Judges 16:2

1 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.

And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.

3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.

4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

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
When the Gazites heard that Samson was there, they surrounded that place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They were quiet throughout the night, saying, “Let us wait until dawn; then we will kill him.”
KJV
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
WEB
The Gazites were told, “Samson is here!” They surrounded him and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, “Wait until morning light; then we will kill him.”
ASV
[And it was told] the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, [Let be] till morning light, then we will kill him.
DARBY
[And it was told] the Gazathites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they surrounded [him], and laid wait for him all night at the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning light we will kill him.
BLB
To the Gazites it was said, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded and lay in wait for him all the night at the gate of the city, and they were quiet all the night, saying, “At the light of the morning, then we will kill him.”
ÅB
Da folkene i Gasa fikk høre at Samson var kommet dit, omringet de ham og lurte på ham hele natten ved byporten, men holdt seg ellers rolig hele natten og sa: Når det lysner mot dag, vil vi slå ham ihjel.
OTB
Folket i Gaza fikk vite, "Samson er her." De omringet stedet og lå i bakhold for ham hele natten ved byporten, og forble stille gjennom natten, og sa: "Ved daggry vil vi drepe ham."
B1930
Da folkene i Gasa fikk høre at Samson var kommet dit, omringet de ham og lurte på ham hele natten ved byporten, men holdt sig ellers rolig hele natten og sa: Når det lysner mot dag, vil vi slå ham ihjel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 118:10–12

    All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 23:26

    And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

    Read in context
  • Acts 9:24

    But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 19:11

    Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

    Read in context
  • Judges 15:18

    And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?

    Read in context
  • Acts 23:15

    Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 27:1

    When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 11:32–33

    In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

    Read in context