Judges 16:23-31
Lexham English Bible
23 The rulers of the Philistines had gathered to sacrifice a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice. And they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And the people saw him, and they praised their god, for they said, “Our god has given into our hand those who hate us, devastate our land, and have killed many of us.”[a] 25 After awhile, when their hearts[b] were merry, they said, “Call Samson and let him entertain us.” And they called Samson from the prison,[c] and he entertained them.[d] And they made him stand between the pillars. 26 Then Samson said to the servant who was holding him by his hand, “Position me so that I can touch the pillars on which the house[e] rests, so I can lean on them.” 27 And the house[f] was full of men and women, and all of the rulers of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women were on the roof watching the performance of Samson.
Samson’s Revenge
28 And Samson called to Yahweh and said, “My Lord Yahweh, remember me! Please give me strength this one time, O God, so that I can repay with one act of revenge to the Philistines for my eyes.” 29 And Samson reached out and held two of the middle pillars on which the house[g] was resting, and he leaned on them, one on his right and one on his left. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And he pushed[h] with all his strength, and the house[i] fell on the rulers and all of the people who were with him. And the dead whom he killed in his death were more than those he killed in his life.
31 His brothers and his whole family[j] came down and picked him up; and they brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father; he judged Israel twenty years.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judges 16:24 Literally “made numerous our slain”
- Judges 16:25 Hebrew “heart”
- Judges 16:25 Literally “from the house of the prisoner”
- Judges 16:25 Literally “he made sport before them”
- Judges 16:26 Or “temple”
- Judges 16:27 Or “temple”
- Judges 16:29 Or “temple”
- Judges 16:30 Or “he caused to bend”
- Judges 16:30 Or “temple”
- Judges 16:31 Literally “all the house of his father”
Judges 16:23-31
English Standard Version
The Death of Samson
23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to (A)Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, (B)they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.”[a] 25 And (C)when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and (D)on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.
28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, (E)please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him (F)between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judges 16:24 Or who has multiplied our slain
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
