Withes are flexible, slender branches or twigs, often used in ancient times for binding or tying. In the context of the Bible, withes are notably mentioned in the account of Samson, a judge of Israel, whose strength and exploits are recorded in the Book of Judges.

Biblical Reference:

The primary reference to withes is found in Judges 16, where Delilah, a Philistine woman, is persuaded by the lords of the Philistines to discover the secret of Samson's great strength. In Judges 16:6-7 , Delilah asks Samson, "Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued." Samson responds, "If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man."

The term "bowstrings" in some translations is rendered as "withes," indicating the use of fresh, pliable branches or cords. The Philistines bring Delilah seven fresh withes, and she binds Samson with them while he is asleep. However, when he awakens, he easily snaps the withes, demonstrating that his strength is not diminished by such bindings.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient times, withes were commonly used for various practical purposes, including making baskets, tying bundles, and even as rudimentary ropes. The use of fresh withes in the narrative emphasizes their flexibility and potential strength when dried, yet they were insufficient to restrain Samson's divinely endowed power.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The account of Samson and the withes serves as a broader metaphor for the futility of human efforts to overcome divinely granted strength. Samson's ability to break free from the withes symbolizes the spiritual truth that God's power cannot be constrained by earthly means. This episode also foreshadows the eventual revelation of Samson's true source of strength—his Nazirite vow and uncut hair—which Delilah ultimately discovers, leading to his temporary downfall.

Theological Insights:

From a theological perspective, the account of Samson and the withes illustrates the theme of divine empowerment and human weakness. It underscores the importance of faithfulness to God's calling and the consequences of straying from divine mandates. Samson's life, marked by moments of great triumph and personal failure, serves as a reminder of the need for reliance on God rather than on one's own strength or cunning.

Application for Believers:

For contemporary believers, the narrative of Samson and the withes encourages a reflection on the sources of true strength and the dangers of compromising one's commitments to God. It calls Christians to examine their own lives for areas where they might be relying on worldly solutions rather than seeking divine guidance and strength.WITHES, WITHS, GREEN

withs, (yetharim lachim, margin "new bowstrings," the King James Version margin "new (moist) cords" (Judges 16:7); Septuagint neura hugra): The material with which Samson was bound by Delilah (Judges 16:8) was probably some moist "gut" such as was used for bowstrings. Compare metharim, "bowstrings" (Psalm 21:12; yether, Job 30:11 Psalm 11:2); lahim, translated "green," means "fresh," "sappy" or "moist."

Obadiah
... Fishermen catch lobsters and the like by means of baskets with one opening, the
withes of which are so set that the entrance is easy, but that a ring of sharp ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/obadiah.htm

Sinners Bound with the Cords of Sin
... Samson could burst asunder green withes and new ropes, but when at last his darling
sin had bound him to his Delilah, that bond he could not snap, though it ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 16 1870/sinners bound with the cords.htm

Sinners Bound with the Cords of Sin
... Samson could burst asunder green withes and new ropes, but when at last his darling
sin had bound him to his Delilah, that bond he could not snap, though it ...
/.../spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/sinners bound with the cords.htm

Choosing the Tens
... Then, with green withes as tongs, she drew forth a round tile from under
the coals and set it over the dish to complete the baking. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter i choosing the tens.htm

Christ --The Power and Wisdom of God
... from his slumber, he affrighted the guards with the majesty of his grandeur, not
being holden by the bonds of death, they being like green withes before our ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/christthe power and wisdom of.htm

The Carnal Mind Enmity against God
... So with the child; you may bind him with the green withes of education, you may
do what you will with him, since you cannot change his heart, that carnal mind ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the carnal mind enmity against.htm

"As Thy Days, So Shall Thy Strength Be"
... jaw-bone of an ass, have I slain a thousand men." Come on, Philistines, he will
rend you in pieces as he did the young lion; bind him with green withes, and he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/as thy days so shall.htm

His Name --Wonderful!
... thousand of the sons and daughters of Adam, and which have never been broken yet
by any man of human mould, save by a miracle, were but to him as green withes. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/his namewonderful.htm

The High Woods
... it was impossible to reach; for on either side of the trace were fifty yards of
half- cleared ground, fallen logs, withes, huge stumps ten feet high, charred ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vii the high woods.htm

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
... Talk about tying angel's wings with green withes, or manacling the cherubim with
iron chains, and then talk about meddling with the minds of men through ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the outpouring of the holy.htm

Withes (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia WITHES, WITHS, GREEN. withs, (yetharim ... moist.".
Multi-Version Concordance Withes (3 Occurrences). Judges ...
/w/withes.htm - 8k

Withheld (32 Occurrences)

/w/withheld.htm - 16k

Liers-in-wait (10 Occurrences)
... And she said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he brake the
withes, as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. ...
/l/liers-in-wait.htm - 10k

Green (72 Occurrences)
... (n.) Any substance or pigment of a green color. 13. (vt) To make green. 14. (vi)
To become or grow green. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WITHES, WITHS, GREEN ...
/g/green.htm - 31k

Withersoever (1 Occurrence)

/w/withersoever.htm - 6k

Withs (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia WITHES, WITHS, GREEN. withs, (yetharim lachim,
margin "new bowstrings," the King James Version margin ...
/w/withs.htm - 8k

Bee (1 Occurrence)
... 4 ft. long and 6 inches in diameter is constructed of mulberry withes plaited
together and plastered with mud or cow dung. A number ...
/b/bee.htm - 10k

Cord (47 Occurrences)
... With a kindred inconsistency it is translated the Revised Version (British and American)
by "withes" (Judges 16:7 the Revised Version, margin "bowstring"); by ...
/c/cord.htm - 27k

Abiding (40 Occurrences)
... And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the
withes, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. ...
/a/abiding.htm - 19k

Thread (32 Occurrences)
... And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the
withes, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. ...
/t/thread.htm - 16k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus