Judges 16:3 - Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.
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What does "Judges 16:3" mean?
This verse from Judges 16:3 describes an act of incredible, superhuman strength by Samson. Let's break down the meaning:
"Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight": This sets the scene. Samson was in Gaza, a Philistine city, possibly intending to visit a prostitute (as alluded to in the preceding verses). The Philistines, his enemies, planned to ambush him at the city gates in the morning.
"and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all": This is the key action. Samson, upon realizing the danger, doesn't try to sneak away. Instead, he uses his God-given strength. He grabs the entire city gate – doors, posts, and the bar that secured them – and tears it out of the ground. The implication is that this gate was massive and extremely heavy, designed to protect the city from invaders.
"and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron": This further emphasizes his strength. He doesn't just move the gate a little. He carries the entire gate structure on his shoulders all the way to the top of a mountain facing Hebron. Hebron was a significant distance away, approximately 38 miles, and at a higher altitude than Gaza.
Here's what it signifies and its possible interpretations:
Supernatural Strength: This verse is a prime example of Samson's divinely granted strength. The act is humanly impossible, emphasizing the power of God working through him. This strength was tied to his vow as a Nazirite and particularly to his uncut hair.
Humiliation of the Philistines: Samson's feat isn't just a display of strength; it's a public humiliation of the Philistines. He effectively bypasses their defenses, showing their plan was futile and that their city's security was meaningless against him.
Symbolic Act: The gate can be seen as a symbol of the Philistines' power and control. By removing it, Samson symbolically breaks their grip on him and, perhaps, foreshadows his role in breaking their power over Israel (although he does a poor job of it, often his personal revenge is the motive).
Divine Deliverance: The incident highlights God's protection of Samson, even when Samson himself is acting imprudently. He is in a dangerous situation of his own making, but God delivers him, showing God's continuing purpose for him.
Warning to the Philistines: This act sends a clear message that Samson is a force to be reckoned with. The Philistines should fear him because he can overcome any obstacle they put in his path.
In essence, Judges 16:3 is a dramatic scene showcasing Samson's immense strength, his defiance of the Philistines, and God's power working through him. It's a pivotal moment in the Samson narrative, illustrating his unique position and his potential as a deliverer for Israel, even though he often falls short of that potential due to his own flaws.
Judges 16:3 - Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.
What does "Judges 16:3" mean?
This verse from Judges 16:3 describes an act of incredible, superhuman strength by Samson. Let's break down the meaning:
"Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight": This sets the scene. Samson was in Gaza, a Philistine city, possibly intending to visit a prostitute (as alluded to in the preceding verses). The Philistines, his enemies, planned to ambush him at the city gates in the morning.
"and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all": This is the key action. Samson, upon realizing the danger, doesn't try to sneak away. Instead, he uses his God-given strength. He grabs the entire city gate – doors, posts, and the bar that secured them – and tears it out of the ground. The implication is that this gate was massive and extremely heavy, designed to protect the city from invaders.
"and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron": This further emphasizes his strength. He doesn't just move the gate a little. He carries the entire gate structure on his shoulders all the way to the top of a mountain facing Hebron. Hebron was a significant distance away, approximately 38 miles, and at a higher altitude than Gaza.
Here's what it signifies and its possible interpretations:
Supernatural Strength: This verse is a prime example of Samson's divinely granted strength. The act is humanly impossible, emphasizing the power of God working through him. This strength was tied to his vow as a Nazirite and particularly to his uncut hair.
Humiliation of the Philistines: Samson's feat isn't just a display of strength; it's a public humiliation of the Philistines. He effectively bypasses their defenses, showing their plan was futile and that their city's security was meaningless against him.
Symbolic Act: The gate can be seen as a symbol of the Philistines' power and control. By removing it, Samson symbolically breaks their grip on him and, perhaps, foreshadows his role in breaking their power over Israel (although he does a poor job of it, often his personal revenge is the motive).
Divine Deliverance: The incident highlights God's protection of Samson, even when Samson himself is acting imprudently. He is in a dangerous situation of his own making, but God delivers him, showing God's continuing purpose for him.
Warning to the Philistines: This act sends a clear message that Samson is a force to be reckoned with. The Philistines should fear him because he can overcome any obstacle they put in his path.
In essence, Judges 16:3 is a dramatic scene showcasing Samson's immense strength, his defiance of the Philistines, and God's power working through him. It's a pivotal moment in the Samson narrative, illustrating his unique position and his potential as a deliverer for Israel, even though he often falls short of that potential due to his own flaws.