Judges 16:4

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."

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.

Easy-to-Read Version
Later, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who was from Sorek Valley.

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.

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

⁴Some 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." ⁶ So Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me, dear, the secret of your great strength, and how you can be tied up and humbled." ⁷ Samson told her, "If they were to tie me up with seven bowstrings—the kind made from fresh animal tendons, not dried out—then I would become weak, just like anyone else." ⁸The Philistine tyrants brought her seven bowstrings, not dried out, and she tied him up with them. The men were waiting in ambush in her room. Then she said, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He snapped the cords as though they were mere threads. The secret of his strength was still a secret. ¹⁰ Delilah said, "Come now, Samson—you're playing with me, making up stories. Be serious; tell me how you can be tied up." ¹¹ He told her, "If you were to tie me up tight with new ropes, ropes never used for work, then I would be helpless, just like anybody else." ¹² So Delilah got some new ropes and tied him up. She said, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" The men were hidden in the next room. He snapped the ropes from his arms like threads. ¹³Delilah said to Samson, "You're still playing games with me, teasing me with lies. Tell me how you can be tied up." He said to her, "If you wove the seven braids of my hair into the fabric on the loom and drew it tight, then I would be as helpless as any other mortal." When she had him fast asleep, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the fabric on the loom and drew it tight. Then she said, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He woke from his sleep and ripped loose from both the loom and fabric! ¹⁵ She said, "How can you say ‘I love you' when you won't even trust me? Three times now you've toyed with me, like a cat with a mouse, refusing to tell me the secret of your great strength." ¹⁶She kept at it day after day, nagging and tormenting him. Finally, he was fed up—he couldn't take another minute of it. He spilled it. He told her, "A razor has never touched my head. I've been God's Nazirite from conception. If I were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would be as helpless as any other mortal."

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 16:5
Sarai told Abram, "It's all your fault that I'm suffering this abuse. I put my maid in bed with you and the minute she knows she's pregnant, she treats me like I'm nothing. May God decide which of us is right."

Genesis 16:6
"You decide," said Abram. "Your maid is your business." Sarai was abusive to Hagar and Hagar ran away.

1 Corinthians 4:6
All I'm doing right now, friends, is showing how these things pertain to Apollos and me so that you will learn restraint and not rush into making judgments without knowing all the facts. It's important to look at things from God's point of view. I would rather not see you inflating or deflating reputations based on mere hearsay.

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.