What does Judges 16:5 mean?
"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." - Judges 16:5
Judges 16:5 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "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."
In order to fully understand the meaning and significance of this verse, it is important to provide some context from the book of Judges. The book of Judges covers a period of time in Israel's history when they were without a king and were often oppressed by their enemies. The story of Samson, who is the central figure in the chapter from which this verse comes, is a tale of both personal strength and national deliverance. Samson was a Nazarite who was set apart by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Philistines.
In the previous chapters of the book of Judges, we learn about Samson's incredible physical strength, which comes from his Nazarite vow. The Philistines, who were the enemies of the Israelites at that time, were at a loss as to how to defeat Samson. They knew that his strength was supernatural and that it was derived from his hair. When they found out that Samson had fallen in love with a Philistine woman named Delilah, they saw an opportunity to capture and subdue him.
In this particular verse, we see the lords of the Philistines approaching Delilah and offering her a large sum of money if she can discover the secret of Samson's strength. The context of this verse speaks to the lengths to which the enemies of God's people are willing to go in order to subdue and oppress them. The Philistines were willing to use deceit and manipulation in order to achieve their goal, which was to afflict and bind Samson.
The themes that emerge from this verse are the dangers of lust, betrayal, and the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments. Samson's infatuation with Delilah ultimately led to his downfall, as she betrayed him and ultimately helped the Philistines capture and subdue him. This story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of remaining faithful to God's commands and being wary of deceit and manipulation.
There is also a strong theme of the consequences of greed and materialism in this verse. The Philistine lords offered Delilah a substantial sum of money in exchange for her cooperation in capturing Samson. This serves as a reminder of the corrupting influence of wealth and the lengths to which people are willing to go in order to satisfy their desires for riches.
Symbolically, Samson's hair represents his unique status as a Nazarite and the source of his supernatural strength. The cutting of his hair ultimately leads to his loss of strength and his capture by the Philistines. This can be seen as a symbol of the consequences of failing to uphold one's vows and commitments to God. It serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God and not succumbing to the temptations of the world.
In conclusion, Judges 16:5 is a verse that is rich in themes and symbolism. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of lust, betrayal, and greed, as well as the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments. It also highlights the lengths to which the enemies of God's people are willing to go in order to subdue and oppress them. This verse ultimately points to the need for faithfulness to God and the avoidance of worldly temptations.
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Judges 16:5 - "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."
"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." - Judges 16:5
Judges 5:16 - "Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart."
Isaiah 16:5 - "And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness."
Revelation 16:5 - "And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus."
judges 16:30
Judges 2:16 - "¶ Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them."
Judges 5:7
"Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart." - Judges 5:16
Sampson's strength judges 16:30
Judges 10:5 - "And Jair died, and was buried in Camon."
Judges 5:5 - "The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel."
Judges 16:16 - "And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;"
Judges 16:1 - "Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her."
Proverbs 8:16 - "By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth."
Genesis 16:5 - "And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee."
Judges 16:22 - "Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven."
Judges 5:1 - "Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,"
Judges 2:5 - "And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD."
Ezekiel 16:38 - "And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy."
Judges 5:20 - "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera."
Judges 16:4 - "¶ And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah."
Judges 5:22 - "Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones."
John 16:11 - "Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
Judges 8:16 - "And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth."
Judges 6:16 - "And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."
"And Jair died, and was buried in Camon." - Judges 10:5
"And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." - Isaiah 16:5
Judges 5:29 - "Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,"
Judges 5:10 - "Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way."