Judges

Judges 15:7–14

⁷And Samson told them, “Because you have done this, I will not rest until I have taken vengeance upon you.” ⁸And he struck them ruthlessly^a with a great slaughter, and then went down and stayed in the cave at the rock of Etam.

⁹Then the Philistines went up, camped in Judah, and deployed themselves near the town of Lehi.^b

¹⁰“Why have you attacked us?” said the men of Judah.

The Philistines replied, “We have come to arrest Samson and pay him back for what he has done to us.”

¹¹In response, three thousand men of Judah went to the cave at the rock of Etam, and they asked Samson, “Do you not realize that the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us?”

“I have done to them what they did to me,” he replied.

¹²But they said to him, “We have come down to arrest you and hand you over to the Philistines.”

Samson replied, “Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves.”

¹³“No,” they answered, “we will not kill you, but we will tie you up securely and hand you over to them.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.

¹⁴When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.

Footnotes

a 15:8 Literally he struck them hip and thigh
b 15:9 Literally and spread out in Lehi

Read all of Judges 15

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Judges 15:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And Samson	שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן	šim·šō·wn	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8123 Samson
told	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
them	לָהֶם֙	lā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
Because	אִֽם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
you have done	תַּעֲשׂ֖וּן	ta·‘ă·śūn	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural; Paragogic nun	H6213 do, make
this	כָּזֹ֑את	kā·zōṯ	Preposition-k; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
I will not rest	אֶחְדָּֽל׃	’eḥ·dāl	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H2308 cease
until	כִּ֛י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I have taken vengeance	נִקַּ֥מְתִּי	niq·qam·tî	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular	H5358 avenge, take vengeance
upon you	בָכֶ֖ם	ḇā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural

Judges 15:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And he struck	וַיַּ֨ךְ	way·yaḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
them	אוֹתָ֥ם	’ō·w·ṯām	Direct object marker; third person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
ruthlessly	שׁ֛וֹק	šō·wq	Noun - feminine singular	H7785 leg
with a great	גְדוֹלָ֑ה	ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H1419 great
slaughter	מַכָּ֣ה	mak·kāh	Noun - feminine singular	H4347 blow, wound, slaughter
and then went down	וַיֵּ֣רֶד	way·yê·reḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3381 come or go down, descend
and stayed	וַיֵּ֔שֶׁב	way·yê·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
in the cave	בִּסְעִ֖יף	bis·‘îp̄	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H5585 cleft
at the rock	סֶ֥לַע	se·la‘	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5553 crag, cliff
of Etam	עֵיטָֽם׃ס	‘ê·ṭām	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5862 Etam

Judges 15:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the Philistines	פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים	p̄ə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
went up	וַיַּעֲל֣וּ	way·ya·‘ă·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
camped	וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ	way·ya·ḥă·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H2583 decline, bend down, encamp
in Judah	בִּיהוּדָ֑ה	bî·hū·ḏāh	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
and deployed themselves	וַיִּנָּטְשׁ֖וּ	way·yin·nā·ṭə·šū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5203 leave, forsake, permit
near	בַּלֶּֽחִי׃	bal·le·ḥî	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3896 Lechi

Judges 15:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Why	לָמָ֖ה	lā·māh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
have you attacked	עֲלִיתֶ֣ם	‘ă·lî·ṯem	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
us	עָלֵ֑ינוּ	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height
said	וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
the men	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular construct	H376 man
of Judah	יְהוּדָ֔ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
The Philistines replied	וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
We have come	עָלִ֔ינוּ	‘ā·lî·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
to arrest	לֶאֱס֤וֹר	le·’ĕ·sō·wr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H631 tie, bind, imprison
Samson	שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙	šim·šō·wn	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8123 Samson
and pay him back	לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
for what	כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
he has done	עָ֥שָׂה	‘ā·śāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
to us	לָֽנוּ׃	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural

Judges 15:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
In response	שְׁלֹשֶׁת֩	šə·lō·šeṯ	Number - masculine singular construct	H7969 a three, triad
three	שְׁלֹשֶׁת֩	šə·lō·šeṯ	Number - masculine singular construct	H7969 a three, triad
thousand	אֲלָפִ֨ים	’ă·lā·p̄îm	Number - masculine plural	H505 thousand
men	אִ֜ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
of Judah	מִֽיהוּדָ֗ה	mî·hū·ḏāh	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
went	וַיֵּרְד֡וּ	way·yê·rə·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3381 come or go down, descend
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the cave	סְעִיף֮	sə·‘îp̄	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5585 cleft
at the rock	סֶ֣לַע	se·la‘	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5553 crag, cliff
of Etam	עֵיטָם֒	‘ê·ṭām	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5862 Etam
and they asked	וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Samson	לְשִׁמְשׁ֗וֹן	lə·šim·šō·wn	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8123 Samson
Do you not	הֲלֹ֤א	hă·lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
realize	יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙	yā·ḏa‘·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H3045 know
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the Philistines	פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים	pə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
rule	מֹשְׁלִ֥ים	mō·šə·lîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H4910 rule, have dominion, reign
over us	בָּ֙נוּ֙	bā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
What	וּמַה־	ū·mah-	Conjunctive waw; Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
have you done	עָשִׂ֣יתָ	‘ā·śî·ṯā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
to us	לָּ֑נוּ	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
I have done	עָ֣שׂוּ	‘ā·śū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6213 do, make
to them	לָהֶֽם׃	lā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
what	כֵּ֖ן	kên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
they did	עָשִׂ֥יתִי	‘ā·śî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
to me	לִ֔י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
he replied	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say

