Judges

Judges 16:23–30

23Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”

24And when the people saw him, they praised their god, saying:

“Our god has delivered into our hands

our enemy who destroyed our land

and multiplied our dead.”

25And while their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison to entertain them. And they stationed him between the pillars.

26Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Lead me where I can feel the pillars supporting the temple, so I can lean against them.”

27Now the temple was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there, and about three thousand men and women were on the roof watching Samson entertain them.

28Then Samson called out to the LORD: “O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, so that with one vengeful blow I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”

29And Samson reached out for the two central pillars supporting the temple. Bracing himself against them with his right hand on one pillar and his left hand on the other, 30Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.”

Then he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people in it. So in his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.

Read all of Judges 16

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 16:23

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now the lordsוְסַרְנֵ֣יwə·sar·nêConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural constructH5633 tyrant, lord
of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםp̄ə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
gathered togetherנֶֽאֱסְפוּ֙nɛ·ʾɛ̆s·p̄ūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH622 gather, remove
to offerלִזְבֹּ֧חַliz·bō·aḥPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH2076 slaughter for sacrifice
a greatגָּד֛וֹלgā·ḏō·wlAdjective - masculine singularH1419 great
sacrificeזֶֽבַח־ze·ḇaḥ-Noun - masculine singularH2077 sacrifice
to their godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם’ĕ·lō·hê·hemNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH430 God
Dagonלְדָג֥וֹןlə·ḏā·ḡō·wnPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1712 Dagon
They rejoicedוּלְשִׂמְחָ֑הū·lə·śim·ḥāhConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singularH8057 joy, gladness, mirth
and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
Our godאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙’ĕ·lō·hê·nūNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common pluralH430 God
has deliveredנָתַ֤ןnā·ṯanVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֥וֹןšim·šō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH8123 Samson
our enemyאוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃’ō·wy·ḇê·nūVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; first person common pluralH341 be hostile to
into our handsבְּיָדֵ֔נוּbə·yā·ḏê·nūPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common pluralH3027 hand

Judges 16:24

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And when the peopleהָעָ֔םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
saw himוַיִּרְא֤וּway·yir·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7200 see
they praisedוַֽיְהַלְל֖וּway·hal·lūConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1984 shine
their godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם’ĕ·lō·hê·hemNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH430 God
sayingכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
Our godאֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nūNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common pluralH430 God
has deliveredנָתַ֨ןnā·ṯanVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
into our handsבְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙ḇə·yā·ḏê·nūPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common pluralH3027 hand
our enemyא֣וֹיְבֵ֔נוּ’ō·wy·ḇê·nūVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; first person common pluralH341 be hostile to
who destroyedמַחֲרִ֣יבma·ḥă·rîḇVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular constructH2717 be dry, dried up
our landאַרְצֵ֔נוּ’ar·ṣê·nūNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common pluralH776 earth, land
andוַאֲשֶׁ֥רwa·’ă·šerConjunctive waw; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
multipliedהִרְבָּ֖הhir·bāhVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH7235 be, or become, much, many, great
our deadחֲלָלֵֽינוּ׃ḥă·lā·lê·nūNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common pluralH2491 pierced

Judges 16:25

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Andוַֽיְהִי֙way·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
while their heartsלִבָּ֔םlib·bāmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
were merryטוֹבṭōḇVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH2895 pleasing, good
they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
Callקִרְא֥וּqir·’ūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH7121 call, proclaim, read
for Samsonלְשִׁמְשׁ֖וֹןlə·šim·šō·wnPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH8123 Samson
to entertainוִישַֽׂחֶק־wî·śa·ḥeq-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7832 laugh
usלָ֑נוּlā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
So they calledוַיִּקְרְא֨וּway·yiq·rə·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7121 call, proclaim, read
Samsonלְשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹןlə·šim·šō·wnPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH8123 Samson
out of the prisonמִבֵּ֣יתmib·bêṯPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
to entertain themוַיְצַחֵק֙way·ṣa·ḥêqConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6711 laugh
And they stationedוַיַּעֲמִ֥ידוּway·ya·‘ă·mî·ḏūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5975 take one's stand, stand
himאוֹת֖וֹ’ō·w·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative
betweenבֵּ֥יןbênPrepositionH996 interval, space between
the pillarsהָעַמּוּדִֽים׃hā·‘am·mū·ḏîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5982 pillar, column

