Judges 16:7

New Century Version

Samson answered, "Someone would have to tie me up with seven new bowstrings that have not been dried. Then I would be as weak as any other man."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become weak and be like any other man.”

Hebrew Names Version
Shimshon said to her, If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.

King James Version
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

Lexham English Bible
Samson said to her, "If you tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that are not dried up, I will become weak like everyone else."

English Standard Version
Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man."

New English Translation
Samson said to her, "If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man."

Amplified Bible
Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh cords (tendons) that have not been dried, then I will be weak and be like any [other] man."

New American Standard Bible
And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh animal tendons that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Samson then answered vnto her, If they binde mee with seuen greene cordes, that were neuer dryed, then shall I bee weake, and be as an other man.

Legacy Standard Bible
En Simson sê vir haar: As hulle my bind met sewe vars lyne wat nie uitgedroog is nie, dan sal ek swak word en wees soos 'n ander mens.

Contemporary English Version
Samson answered, "If someone ties me up with seven new bowstrings that have never been dried, it will make me just as weak as anyone else."

Complete Jewish Bible
Shimshon replied, "If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have never been dried, I will become as weak as any other man."

Darby Translation
And Samson said to her, If they should bind me with seven fresh cords which have not been dried, then should I be weak, and be as another man.

Easy-to-Read Version
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."

George Lamsa Translation
And Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that were never dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.

Good News Translation
Samson answered, "If they tie me up with seven new bowstrings that are not dried out, I'll be as weak as anybody else."

Literal Translation
And Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven green bowstrings which have not been dried, then I shall be weak and shall be as any man.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Samson sayde vnto her: Yf I were bounde with seue roapes of fresh senowes, which are not yet dryed vp, I shulde be weake, and as another man.

American Standard Version
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.

Bible in Basic English
And Samson said to her, If seven new bow-cords which have never been made dry are knotted round me, I will become feeble and will be like any other man.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Samson aunswered vnto her: Yf they binde me with seuen greene wythes that were neuer dryed, I shalbe weake, and be as an other man.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Samson said unto her: 'If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as any other man.'

King James Version (1611)
And Samson said vnto her, If they binde mee with seuen greene withs, that were neuer dried, then shall I be weake, and be as another man.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Sampson said to her, If they bind me with seven moist cords that have not been spoiled, then shall I be weak and be as one of ordinary men.

English Revised Version
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.

Berean Standard Bible
Samson told her, "If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
To whom Sampson answeride, If Y be boundun with seuene coordis of senewis not yit drye `and yit moiste, Y schal be feble as othere men.

Young's Literal Translation
And Samson saith unto her, `If they bind me with seven green withs which have not been dried, then I have been weak, and have been as one of the human race.'

Update Bible Version
And Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then I shall become weak, and be as one of man.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven green withs, that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

World English Bible
Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.

New King James Version
And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man."

New Living Translation
Samson replied, "If I were tied up with seven new bowstrings that have not yet been dried, I would become as weak as anyone else."

New Life Bible
Samson said to her, "They must tie me with seven new ropes that have not been dried. Then I will become weak and be like any other man."

New Revised Standard
Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that are not dried out, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green cords, that have not been dried, then shall I become weak, and be as any other man.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Samson answered her: If I shall be bound with seven cords, made of sinews not yet dry, but still moist, I shall be weak like other men.

Revised Standard Version
And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings which have not been dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man."

THE MESSAGE
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."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh cords that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man."