Judges 15:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But they said	וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to him	לוֹ֙	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
We have come down	יָרַ֔דְנוּ	yā·raḏ·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H3381 come or go down, descend
to arrest you	לֶאֱסָרְךָ֣	le·’ĕ·sā·rə·ḵā	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H631 tie, bind, imprison
and hand you over to	לְתִתְּךָ֖	lə·ṯit·tə·ḵā	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
the Philistines	פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים	pə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
Samson	שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן	šim·šō·wn	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8123 Samson
replied	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Swear	הִשָּׁבְע֣וּ	hiš·šā·ḇə·‘ū	Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural	H7650 swear
to me	לִ֔י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
that	פֶּֽן־	pen-	Conjunction	H6435 lest
you will not kill me	תִּפְגְּע֥וּן	tip̄·gə·‘ūn	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural; Paragogic nun	H6293 meet, encounter, reach

Judges 15:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
No	לֹ֚א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
they answered	וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
we will not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
kill you	וְהָמֵ֖ת	wə·hā·mêṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H4191 die
but	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
we will tie you up securely	אָסֹ֤ר	’ā·sōr	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H631 tie, bind, imprison
and hand you over to	וּנְתַנּ֣וּךָ	ū·nə·ṯan·nū·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural; second person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
them	בְיָדָ֔ם	ḇə·yā·ḏām	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H3027 hand
So they bound him	וַיַּאַסְרֻ֗הוּ	way·ya·’as·ru·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singular	H631 tie, bind, imprison
with two	בִּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙	biš·na·yim	Preposition-b; Number - md	H8147 two
new	חֲדָשִׁ֔ים	ḥă·ḏā·šîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H2319 new
ropes	עֲבֹתִ֣ים	‘ă·ḇō·ṯîm	Noun - common plural	H5688 (twisted) cord, rope; cordage; interwoven foliage (?)
and led him up	וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּהוּ	way·ya·‘ă·lū·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
from	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the rock	הַסָּֽלַע׃	has·sā·la‘	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5553 crag, cliff

Judges 15:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When	הוּא־	hū-	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
arrived	בָ֣א	ḇā	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
in	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
Lehi	לֶ֔חִי	le·ḥî	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3896 Lechi
the Philistines	וּפִלְשִׁתִּ֖ים	ū·p̄il·šit·tīm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
came out shouting	הֵרִ֣יעוּ	hê·rî·‘ū	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural	H7321 raise a shout
against him	לִקְרָאת֑וֹ	liq·rā·ṯōw	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H7122 encounter, befall
And the Spirit	ר֣וּחַ	rū·aḥ	Noun - common singular construct	H7307 breath, wind, spirit
of the LORD	יְהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
came mightily	וַתִּצְלַ֨ח	wat·tiṣ·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H6743 rush
upon him	עָלָ֜יו	‘ā·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H5921 height
The ropes	הָעֲבֹתִ֜ים	hā·‘ă·ḇō·ṯîm	Article; Noun - common plural	H5688 (twisted) cord, rope; cordage; interwoven foliage (?)
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
his arms	זְרוֹעוֹתָ֗יו	zə·rō·w·‘ō·w·ṯāw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H2220 arm, shoulder, strength
became	וַתִּהְיֶ֨ינָה	wat·tih·ye·nāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
like burnt	בָּעֲר֣וּ	bā·‘ă·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H1197 burn, consume
flax	כַּפִּשְׁתִּים֙	kap·piš·tîm	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - feminine plural	H6593 linen, carded
and the bonds	אֱסוּרָ֖יו	’ĕ·sū·rāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H612 tie, bind, imprison
broke loose	וַיִּמַּ֥סּוּ	way·yim·mas·sū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H4549 dissolve, melt
from	מֵעַ֥ל	mê·‘al	Preposition-m	H5921 height
his hands	יָדָֽיו׃	yā·ḏāw	Noun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine singular	H3027 hand