Judges 16 שׁוֹפְטִים פרק ט״ז

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Judges 16 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיֵּלֶךְand wentשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonעַזָּתָהto Gazaוַיַּרְא־שָׁםand he saw thereאִשָּׁהa womanזוֹנָהharlotוַיָּבֹאand cameאֵלֶיהָ׃to her

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

2. 2

   לַעַזָּתִיםto the GazitesלֵאמֹרsayingבָּאcameשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonהֵנָּהhitherוַיָּסֹבּוּand they surroundedוַיֶּאֶרְבוּ־לוֹand they lay in wait himכׇל־הַלַּיְלָהall the nightבְּשַׁעַרin the gate ofהָעִירthe cityוַיִּתְחָרְשׁוּand they were silentכׇל־הַלַּיְלָהall the nightלֵאמֹרsayingעַד־אוֹרuntil lightהַבֹּקֶרthe morningוַהֲרַגְנֻהוּ׃and we will kill him

   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. 3

   וַיִּשְׁכַּבand layשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonעַד־חֲצִיuntil halfהַלַּיְלָהthe nightוַיָּקׇםand aroseבַּחֲצִיin the halfהַלַּיְלָהthe nightוַיֶּאֱחֹזand he took holdבְּדַלְתוֹתon the doors ofשַׁעַר־הָעִירgate of the cityוּבִשְׁתֵּיand on the twoהַמְּזוּזוֹתthe postsוַיִּסָּעֵםand he pulled up themעִם־הַבְּרִיחַwith the barוַיָּשֶׂםand he setעַל־כְּתֵפָיוupon his shouldersוַיַּעֲלֵםand he carried them upאֶל־רֹאשׁto the head ofהָהָרthe mountainאֲשֶׁרwhichעַל־פְּנֵיupon the face ofחֶבְרוֹן׃Hebron

   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. 4

   וַיְהִיand it came to passאַחֲרֵי־כֵןhereafterוַיֶּאֱהַבand he lovedאִשָּׁהa womanבְּנַחַלin the river ofשֹׂרֵקSorekוּשְׁמָהּand her nameדְּלִילָה׃Delilah

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

5. 5

   וַיַּעֲלוּand they ascendedאֵלֶיהָto herסַרְנֵיthe lords ofפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe Philistinesוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלָהּto herפַּתִּיenticeאוֹתוֹhimוּרְאִיand seeבַּמֶּהwhereinכֹּחוֹhis strengthגָדוֹלgreatוּבַמֶּהand wherewithנוּכַלcan weלוֹto himוַאֲסַרְנוּהוּand we may bind himלְעַנּוֹתוֹto afflict himוַאֲנַחְנוּand weנִתַּן־לָךְwe will give youאִישׁa manאֶלֶףthousandוּמֵאָהand one hundredכָּסֶף׃silver

   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.

6. 6

   וַתֹּאמֶרand saidדְּלִילָהDelilahאֶל־שִׁמְשׁוֹןto Samsonהַגִּידָה־נָּאtell nowלִיto meבַּמֶּהwhereinכֹּחֲךָyour strengthגָדוֹלgreatוּבַמֶּהand wherewithתֵאָסֵרwill you be boundלְעַנּוֹתֶךָ׃to afflict you

   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. 7

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלֶיהָto herשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonאִם־יַאַסְרֻנִיif they will bind meבְּשִׁבְעָהwith sevenיְתָרִיםcordsלַחִיםfreshאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־חֹרָבוּnot they have been driedוְחָלִיתִיand I will be weakוְהָיִיתִיand I wasכְּאַחַדas oneהָאָדָם׃the man

   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.

8. 8

   וַיַּעֲלוּ־לָהּand they brought up to herסַרְנֵיthe lords ofפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe Philistinesשִׁבְעָהsevenיְתָרִיםcordsלַחִיםfreshאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־חֹרָבוּnot they have been driedוַתַּאַסְרֵהוּand she bound himבָּהֶם׃in them

   Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

9. 9

   וְהָאֹרֵבand the ambusherיֹשֵׁבabidingלָהּto herבַּחֶדֶרin the roomוַתֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלָיוto himפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPhilistinesעָלֶיךָupon youשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonוַיְנַתֵּקand he tore apartאֶת־הַיְתָרִיםthe cordsכַּאֲשֶׁרasיִנָּתֵקto be broken offפְּתִיל־הַנְּעֹרֶתthe cord of towבַּהֲרִיחוֹwhen it smellsאֵשׁfireוְלֹאand notנוֹדַעit became knownכֹּחוֹ׃his strength

   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.

