What does Judges 16:14 mean?
"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." - Judges 16:14
The Bible verse Judges 16:14 in the King James Version (KJV) states, "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." This verse comes from the Old Testament book of Judges, which tells the story of the Israelites' cycle of disobedience, oppression, repentance, and deliverance.
In this particular verse, we find the story of Samson, a Nazirite who was set apart by God from birth to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Philistines. Samson had superhuman strength that came from his uncut hair, and he used this strength to defeat the Philistines on several occasions. However, his downfall came when he became entangled with a Philistine woman named Delilah who betrayed him to the Philistine rulers.
The verse depicts the pivotal moment when Delilah uses her cunning to deceive Samson and ultimately render him powerless against the Philistines. She had been trying to discover the source of Samson's strength, and after several failed attempts, she finally persuaded him to reveal the secret of his uncut hair. Once she had obtained this information, she used it to his detriment.
The themes present in this verse are betrayal, deception, and the consequences of disobedience. Samson's downfall is a result of his disobedience to God's command to not reveal the source of his strength, as well as his association with a woman who does not have his best interests at heart. Additionally, the verse also demonstrates the power of manipulation and the devastating effects it can have on an individual.
The context of this verse is important to understand the significance of Samson's story within the larger narrative of the book of Judges. The Israelites were in a continuous cycle of sinning against God, being oppressed by their enemies, repenting, and being delivered by a judge whom God raised up for that purpose. Samson was one of these judges, and his story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of straying from God's commands and aligning oneself with those who do not have one's best interests in mind.
The symbolism in this verse is powerful and multifaceted. The image of Samson being lulled to sleep by Delilah only to awaken to find himself bound and betrayed is a powerful metaphor for the seductive and deceptive nature of sin. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of aligning oneself with those who do not have one's best interests at heart. Additionally, the act of cutting Samson's hair represents the severing of his connection to God and the loss of his strength and divine protection.
In conclusion, Judges 16:14 in the King James Version paints a vivid picture of Samson's downfall at the hands of Delilah. It serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience, the power of manipulation, and the need to guard against those who may lead us astray. This verse reminds us of the importance of staying faithful to God's commands and being discerning in our associations, as well as the devastating consequences that can result from betrayal and deception.
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Judges 16:14 - "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."
"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." - Judges 16:14
judges 16:30
Judges 2:16 - "¶ Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them."
Sampson's strength judges 16:30
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."
Judges 14:16 - "And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?"
Judges 11:14 - "And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:"
Judges 14:11 - "And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him."
Judges 16:22 - "Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven."
Judges 14:1 - "And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines."
Judges 3:14 - "So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years."
Judges 14:7 - "And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well."
Judges 14:14 - "And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle."
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 9:14 - "Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us."
Judges 16:4 - "¶ And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah."
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 14:20 - "But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend."
Judges 12:14 - "And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years."
Judges 6:16 - "And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."
Judges 18:16 - "And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate."
"¶ Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them." - Judges 2:16
Romans 14:13 - "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way."
Deuteronomy 1:16 - "And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him."
Judges 16:30 – "Samson said, 'Let me die with the Philistines!' Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple."
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."