them, “Promise me you will not kill me.” 13They said to him, “We promise! We will only take you prisoner and hand you over to them. We promise not to kill you.” They tied him up with two brand new ropes and led him up from the cliff. When he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the Lord’s spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands. 15He happened to see a solid jawbone of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. 16Samson then said, “With the jawbone of a donkey I have left them in heaps; with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck down a thousand men!”
Read all of Judges 15Judges 15:14 word by word
הוּא־בָ֣א עַד־לֶ֔חִי וּפִלְשִׁתִּ֖ים הֵרִ֣יעוּ לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וַתִּצְלַ֨ח עָלָ֜יו ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֗ה וַתִּהְיֶ֨ינָה הָעֲבֹתִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־זְרוֹעוֹתָ֗יו כַּפִּשְׁתִּים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּעֲר֣וּ בָאֵ֔שׁ וַיִּמַּ֥סּוּ אֱסוּרָ֖יו מֵעַ֥ל יָדָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- when he cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto Lehiלֶחִיlechîy · LehiH3896
- the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- shoutedרוּעַrûa‛ · to shoutH7321
- againstקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
- him: and the Spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- came mightilyצָלַחtsâlach tsâlêach · to rushH6743
- upon him, and the cordsעֲבֹת‛ăbôth ‛ăbôth ‛ăbôthâh · cordH5688
- upon his armsזְרוֹעַzerôa‛ zerôa‛ zerô‛âh zerô‛âh · armH2220
- became as flaxפֵּ֫שֶׁתpishteh · flaxH6593
- that was burntבָּעַרbâ‛ar · to burn: burnH1197
- with fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- and his bandsאֵסוּר'êsûr · bondH612
- loosedמָסַסmâsas · to meltH4549
- from off his handsיָדyâd · handH3027
Cross-references for Judges 15:14
- Judges 5:30‘No doubt they are gathering and dividing the plunder – a girl or two for each man to rape! Sisera is grabbing up colorful cloth, he is grabbing up colorful embroidered cloth, two pieces of colorful embroidered cloth, for the neck of the plunderer!’
- Judges 10:14Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!”
- Exodus 14:3Pharaoh will think regarding the Israelites, ‘They are wandering around confused in the land – the desert has closed in on them.’
- 1 Samuel 4:5When the ark of the covenant of the Lord arrived at the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the ground shook.
- Job 20:5that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
- Micah 7:8My enemies, do not gloat over me! Though I have fallen, I will get up. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
- Judges 3:10The Lord’s spirit empowered him and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him.
- Judges 14:6The Lord’s spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
- Zechariah 4:6Therefore he told me, “These signify the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord who rules over all.”
- Judges 16:9They hid in the bedroom and then she said to him, “The Philistines are here, Samson!” He snapped the bowstrings as easily as a thread of yarn snaps when it is put close to fire. The secret of his strength was not discovered.
- 1 Samuel 17:35I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it.
- Psalms 18:34He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.
- Psalms 118:11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.
- Philippians 4:3Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.
Commentaries on Judges 15:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14When he came unto Lehi - This was the name of the place to which they brought him, either to put him to death, or keep him in perpetual confinement. Shouted against him - His capture was a matter of public rejoicing.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14The cords became as flax - i. e. were as weak against his strength as half-burned flax which yields to the least pressure.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-17Verses 9-17 Sin dispirits men, it hides from their eyes the things that belong to their peace. The Israelites blamed Samson for what he had done against the Philistines, as if he had done them a great injury. Thus our Lord Jesus did many good works, and for those the Jews were ready to stone him. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, his cords were loosed: where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, and those are free indeed who are thus…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-15Samson and the Judeans were content with this small victory and did not try to end Philistine rule. This shows Israel's decreasing trust in God's promises.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 15:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Judges 15
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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