10. 10

    וַתֹּאמֶרand saidדְּלִילָהDelilahאֶל־שִׁמְשׁוֹןto Samsonהִנֵּהbeholdהֵתַלְתָּyou have deceivedבִּיmeוַתְּדַבֵּרand you spokeאֵלַיto meכְּזָבִיםliesעַתָּהnowהַגִּידָה־נָּאtell nowלִיto meבַּמֶּהwhereinתֵּאָסֵר׃will you be bound

    And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

11. 11

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלֶיהָto herאִם־אָסוֹרif bindיַאַסְרוּנִיthey will bind meבַּעֲבֹתִיםwith ropesחֲדָשִׁיםnew onesאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־נַעֲשָׂהnot was doneבָהֶםamong themמְלָאכָהa workוְחָלִיתִיand I will be weakוְהָיִיתִיand I wasכְּאַחַדas oneהָאָדָם׃the man

    And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

12. 12

    וַתִּקַּחand she tookדְּלִילָהDelilahעֲבֹתִיםropesחֲדָשִׁיםnew onesוַתַּאַסְרֵהוּand she bound himבָהֶםamong themוַתֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלָיוto himפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPhilistinesעָלֶיךָupon youשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonוְהָאֹרֵבand the ambusherיֹשֵׁבabidingבֶּחָדֶרin the chamberוַיְנַתְּקֵםand he tore apart themמֵעַלfrom uponזְרֹעֹתָיוhis armsכַּחוּט׃like thread

    Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

13. 13

    וַתֹּאמֶרand saidדְּלִילָהDelilahאֶל־שִׁמְשׁוֹןto Samsonעַד־הֵנָּהhithertoהֵתַלְתָּyou have deceivedבִּיmeוַתְּדַבֵּרand you spokeאֵלַיto meכְּזָבִיםliesהַגִּידָהtellלִּיto meבַּמֶּהwhereinתֵּאָסֵרwill you be boundוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלֶיהָto herאִם־תַּאַרְגִיif you will weaveאֶת־שֶׁבַעsevenמַחְלְפוֹתthe locks ofרֹאשִׁיmy headעִם־הַמַּסָּכֶת׃with the web

    And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.

14. 14

    וַתִּתְקַעand she droveבַּיָּתֵדwith the pinוַתֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלָיוto himפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPhilistinesעָלֶיךָupon youשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonוַיִּיקַץand he awokeמִשְּׁנָתוֹfrom his sleepוַיִּסַּעand he pulled awayאֶת־הַיְתַדthe pin ofהָאֶרֶגthe loomוְאֶת־הַמַּסָּכֶת׃and the web

    And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.

15. 15

    וַתֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלָיוto himאֵיךְhowתֹּאמַרyou sayאֲהַבְתִּיךְI love youוְלִבְּךָand your heartאֵיןthere is noאִתִּיwith meזֶהthisשָׁלֹשׁthreeפְּעָמִיםtimesהֵתַלְתָּyou have deceivedבִּיmeוְלֹא־הִגַּדְתָּand not you declaredלִּיto meבַּמֶּהwhereinכֹּחֲךָyour strengthגָדוֹל׃great

    And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

16. 16

    וַיְהִיand it came to passכִּי־הֵצִיקָהbecause she pressedלּוֹto himבִדְבָרֶיהָwith her wordsכׇּל־הַיָּמִיםall the daysוַתְּאַלְצֵהוּand she urged himוַתִּקְצַרand it became shortנַפְשׁוֹhis soulלָמוּת׃to die

    And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;

