Judges 16:25
23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”
24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god, saying: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy who destroyed our land and multiplied our dead.”
And while their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison to entertain them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Lead me where I can feel the pillars supporting the temple, so I can lean against them.”
27 Now the temple was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there, and about three thousand men and women were on the roof watching Samson entertain them.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And while their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison to entertain them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
- KJV
- And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
- WEB
- When their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.” They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars;
- ASV
- And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. And they set him between the pillars:
- DARBY
- And it came to pass when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house, and he played before them; and they set him between the pillars.
- BLB
- And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” And they called for Samson from the house of the imprisoned, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
- ÅB
- Mens de nå var glade og vel til mote, sa de: Hent Samson hit for at han kan leke for oss! Da hentet de Samson ut av fangehuset, og han lekte for dem, og de stilte ham mellom stolpene.
- OTB
- Mens de var i høyt humør, kalte de på Samson for å underholde dem. Så de hentet ham fra fengselet, og han opptrådte for dem. De plasserte ham mellom søylene.
- B1930
- Mens de nu var glade og vel til mote, sa de: Hent Samson hit forat han kan leke for oss! Da hentet de Samson ut av fangehuset, og han lekte for dem, og de stilte ham mellem stolpene.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 35:15–16
But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
Read in contextHebrews 11:36
Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
Read in context2 Samuel 13:28
Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”
Read in contextJudges 9:27
And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
Read in contextJudges 19:6
So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be merry.”
Read in contextDaniel 5:2–3
Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
Read in contextPsalms 69:26
For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.
Read in contextProverbs 24:17–18
Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
Read in context