Judges 16:26

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹןšim·šō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH8123 Samson
saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the servantהַנַּ֨עַרhan·na·‘arArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5288 a shaking, scattering
who heldהַמַּחֲזִ֣יקham·ma·ḥă·zîqArticle; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularH2388 be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
his handבְּיָדוֹ֮bə·yā·ḏōwPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3027 hand
Leadהַנִּ֣יחָהhan·nî·ḥāhVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH5117 rest
meאוֹתִי֒’ō·w·ṯîDirect object marker; first person common singularH853 mark of the accusative
where I can feelוְהֵימִשֵׁנִיwə·hē·mi·šē·nīConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singularH3237 touch
the pillarsהָֽעַמֻּדִ֔יםhā·‘am·mu·ḏîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5982 pillar, column
supportingנָכ֣וֹןnā·ḵō·wnVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH3559 be firm
the templeהַבַּ֖יִתhab·ba·yiṯArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1004 house
so I can leanוְאֶשָּׁעֵ֖ןwə·’eš·šā·‘ênConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularH8172 lean, support oneself
against themעֲלֵיהֶ֑ם‘ă·lê·hemPreposition; third person masculine pluralH5921 height

Judges 16:27

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now the templeוְהַבַּ֗יִתwə·hab·ba·yiṯConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singularH1004 house
was fullמָלֵ֤אmā·lêVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4392 full
of menהָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙hā·’ă·nā·šîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH582 man, mankind
and womenוְהַנָּשִׁ֔יםwə·han·nā·šîmConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine pluralH802 woman, wife, female
allכֹּ֖לkōlNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the lordsסַרְנֵ֣יsar·nêNoun - masculine plural constructH5633 tyrant, lord
of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֑יםp̄ə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
were thereוְשָׁ֕מָּהwə·šām·māhConjunctive waw; Adverb; third person feminine singularH8033 there, thither
and about threeכִּשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁתkiš·lō·šeṯPreposition-k; Number - masculine singular constructH7969 a three, triad
thousandאֲלָפִים֙’ă·lā·p̄îmNumber - masculine pluralH505 thousand
menאִ֣ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
and womenוְאִשָּׁ֔הwə·’iš·šāhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
were onוְעַל־wə·‘al-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5921 height
the roofהַגָּ֗גhag·gāḡArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1406 roof, top
watchingהָרֹאִ֖יםhā·rō·’îmArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH7200 see
Samsonשִׁמְשֽׁוֹן׃šim·šō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH8123 Samson
entertain themבִּשְׂח֥וֹקbiś·ḥō·wqPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7832 laugh

Judges 16:28

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֛וֹןšim·šō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH8123 Samson
called outוַיִּקְרָ֥אway·yiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
O Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י’ă·ḏō·nāyNoun - proper - masculine singularH136 lord
GODיֱהֹוִ֡הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3069 Yahweh
pleaseנָא֩nāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
remember meזָכְרֵ֣נִיzā·ḵə·rê·nîVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singularH2142 remember
Strengthen meוְחַזְּקֵ֨נִיwə·ḥaz·zə·qê·nîConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common singularH2388 be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
O Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
justאַ֣ךְ’aḵAdverbH389 surely
once moreהַפַּ֤עַםhap·pa·‘amArticle; Noun - feminine singularH6471 beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
so that with oneאַחַ֛ת’a·ḥaṯNumber - feminine singularH259 one
vengeful blowנְקַם־nə·qam-Noun - masculine singular constructH5359 vengeance
I may pay backוְאִנָּקְמָ֧הwə·’in·nā·qə·māhConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularH5358 avenge, take vengeance
the Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃mip·pə·liš·tîmPreposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
for my twoמִשְּׁתֵ֥יmiš·šə·ṯêPreposition-m; Number - feminine dual constructH8147 two
eyesעֵינַ֖י‘ê·nayNoun - cdc; first person common singularH5869 eye

