New English Translation
Judges 16:7
7Samson said to her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man.”
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
5The rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her and said to her, “Trick him! Find out what makes him so strong and how we can subdue him and humiliate him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred silver pieces.” 6So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me what makes you so strong and how you can be subdued and humiliated.” Samson said to her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man.” 8So the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried and they tied him up with them. 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.
Read all of Judges 16Judges 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 16:10Delilah said to Samson, “Look, you deceived me and told me lies! Now tell me how you can be subdued.”
- 1 Samuel 19:17Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me this way by sending my enemy away? Now he has escaped!” Michal replied to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away or else I will kill you!’”
- 1 Samuel 21:2David replied to Ahimelech the priest, “The king instructed me to do something, but he said to me, ‘Don’t let anyone know the reason I am sending you or the instructions I have given you.’ I have told my soldiers to wait at a certain place.
- 1 Samuel 27:10When Achish would ask, “Where did you raid today?” David would say, “The Negev of Judah” or “The Negev of Jeharmeel” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”
- Proverbs 12:19The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.
- Proverbs 17:7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!
- Romans 3:8And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? – as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved!)
- Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows,
- Colossians 3:9Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its 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
In the dictionaries
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
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