17. 17

    וַיַּגֶּד־לָהּand he told herאֶת־כׇּל־לִבּוֹall his heartוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלָהּto herמוֹרָהa razorלֹא־עָלָהnot ascendedעַל־רֹאשִׁיupon my headכִּי־נְזִירbecause a Nazarite ofאֱלֹהִיםGodאֲנִיIמִבֶּטֶןfrom the wombאִמִּיmy motherאִם־גֻּלַּחְתִּיif I was shavedוְסָרthen shall departמִמֶּנִּיfrom meכֹחִיmy strengthוְחָלִיתִיand I will be weakוְהָיִיתִיand I wasכְּכׇל־הָאָדָם׃as all the man

    That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

18. 18

    וַתֵּרֶאand sawדְלִילָהDelilahכִּי־הִגִּידbecause declaredלָהּto herאֶת־כׇּל־לִבּוֹall his heartוַתִּשְׁלַחand she sentוַתִּקְרָאand she calledלְסַרְנֵיto the lords ofפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe Philistinesלֵאמֹרsayingעֲלוּgo upהַפַּעַםthis onceכִּי־הִגִּידbecause declared(לה)[לִי]to meאֶת־כׇּל־לִבּוֹall his heartוְעָלוּand went upאֵלֶיהָto herסַרְנֵיthe lords ofפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe Philistinesוַיַּעֲלוּand they brought upהַכֶּסֶףthe moneyבְּיָדָם׃into their hands

    And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.

19. 19

    וַתְּיַשְּׁנֵהוּand she made sleep himעַל־בִּרְכֶּיהָupon her kneesוַתִּקְרָאand she calledלָאִישׁto the manוַתְּגַלַּחand she shaved offאֶת־שֶׁבַעsevenמַחְלְפוֹתthe locks ofרֹאשׁוֹhis headוַתָּחֶלand she beganלְעַנּוֹתוֹto afflict himוַיָּסַרand departedכֹּחוֹhis strengthמֵעָלָיו׃from with him

    And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

20. 20

    וַתֹּאמֶרand saidפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPhilistinesעָלֶיךָupon youשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonוַיִּקַץand he awokeמִשְּׁנָתוֹfrom his sleepוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֵצֵאI go forthכְּפַעַםas timeבְּפַעַםat other timeוְאִנָּעֵרso I may shake myself freeוְהוּאand heלֹאnotיָדַעhe knewכִּיthatיְהֹוָהthe LORDסָרdepartedמֵעָלָיו׃from with him

    And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

21. 21

    וַיֹּאחֲזוּהוּand they seized himפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe Philistinesוַיְנַקְּרוּand they gouged outאֶת־עֵינָיוhis eyesוַיּוֹרִידוּand they brought downאוֹתוֹhimעַזָּתָהto Gazaוַיַּאַסְרוּהוּand they bound himבַּנְחֻשְׁתַּיִםwith bronze fettersוַיְהִיand it came to passטוֹחֵןgrindingבְּבֵיתin the house of(האסירים)[הָאֲסוּרִים]׃the prisoners

    But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

22. 22

    וַיָּחֶלand beganשְׂעַר־רֹאשׁוֹthe hair of his headלְצַמֵּחַto grow backכַּאֲשֶׁרasגֻּלָּח׃it had been shaved

    Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.

23. 23

    וְסַרְנֵיand the lords ofפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe Philistinesנֶאֶסְפוּgatheredלִזְבֹּחַto offerזֶבַח־גָּדוֹלsacrifice greatלְדָגוֹןto Dagonאֱלֹהֵיהֶםtheir godוּלְשִׂמְחָהand for joyוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidנָתַןgaveאֱלֹהֵינוּour godבְּיָדֵנוּin our handאֵת־שִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonאוֹיְבֵנוּ׃our enemy

    Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

24. 24

    וַיִּרְאוּand they sawאֹתוֹhimהָעָםthe peopleוַיְהַלְלוּand they praisedאֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶםtheir godכִּיforאָמְרוּthey saidנָתַןgaveאֱלֹהֵינוּour godבְיָדֵנוּin our handאֶת־אוֹיְבֵנוּour enemyוְאֵתandמַחֲרִיבthe desolator ofאַרְצֵנוּour own landוַאֲשֶׁרand whichהִרְבָּהmultipliedאֶת־חֲלָלֵינוּ׃our slain ones

    And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.