Judges 16:29

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹןšim·šō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH8123 Samson
reached outוַיִּלְפֹּ֨תway·yil·pōṯConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3943 twist, turn, grasp with a twisting motion
for the twoשְׁנֵ֣י׀šə·nêNumber - masculine dual constructH8147 two
centralהַתָּ֗וֶךְhat·tā·weḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH8432 midst
pillarsעַמּוּדֵ֣י‘am·mū·ḏêNoun - masculine plural constructH5982 pillar, column
supportingנָכ֣וֹןnā·ḵō·wnVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH3559 be firm
the templeהַבַּ֙יִת֙hab·ba·yiṯArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1004 house
Bracing himselfוַיִּסָּמֵ֖ךְway·yis·sā·mêḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5564 lean, lay, rest, support
against themעֲלֵיהֶ֔ם‘ă·lê·hemPreposition; third person masculine pluralH5921 height
with his right handבִּימִינ֖וֹbî·mî·nōwPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3225 right hand
on oneאֶחָ֥ד’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
and his left handבִּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃biś·mō·lōwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH8040 the left
on the otherוְאֶחָ֥דwə·’e·ḥāḏConjunctive waw; Number - masculine singularH259 one

Judges 16:30

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֗וֹןšim·šō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH8123 Samson
saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Let meנַפְשִׁי֮nap̄·šîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
dieתָּמ֣וֹתtā·mō·wṯVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH4191 die
withעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּים֒pə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
Then he pushedוַיֵּ֣טway·yêṭConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
with all his mightבְּכֹ֔חַbə·ḵō·aḥPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singularH3581 strength, power
and the templeהַבַּ֙יִת֙hab·ba·yiṯArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1004 house
fellוַיִּפֹּ֤לway·yip·pōlConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5307 fall, lie
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the lordsהַסְּרָנִ֔יםhas·sə·rā·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5633 tyrant, lord
andוְעַל־wə·‘al-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5921 height
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the people in itהָעָ֖םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
So in his deathבְּמוֹת֔וֹbə·mō·w·ṯōwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4194 death
he killedהֵמִ֣יתhê·mîṯVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
moreרַבִּ֕יםrab·bîmAdjective - masculine pluralH7227 much, many, great
thanמֵאֲשֶׁ֥רmê·’ă·šerPreposition-m; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
he had killedהֵמִ֖יתhê·mîṯVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
in his lifeבְּחַיָּֽיו׃bə·ḥay·yāwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH2416 alive, living

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Judges 16:23 Proverbs 24:17 · 1 Samuel 5:2–5

Judges 16:24 Daniel 5:4 · Revelation 11:10 · 1 Samuel 31:9

Judges 16:25 Judges 19:6 · Hebrews 11:36 · Judges 9:27 · 2 Samuel 13:28 · Psalm 35:15–16

Judges 16:27 Deuteronomy 22:8 · Joshua 2:8 · 2 Samuel 11:2

Judges 16:28 Jeremiah 15:15 · Lamentations 3:31–32 · Psalm 50:15 · Revelation 6:10 · Psalm 143:12 · Psalm 91:15 · Psalm 58:10–11 · Jonah 2:1–2 · 2 Timothy 4:14 · Psalm 74:18–23 · Psalm 116:4

Judges 16:30 Matthew 16:25 · Philippians 2:8 · Acts 21:13 · 1 Thessalonians 5:2 · Philippians 2:17 · Matthew 24:38–39

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.