Judges · around 1100 BC
Samson in the Bible
The Nazirite of prodigious strength. Name meaning: “Little sun” (from the Hebrew shemesh, “sun”)
Samson, of the tribe of Dan, is a Nazirite consecrated to God from his mother’s womb, chosen to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines. The Spirit of the LORD gives him extraordinary strength, but he squanders it in the service of his passions and his revenge. Betrayed by Delilah, blinded and chained, he turns to God in a final prayer and dies bringing down the temple of Dagon.
Key moments
- The angel announces a son consecrated to God Judges 13:5
- He tears a lion apart with his bare hands Judges 14:6
- A thousand Philistines killed with a donkey’s jawbone Judges 15:15
- He carries off the gates of Gaza Judges 16:3
- He reveals his secret to Delilah Judges 16:17
- “The LORD was departed from him” Judges 16:20
- His last prayer and the fall of the temple of Dagon Judges 16:30
Strengths
- Strength given by the Spirit
- Boldness
- Quick wit
- Faith at the last moment
Weaknesses
Samson lets his eyes and passions govern him (Judg 14:3; 16:1, 4), treats his consecration lightly, and often acts out of personal revenge (Judg 15:7). By giving away his secret to Delilah, he loses his strength, his freedom and his sight (Judg 16:17-21).
Lessons for today
- God’s gifts are no substitute for holiness: one can be powerful and yet disobedient (Judg 16:20).
- Tolerated sin ends up blinding and enslaving: the hero ends up turning the millstone (Judg 16:21).
- Playing with temptation, thinking you are stronger than it, leads to a fall (Judg 16:20; 1 Cor 10:12).
- Grace remains open to the one who turns to God: his hair grows back and his last prayer is answered (Judg 16:22, 28).
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
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.
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.
People around Samson
- Manoah — Father, of the tribe of Dan
- Manoah’s wife — Mother, who receives the angel’s announcement
- The woman of Timnah — Philistine wife, later given to another
- Delilah — Woman of the valley of Sorek who betrays him to the Philistines
- The lords of the Philistines — Enemies who capture and blind him
Stories with Samson
Quiz: how well do you know Samson?
Why was a razor never to touch Samson’s head?
The angel announces, “no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb.” Judges 13:5
What did Samson use to kill a thousand Philistines?
“He found a new jawbone of an ass … and slew a thousand men therewith.” The ox goad is Shamgar’s weapon. Judges 15:15
Which woman discovered the secret of Samson’s strength?
Samson “told her all his heart”; Delilah, seeing this, called for the lords of the Philistines and had the seven locks of his head shaved. Judges 16:17–19
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.