Contextual Overview

⁴ After this, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Valley of Sorek. ⁵ The Philistine rulers went to Delilah and said, "Find out what makes Samson so strong. Trick him into telling you how we can overpower him and capture him and tie him up. If you do this, each one of us will give you twenty-eight pounds of silver." ⁶ So Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me why you are so strong. How can someone tie you up and capture you?" ⁷ Samson answered, "Someone would have to tie me up with seven new bowstrings that have not been dried. Then I would be as weak as any other man." ⁸ The Philistine rulers brought Delilah seven new bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied Samson with them. ⁹ Some men were hiding in another room. Delilah said to him, "Samson, the Philistines are here!" But Samson broke the bowstrings like pieces of burned string. So the Philistines did not find out the secret of Samson's strength. ¹⁰ Then Delilah said to Samson, "You made a fool of me. You lied to me. Now tell me how someone can tie you up." ¹¹ Samson said, "They would have to tie me with new ropes that have not been used before. Then I would become as weak as any other man." ¹² So Delilah took new ropes and tied Samson. Some men were hiding in another room. She called out to him, "Samson, the Philistines are here!" But he broke the ropes as easily as if they were threads. ¹³ Then Delilah said to Samson, "Again you have made a fool of me. You lied to me. Tell me how someone can tie you up." He said, "Using the loom, weave the seven braids of my hair into the cloth, and tighten it with a pin. Then I will be as weak as any other man." While Samson slept, Delilah wove the seven braids of his hair into the cloth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

If they bind: Judges 16:10, 1 Samuel 19:17, 1 Samuel 21:2, 1 Samuel 21:3, 1 Samuel 27:10, Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 17:7, Romans 3:8, Galatians 6:7, Colossians 3:9

green withs: or, new cords, Heb. moist

another: Heb. one.

Cross-References

Genesis 20:1
Abraham left Hebron and traveled to southern Canaan where he stayed awhile between Kadesh and Shur. When he moved to Gerar,

Genesis 21:17
God heard the boy crying, and God's angel called to Hagar from heaven. He said, "What is wrong, Hagar? Don't be afraid! God has heard the boy crying there.

Genesis 22:11
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham! Abraham!" Abraham answered, "Yes."

Genesis 22:15
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time

Genesis 25:18
His descendants lived from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt stretching toward Assyria. They often attacked the descendants of his brothers.

Genesis 31:11
The angel of God spoke to me in that dream and said, ‘Jacob!' I answered, ‘Yes!'

Exodus 15:22
Moses led the Israelites away from the Red Sea into the Desert of Shur. They traveled for three days in the desert but found no water.

1 Samuel 15:7
Then Saul defeated the Amalekites. He fought them all the way from Havilah to Shur, at the border of Egypt.

Proverbs 15:3
The Lord 's eyes see everything; he watches both evil and good people.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Samson said unto her,.... In answer to her pressing solicitations:

if they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried; the word is sometimes used for nerves, and cords or ropes; but neither of these can be here meant, since these, if moistened or made wet, are the less fit to bind with, and the drier the better; but rods or branches of trees just cut off, such as faggots are bound up with, or green osiers, which are easily bent and twisted, and may bind with; Josephus u calls them vine branches:

then shall I be weak, and be as another man; which cannot well be excused from a lie; for Samson knew full well that being bound would not weaken his strength; but as he had fallen into one sin, it is no wonder he was drawn into another: unless this can be understood, as it is by some, as jesting with her; however, it shows that he was "compos mentis", as Josephus w observes, and was upon his guard with respect to the secret of his strength.

u Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 9.) w Ibid.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 16:7. Seven green withs — That is, any kind of pliant, tough wood, twisted in the form of a cord or rope. Such are used in many countries formed out of osiers, hazel, c. And in Ireland, very long and strong ropes are made of the fibres of bog-wood, or the larger roots of the fir, which is often dug up in the bogs or mosses of that country. But the Septuagint, by translating the Hebrew יתרים לחים yetharim lachim by νευραις ὑγραις, and the Vulgate by nerviceis funibus, understand these bonds to be cords made of the nerves of cattle, or perhaps rather out of raw hides, these also making an exceedingly strong cord. In some countries they take the skin of the horse, cut it lengthwise from the hide into thongs about two inches broad, and after having laid them in salt for some time, take them out for use. This practice is frequent in the country parts of Ireland and both customs, the wooden cord, and that made of the raw or green hide, are among the most ancient perhaps in the world. Among the Irish peasantry this latter species of cord is called the tug and is chiefly used for agricultural purposes, particularly for drawing the plough and the harrow, instead of the iron chains used in other countries.