Judges 16:5 - The lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, “Entice him, and see in which his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”

Generated Verse: Judges 16:5

What does "Judges 16:5" mean?


This verse from Judges 16:5 is a pivotal moment in the story of Samson and Delilah. Let's break it down:

"The lords of the Philistines came up to her..." This refers to the rulers of the Philistine cities. The Philistines were enemies of the Israelites, and Samson was a major threat to their power. "Came up to her" suggests a formal visit and meeting, implying a serious and planned approach.

"...and said to her, “Entice him..." The Philistine lords are tasking Delilah, Samson's lover, with a specific mission: to use her charm and persuasion (enticement) to manipulate Samson.

"...and see in which his great strength lies..." This is the core of their plan. They want Delilah to discover the secret source of Samson's superhuman strength. They recognize that his strength is the key to defeating him.

"...and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him..." They want to find a way to overcome (prevail against) Samson. The goal is to capture him (bind him) and then torment him (afflict him). Their intent is clearly malicious.

"...and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." This is the bribe they offer Delilah for betraying Samson. It's a significant amount of money, indicating the high value they place on capturing Samson and eliminating him as a threat. The fact that "each" lord will give her this sum signifies that this is a coordinated effort by all the Philistine cities, demonstrating their united fear and hatred of Samson.

In summary, this verse reveals a conspiracy against Samson:

Motive: The Philistine lords are desperate to defeat Samson because he is a threat to their rule.
Method: They plan to use Delilah's relationship with Samson to discover his weakness.
Goal: They want to capture, bind, and torture Samson.
Means: They are offering Delilah a large sum of money as a bribe for her betrayal.

This verse sets the stage for the tragic events that follow, as Delilah eventually succumbs to the temptation and betrays Samson to the Philistines. It highlights the themes of betrayal, manipulation, and the corrupting influence of money. It also underscores the conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines, a recurring theme in the Book of Judges.

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