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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Easy-to-Read Version

Judges 16:4

Later, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who was from Sorek Valley.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Conspiracy;   Deception;   Delilah;   Friends;   Samson;   Sorek;   Women;   Thompson Chain Reference - Association-Separation;   Associations;   Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Evil;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Samson;   Stories for Children;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Valleys;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Delilah;   Gaza or Azzah;   Harosheth of the Gentiles;   Sorek;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Palestine;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Delilah;   Sorek;   Valley;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Dan (1);   Gaza;   Sorek;   Vine;   Zorah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Delilah;   Judges, Book of;   Samson;   Sorek;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Levi;   Marriage;   Philistines;   Samson;   Sorek, Valley of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Delilah ;   Sorek ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Delilah;   Gaza;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Del'ilah,;   So'rek;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Marriage;   Philistines;   River;   Samson;   Sorek, Valley of;   Vale;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Delilah;   Love;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Some time later, he fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley.
Hebrew Names Version
It came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
King James Version
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Lexham English Bible
After this he fell in love with a woman in the wadi of Sorek, and her name was Delilah.
English Standard Version
After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
New Century Version
After this, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Valley of Sorek.
New English Translation
After this Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley.
Amplified Bible
After this he fell in love with a [Philistine] woman [living] in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
New American Standard Bible
After this it came about that he was in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And after this hee loued a woman by the riuer of Sorek, whose name was Delilah:
Legacy Standard Bible
Daarna het hy 'n vrou in die dal Sorek liefgekry, wie se naam Delíla was.
Contemporary English Version
Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in Sorek Valley.
Complete Jewish Bible
After this, he fell in love with a woman who lived in the Sorek Valley, whose name was D'lilah.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass afterwards that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
George Lamsa Translation
And it came to pass after this, he loved a woman in the valley of Sarok, whose name was Delilah.
Good News Translation
After this, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in Sorek Valley.
Literal Translation
And it happened afterward that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, and her name was Delilah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
After this he fell into the loue of a woman by ye broke of Sorek, whose name was Dalila,
American Standard Version
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Bible in Basic English
Now after this, he was in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, named Delilah.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And after this, he loued a woman by the ryuer of Sorek, whose name was Dalila.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe afterward, that he loued a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass after this that he loved a woman in Alsorech, and her name was Dalida.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Berean Standard Bible
Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
After these thingis Sampson louyde a womman that dwellide in the valey of Soreth, and sche was clepid Dalida.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass afterwards that he loveth a woman in the valley of Sorek, and her name [is] Delilah,
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name [was] Delilah.
World English Bible
It came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
New King James Version
Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
New Living Translation
Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek.
New Life Bible
After this Samson loved a woman in the valley of Sorek. Her name was Delilah.
New Revised Standard
After this he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, after this, that he loved a woman in the ravine of Shorek, whose, name, was Delilah.
Douay-Rheims Bible
After this he loved a woman, who dwelt in the valley of Sorec, and she was called Dalila.
Revised Standard Version
After this he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Deli'lah.
THE MESSAGE
Some time later he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek (Grapes). Her name was Delilah. The Philistine tyrants approached her and said, "Seduce him. Discover what's behind his great strength and how we can tie him up and humble him. Each man's company will give you a hundred shekels of silver."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
After this it came about that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

Contextual Overview

4 Later, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who was from Sorek Valley. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to Delilah and said, "We want to know what makes Samson so strong. Try to trick him into telling you his secret. Then we will know how to capture him and tie him up. Then we will be able to control him. If you do this, each one of us will give you 28 pounds of silver." 6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me why you are so strong. How could someone tie you up and make you helpless?" 7 Samson answered, "Someone would have to tie me up with seven fresh, new bowstrings. If someone did that, I would be as weak as any other man." 8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought seven fresh, new bowstrings to Delilah, and she tied Samson with the bowstrings. 9 Some men were hiding in the next room. Delilah said to Samson, "Samson, the Philistine men are going to capture you!" But Samson easily broke the bowstrings. They snapped like a string when it comes too close to a flame. So the Philistines did not find out the secret of Samson's strength. 10 Then Delilah said to Samson, "You lied to me. You made me look foolish. Please tell me the truth. How could someone tie you up?" 11 Samson said, "Someone would have to tie me up with new ropes. They would have to tie me with ropes that have not been used before. If someone did that, I would become as weak as any other man." 12 So Delilah took some new ropes and tied up Samson. Some men were hiding in the next room. Then Delilah called out to him, "Samson, the Philistine men are going to capture you!" But he broke the ropes easily as if they were threads. 13 Then Delilah said to Samson, "You lied to me again. You made me look foolish. Now, tell me how someone could tie you up." Samson said, "If you use the loom to weave the seven braids of hair on my head and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he loved: 1 Kings 11:1, Nehemiah 13:26, Proverbs 22:14, Proverbs 23:27, Proverbs 26:11, Proverbs 27:22, 1 Corinthians 10:6

