Judges 16:8
New International Version
Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them.

New Living Translation
So the Philistine rulers brought Delilah seven new bowstrings, and she tied Samson up with them.

English Standard Version
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

Berean Standard Bible
So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them.

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

New King James Version
So the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, and she bound him with them.

New American Standard Bible
Then the governors of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh animal tendons that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

NASB 1995
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

NASB 1977
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

Amplified Bible
Then the Philistine lords brought her seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

Christian Standard Bible
The Philistine leaders brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Philistine leaders brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them.

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

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Philistine rulers brought her seven new bowstrings that were not dried out. She tied Samson up with them.

Good News Translation
So the Philistine kings brought Delilah seven new bowstrings that were not dried out, and she tied Samson up.

International Standard Version
Then the Philistine leaders brought her seven green cords that had never been dried, and she tied him up with them.

Majority Standard Bible
So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them.

NET Bible
So the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried and they tied him up with them.

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

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

World English Bible
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the princes of the Philistines bring up to her seven green cords which have not been dried, and she binds him with them.

Young's Literal Translation
And the princes of the Philistines bring up to her seven green withs which have not been dried, and she bindeth him with them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the princess of Philisteim will bring up to her seven moist cords which were not dried, and she will bind him with them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the princes of the Philistines brought unto her seven cords, such is he spoke of, with which she bound him;

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the princes of the Philistines brought to her seven cords, such as he had described. And she bound him with these.

New American Bible
So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not dried, and she bound him with them.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not dried out, and she bound him with them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had never been dried, and she bound him with them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Tyrants of the Philistines brought up to her seven green bow strings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the princess of the Philistines brought to her seven moist cords that had not been spoiled, and she bound him with them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samson and Delilah
7Samson 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.” 8So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them. 9While 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.…

Cross References
Judges 14:15-17
So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?” / Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?” / She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people.

Judges 15:11-13
In response, three thousand men of Judah went to the cave at the rock of Etam, and they asked Samson, “Do you not realize that the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us?” “I have done to them what they did to me,” he replied. / But they said to him, “We have come down to arrest you and hand you over to the Philistines.” Samson replied, “Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves.” / “No,” they answered, “we will not kill you, but we will tie you up securely and hand you over to them.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.

Judges 13:5
For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 14:1-3
One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman. / So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.” / But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”

Judges 15:6
“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite,” they were told. “For his wife was given to his companion.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.

Judges 14:19
Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,

Judges 15:14
When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.

Judges 13:24-25
So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him. / And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges 14:4
(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)

Judges 15:3
Samson said to them, “This time I will be blameless in doing harm to the Philistines.”

Judges 14:16-17
Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?” / She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people.

Judges 15:7
And Samson told them, “Because you have done this, I will not rest until I have taken vengeance upon you.”

Judges 14:6
and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.

Judges 15:15-16
He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and struck down a thousand men. / Then Samson said: “With the jawbone of a donkey I have piled them into heaps. With the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men.”

Judges 13:3
The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.


Treasury of Scripture

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

bound him

Ecclesiastes 7:26
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

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Judges 16
1. Samson at Gaza escapes, and carries away the gates of the city
4. Delilah corrupted by the Philistines, entices Samson
6. Thrice she is deceived
15. At last she overcomes him
21. The Philistines take him, and put out his eyes
22. His strength renewing, he pulls down the house upon the Philistines and dies














The rulers of the Philistines
This phrase refers to the leaders or lords of the Philistine people, who were the primary adversaries of Israel during the time of the Judges. Historically, the Philistines were a confederation of city-states, each ruled by its own lord. These rulers were often in conflict with the Israelites, seeking to dominate and subjugate them. The Philistines are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as a persistent threat to Israel, and their interactions with Samson highlight the ongoing struggle between the two nations.

brought her
The "her" in this context is Delilah, a woman whom Samson loved. Delilah's involvement with the Philistine rulers indicates a betrayal of Samson, as she was persuaded to discover the secret of his strength. The act of bringing her the items needed to bind Samson shows the Philistine rulers' active role in plotting against him. This highlights the theme of deception and betrayal that runs throughout the narrative of Samson and Delilah.

seven fresh bowstrings
The number seven in the Bible often symbolizes completeness or perfection. In this context, the use of "seven" may imply a thorough attempt to bind Samson, as if to ensure that every possible measure was taken to subdue him. "Fresh bowstrings" refers to cords made from animal tendons or sinews, which were known for their strength and flexibility. The fact that they were "fresh" suggests they were at their strongest, not having been weakened by drying out.

that had not been dried
This detail emphasizes the strength and durability of the bowstrings. In ancient times, materials that had not been dried were considered to be at their peak condition, retaining maximum strength and flexibility. The Philistines' choice of such materials indicates their determination to overpower Samson by any means necessary. This phrase also underscores the futility of human efforts against divine empowerment, as even the strongest materials could not contain Samson when the Spirit of the Lord was upon him.

and she tied him with them
Delilah's action of tying Samson with the bowstrings is a pivotal moment in the narrative. It represents her betrayal and the beginning of Samson's downfall. This act of binding is symbolic of the spiritual and moral bondage that results from turning away from God's commandments. Despite Samson's physical strength, his vulnerability to Delilah's manipulation reveals the dangers of compromising one's faith and integrity. The act of tying also foreshadows the eventual binding of Samson by the Philistines, leading to his capture and humiliation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the lords
סַרְנֵ֣י (sar·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5633: An axle, a peer

of the Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

brought
וַיַּעֲלוּ־ (way·ya·‘ă·lū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

her
לָ֞הּ (lāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

seven
שִׁבְעָ֛ה (šiḇ·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

fresh
לַחִ֖ים (la·ḥîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3892: Fresh, unused, undried

bowstrings
יְתָרִ֥ים (yə·ṯā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3499: An overhanging, an excess, superiority, remainder, a small rope

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

been dried,
חֹרָ֑בוּ (ḥō·rā·ḇū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2717: To parch, to desolate, destroy, kill

and she bound him
וַתַּאַסְרֵ֖הוּ (wat·ta·’as·rê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle

with them.
בָּהֶֽם׃ (bā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew


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OT History: Judges 16:8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 16:7
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