Add parallel Print Page Options

Samson said to her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh[a] bowstrings[b] that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man.” So the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them. They hid[c] in the bedroom and then she said to him, “The Philistines are here,[d] Samson!” He snapped the bowstrings as easily as a thread of yarn snaps when it is put close to fire.[e] The secret of his strength was not discovered.[f]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Judges 16:7 tn Or “moist.”
  2. Judges 16:7 tn The word refers to a bowstring, probably made from animal tendons. See Ps 11:2; Job 30:11.
  3. Judges 16:9 tn Heb “And the ones lying in wait were sitting for her.” The grammatically singular form וְהָאֹרֵב (vehaʾorev) is collective here, referring to the rulers as a group (so also in v. 16).
  4. Judges 16:9 tn Heb “are upon you.”
  5. Judges 16:9 tn Heb “when it smells fire.”
  6. Judges 16:9 tn Heb “His strength was not known.”