Judges 16:9
7 Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man.”
8 So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them.
While the men were hidden in her room, she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But he snapped the bowstrings like a strand of yarn seared by a flame. So the source of his strength remained unknown.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me! Now please tell me how you can be tied up.”
11 He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.”
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
- While the men were hidden in her room, she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But he snapped the bowstrings like a strand of yarn seared by a flame. So the source of his strength remained unknown.
- KJV
- Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
- WEB
- Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner room. She said to him, “The Philistines are on you, Samson!” He broke the cords as a flax thread is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
- ASV
- Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withes, as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
- DARBY
- Now she had liers in wait abiding in the chamber; and she said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! And he broke the cords, as a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire; and his strength was not known.
- BLB
- And they were lying in wait, staying with her in the room. And she said to him, “The Philistines [are] upon you, Samson.” And he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks at its touching the fire. And his power was not known.
- ÅB
- og i kammeret hadde hun folk sittende og lure. Så sa hun til ham: Filistrene er over deg, Samson! Da sønderrev han strengene som en tråd av stry brister når den kommer ilden for nær, og ingen fikk vite hvordan det hadde seg med hans styrke.
- OTB
- Med menn gjemt i rommet, ropte hun, "Samson, filisterne er over deg!" Men han brøt buestrengene like lett som et stykke tråd ryker nær en flamme. Så hemmeligheten til hans styrke ble ikke oppdaget.
- B1930
- og i kammeret hadde hun folk sittende og lure. Så sa hun til ham: Filistrene er over dig, Samson! Da sønderrev han strengene som en tråd av stry brister når den kommer ilden for nær, og ingen fikk vite hvorledes det hadde sig med hans styrke.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 58:9
Before your pots can feel the burning thorns— whether green or dry— He will sweep them away.
Read in context