in the valley: or, by the brook

Reciprocal: Numbers 13:23 - brook 1 Kings 11:2 - Solomon Proverbs 5:4 - sharp Proverbs 23:28 - as for a prey Isaiah 5:2 - the choicest vine

Cross-References

Genesis 16:4
Abram slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar realized this, she became very proud and began to feel that she was better than Sarai her owner.
Genesis 16:5
Then Sarai said to Abram, "My slave girl now hates me, and I blame you for this. I gave her to you, and she became pregnant. Then she began to feel that she is better than I am. I want the Lord to judge which of us is right."
Genesis 16:6
But Abram said to Sarai, "She is your slave. You can do anything you want to her." So Sarai was cruel to Hagar, and Hagar ran away.
Genesis 16:8
The angel said, "Hagar, Sarai's slave girl, why are you here? Where are you going?" Hagar said, "I am running away from Sarai."
2 Samuel 6:16
Saul's daughter Michal was looking out the window. While the Lord 's Holy Box was being carried into the city, David was jumping and dancing before the Lord . Michal saw this, and she was upset at David.
Proverbs 30:23
a woman whose husband hated her but still married her, and a servant girl who becomes ruler over the woman she serves.
1 Corinthians 4:6
Brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself as examples for you. I did this so that you could learn from us the meaning of the words, "Follow what the Scriptures say." Then you will not brag about one person and criticize another.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass afterwards, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek,.... Which, according to Adrichomius y was but half a mile from the brook Eshcol, from whence the spies brought a bunch of grapes, as a specimen of the fruit of the land of Canaan; and this valley of Sorek seems to have been famous for the best wine, and hither Samson retired for refreshment and pleasure; but, according to Jerom z, it was on the north of Eleutheropolis, where, he says, was shown a village in his time called Capharsorech, near the village Zorah, from whence Samson was; and Bunting a makes it to be twelve miles from Hebron, and twelve from Jerusalem; where he met with a woman he loved; whether she was an Israelite, or one of the daughters of the Philistines, they now being the rulers of Israel, is not said; most likely the latter, as say Ben Gersom and Abarbinel, since the lords of the Philistines were so intimate with her, and were entertained in her house, and she showed more respect to them than to Samson. The Jews say she became a proselyte, but if she did, there is very little evidence of her being a sincere one: some have thought, that the courtship to her was a lawful conjugal love; that falling in love with her, he courted and married her; but this is not very likely, since no mention is made of his marriage to her, nor did he take her home, but dwelt in her house: it rather seems to be an impure and unlawful love he had to her, and that she was an harlot, as Josephus b; and all her conduct and behaviour confirm the same:

whose name was Delilah; the Jews say c she was so called because she weakened the heart and spirit of Samson, and weakened his strength, and weakened his works; and therefore, if this had not been her name, they say it was one very proper for her.

y Ut supra, (Theatrum Terra Sanct.) p. 24. z De loc. Heb. fol. 94. L. a Travels, p. 116, 117. b Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8.) sect. 11. c T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 9. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A village to the north of Eleutheropolis, called Caphar-Sotek, was still existing in the time of Eusebius, near Zorah.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 16:4. He loved a woman in the valley of Sorek — Some think Samson took this woman for his wife; others, that he had her as a concubine. It appears she was a Philistine; and however strong his love was for her, she seems to have had none for him. He always matched improperly, and he was cursed in all his matches. Where the valley or brook of Sorek was, is not easy to be ascertained. Eusebius and Jerome say it lay southward of Eleutheropolis; but where was Eleutheropolis? Ancient writers take all their measurements from this city; but as it is nowhere mentioned in the Scriptures, it is impossible to fix its situation for we know not its ancient name.


 
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