25. 25

    וַיְהִיand it came to pass(כיטוב)[כְּטוֹב]when were merryלִבָּםtheir heartsוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidקִרְאוּcallלְשִׁמְשׁוֹןto Samsonוִישַׂחֶק־לָנוּso he may make sport for usוַיִּקְרְאוּand they calledלְשִׁמְשׁוֹןto Samsonמִבֵּיתfrom the house of(האסירים)[הָאֲסוּרִים]the prisonersוַיְצַחֵקand he made sportלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themוַיַּעֲמִידוּand they made standאוֹתוֹhimבֵּיןamongהָעַמּוּדִים׃the pillars

    And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

26. 26

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonאֶל־הַנַּעַרto the ladהַמַּחֲזִיקthe one who holdsבְּיָדוֹin his handהַנִּיחָהsufferאוֹתִיme[וַהֲמִישֵׁנִי]and let me feelאֶת־הָעַמֻּדִיםthe pillarsאֲשֶׁרwhichהַבַּיִתthe houseנָכוֹןestablishedעֲלֵיהֶםupon themוְאֶשָּׁעֵןso I may leanעֲלֵיהֶם׃upon them

    And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

27. 27

    וְהַבַּיִתand the houseמָלֵאfull ofהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menוְהַנָּשִׁיםand the womenוְשָׁמָּהand thereכֹּלallסַרְנֵיthe lords ofפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe Philistinesוְעַל־הַגָּגand upon the roofכִּשְׁלֹשֶׁתas threeאֲלָפִיםthousandאִישׁmenוְאִשָּׁהand womenהָרֹאִיםthose who sawבִּשְׂחוֹקwhen sportedשִׁמְשׁוֹן׃Samson

    Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

28. 28

    וַיִּקְרָאand calledשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonאֶל־יְהֹוָהto the LORDוַיֹּאמַרand saidאֲדֹנָיLordיֱהֹוִהGODזׇכְרֵנִיremember meנָאI prayוְחַזְּקֵנִיand strengthen meנָאI prayאַךְbutהַפַּעַםthis onceהַזֶּהthisהָאֱלֹהִיםthe Godוְאִנָּקְמָהso let me avenge myselfנְקַם־אַחַתvengeance at onceמִשְּׁתֵיfrom the twoעֵינַיmy eyesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּים׃from the Philistines

    And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

29. 29

    וַיִּלְפֹּתand he graspedשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonאֶת־שְׁנֵיtwoעַמּוּדֵיpillars ofהַתָּוֶךְthe middleאֲשֶׁרwhichהַבַּיִתthe houseנָכוֹןestablishedעֲלֵיהֶםupon themוַיִּסָּמֵךְand he supported himselfעֲלֵיהֶםupon themאֶחָדoneבִּימִינוֹat his right handוְאֶחָדand oneבִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ׃in his left hand

    And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.

30. 30

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonתָּמוֹתlet it dieנַפְשִׁיmy lifeעִם־פְּלִשְׁתִּיםwith Philistinesוַיֵּטand he bowedבְּכֹחַwith powerוַיִּפֹּלand fellהַבַּיִתthe houseעַל־הַסְּרָנִיםupon the rulersוְעַל־כׇּל־הָעָםand upon all the peopleאֲשֶׁר־בּוֹin whomוַיִּהְיוּand they wereהַמֵּתִיםthe deadאֲשֶׁרwhichהֵמִיתhe put to deathבְּמוֹתוֹby his deathרַבִּיםmanyמֵאֲשֶׁרthan thatהֵמִיתhe put to deathבְּחַיָּיו׃in his life

    And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

31. 31

    וַיֵּרְדוּand came downאֶחָיוhis brethrenוְכׇל־בֵּיתand all house ofאָבִיהוּhis fatherוַיִּשְׂאוּand liftedאֹתוֹhimוַיַּעֲלוּand they ascendedוַיִּקְבְּרוּand they buriedאוֹתוֹhimבֵּיןamongצׇרְעָהZorahוּבֵיןand betweenאֶשְׁתָּאֹלEshtaolבְּקֶבֶרin a sepulchreמָנוֹחַManoahאָבִיוhis fatherוְהוּאand heשָׁפַטjudgedאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyשָׁנָה׃years

    Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.