King James Version

What Does Judges 16:5 Mean?

Judges 16:5 in the King James Version says “And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lie...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. afflict: or, humble”

Judges 16:5 · KJV

Strength

Context

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. bar: Heb. with the bar

4

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

5

And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. afflict: or, humble

6

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

7

And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. green: or, new cords: Heb. moist another: Heb. one

Read Judges 16 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.

This verse belongs to the Samson cycle addressing Samson, Delilah, and final victory in death. Samson represents both the heights of God-empowered strength and the depths of human weakness through moral compromise. His Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:1-21) set him apart as holy to God, yet his persistent violations of this vow—contact with dead animals (14:8-9), seven-day feast (likely involving wine, 14:10), and finally revealing his hair's secret (16:17)—demonstrate progressive spiritual decline.

Theologically, Samson illustrates how spiritual gifts don't guarantee spiritual maturity. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson repeatedly, giving superhuman strength, yet this empowerment didn't produce corresponding moral transformation. His attraction to Philistine women (14:1-3, 16:1, 16:4) directly violated God's command against intermarriage with Canaanites (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). This demonstrates that God can use flawed instruments for His purposes, but this never excuses or endorses sin.

Samson's final prayer—"O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me" (16:28)—shows genuine repentance and renewed faith. His death accomplished more than his life (16:30), suggesting that even spectacular failure can be redeemed when we return to God. However, the tragedy is that Samson's potential was largely wasted through moral compromise. His story warns believers that consistent holy living, not merely spectacular spiritual experiences, characterizes faithful discipleship.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Historical Setting: The Book of Judges spans approximately 350-400 years (c. 1375-1050 BCE) during the Late Bronze Age collapse and early Iron Age. This period saw the disintegration of major empires (Hittites, Mycenaeans) and weakening of Egyptian control over Canaan, creating a power vacuum filled by emerging peoples including Philistines (Sea Peoples), Aramaeans, and regional kingdoms. The decentralized tribal structure left Israel vulnerable to external oppression and internal chaos.

Cultural Context: This passage relates to Samson, Delilah, and final victory in death. Canaanite religion dominated the region, centered on Baal (storm/fertility god), Asherah (mother goddess), and Anat (war goddess). Archaeological discoveries at Ugarit (Ras Shamra) have provided extensive information about Canaanite mythology and religious practices. Baal worship involved ritual prostitution, child sacrifice, and fertility rites tied to agricultural seasons. Israel's persistent attraction to these gods demonstrates the strong cultural pressure to conform to surrounding nations' religious practices.

The material culture of this period shows gradual Israelite settlement in the Canaanite hill country, with simpler pottery and architecture than coastal Canaanite cities. Iron technology was beginning to spread, giving military advantage to peoples who mastered it (note the Philistines' iron monopoly, 1 Samuel 13:19-22). The absence of centralized government during the judges period stands in stark contrast to the bureaucratic city-states of Canaan and the imperial administration of Egypt and Mesopotamia. This political structure reflected Israel's theocratic ideal—God as king—yet the repeated cycles of apostasy showed this ideal required more than political structures; it demanded heart transformation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage about Samson, Delilah, and final victory in death reveal God's character in dealing with persistent human rebellion and incomplete obedience?
  2. What patterns of spiritual compromise or incomplete obedience in your own life mirror Israel's failures during the judges period?
  3. How does understanding the cyclical nature of sin and deliverance in Judges help you appreciate Christ's perfect and final deliverance from sin's power?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וַיַּֽעֲל֨וּ1 of 24

“came up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אֵלֶ֜יהָ2 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

סַרְנֵ֣י3 of 24

“And the lords”

H5633

an axle

פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים4 of 24

“of the Philistines”

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

וַיֹּ֨אמְרוּ5 of 24

“unto her and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לָ֜הּ6 of 24
H0
פַּתִּ֣י7 of 24

“unto her Entice”

H6601

to open, i.e., be (causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)

אוֹת֗וֹ8 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

וּרְאִי֙9 of 24

“him and see”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

בַּמֶּה֙10 of 24
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

כֹּח֣וֹ11 of 24

“strength”

H3581

vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)

גָד֔וֹל12 of 24

“wherein his great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

וּבַמֶּה֙13 of 24
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

נ֣וּכַל14 of 24

“lieth and by what means we may prevail”

H3201

to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

ל֔וֹ15 of 24
H0
וַֽאֲסַרְנוּ֖הוּ16 of 24

“against him that we may bind”

H631

to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle

לְעַנּוֹת֑וֹ17 of 24

“him to afflict”

H6031

to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)

וַֽאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙18 of 24
H587

we

נִתַּן19 of 24

“him and we will give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָ֔ךְ20 of 24
H0
אִ֕ישׁ21 of 24

“thee every one”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אֶ֥לֶף22 of 24

“of us eleven hundred”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

וּמֵאָ֖ה23 of 24
H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

כָּֽסֶף׃24 of 24

“pieces of silver”

H3701

silver (from its pale color); by implication, money

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 16:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 16:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 14:15Joshua 13:31 Timothy 6:9-10Micah 7:3Judges 3:3Genesis 33:16

Test Your Knowledge

Judges 16 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJudges Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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