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Updated Bible Version

Judges 16:9

Now she had ambushers abiding in the inner chamber. And she said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And he broke the withes, as a string of flax is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength wasn't known.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Conspiracy;   Deception;   Delilah;   Friends;   Samson;   Tow;   Women;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Samson;   Stories for Children;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Delilah;   Gaza or Azzah;   Harosheth of the Gentiles;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Delilah;   Tow;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gaza;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Flax;   Judges, Book of;   Lace;   Samson;   Tow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Levi;   Philistines;   Samson;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Closet ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Delilah ;   Withs;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Delilah;   Gaza;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Del'ilah,;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Flax;   Lace;   Samson;   Tow;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Delilah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
While the men in ambush were waiting in her room, she called out to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But he snapped the bowstrings as a strand of yarn snaps when it touches fire. The secret of his strength remained unknown.
Hebrew Names Version
Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. She said to him, The Pelishtim are on you, Shimshon. He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
King James Version
Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
Lexham English Bible
The ambush was sitting in wait for her in an inner room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you Samson!" And he snapped the bowstrings just as flax fiber snaps when it comes close to fire. And the secret of his strength remained unknown.
English Standard Version
Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
New Century Version
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.
New English Translation
They hid in the bedroom and then she said to him, "The Philistines are here, Samson!" He snapped the bowstrings as easily as a thread of yarn snaps when it is put close to fire. The secret of his strength was not discovered.
Amplified Bible
Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he broke the cords as a string of tow breaks when it touches fire. So [the secret of] his strength was not discovered.
New American Standard Bible
Now she had men prepared for an ambush in an inner room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he tore the tendons to pieces just like a thread of flax is torn apart when it comes too close to fire. So his strength was not discovered.
Geneva Bible (1587)
(And she had men lying in wayte with her in the chamber) Then she said vnto him, The Philistims be vpon thee, Samson. And hee brake the cordes, as a threede of towe is broken, when it feeleth fire: so his strength was not knowen.
Legacy Standard Bible
En terwyl haar spioene in die kamer klaar sit, sê sy vir hom: Die Filistyne op jou, Simson! Toe verbreek hy die lyne soos 'n vlasdraad breek as dit vuur ruik; maar sy krag het nie bekend geword nie.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now she had people lying in wait in the inside room. So she said to him, "Shimshon! The P'lishtim have come for you!" But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of straw breaks when it touches fire, and the source of his strength remained unknown.
Darby Translation
Now she had liers in wait abiding in the chamber; and she said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! And he broke the cords, as a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire; and his strength was not known.
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
George Lamsa Translation
Now there were men lying in wait in her inner chamber. And she said to him, The Philistines have come upon you, Samson. And he broke the bowstrings as a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not disturbed.
Good News Translation
She had some men waiting in another room, so she shouted, "Samson! The Philistines are coming!" But he snapped the bowstrings just as thread breaks when fire touches it. So they still did not know the secret of his strength.
Literal Translation
And the ambush was sitting for her in an inner room. And she said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson! And he broke the bowstrings like a thread of tow when it smells fire. And his strength was not known.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
(But there was wayte layed for him besyde her in the chamber) and she sayde vnto him: The Pilistynes vpon the Samson. Neuertheles he brake the roapes in sunder, eue as a twyned threde breaketh, whan it hath catched the heate of the fyre. And it was not knowne wherin his strength was.
American Standard Version
Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withes, as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
Bible in Basic English
Now she had men waiting secretly in the inner room; and she said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And the cords were broken by him as a twist of thread is broken when touched by a flame. So the secret of his strength did not come to light.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
(Notwithstanding she had men lying in wayte with her in the chaumbre): And she said vnto him, The Philistines be vpon thee Samson. And immediatly he brake the cordes, as a stryng of towe breaketh when it fealeth fire. And so his strength was not knowen.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him: 'The Philistines are upon thee, Samson.' And he broke the bowstrings as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
King James Version (1611)
Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber: and she said vnto him, The Philistines be vpon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a threed of tow is broken, when it toucheth the fire: so his strength was not knowen.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the liers in wait remained with her in the chamber; and she said to him, the Philistines are upon thee, Sampson: and he broke the cords as if any one should break a thread of tow when it has touched the fire, and his strength was not known.
English Revised Version
Now she had liers in wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withes, as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
Berean Standard Bible
While the men were hidden in her room, she called out, "Samson, the Philistines are here!" But he snapped the bowstrings like a strand of yarn breaks when it touches a flame. So the source of his strength remained unknown.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
while buyschementis weren hid at hir, and abididen in a closet the ende of the thing. And sche criede to hym, Sampson, Filisteis ben on thee! Which brak the boondis, as if a man brekith a threed of herdis, writhun with spotle, whanne it hath take the odour of fier; and it was not knowun wher ynne his strengthe was.
Young's Literal Translation
And the ambush is abiding with her in an inner chamber, and she saith unto him, `Philistines [are] upon thee, Samson;' and he breaketh the withs as a thread of tow is broken in its smelling fire, and his power hath not been known.
Webster's Bible Translation
(Now [there were] men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber.) And she said to him, The Philistines [are] upon thee, Samson. And he broke the withs as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
World English Bible
Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. She said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
New King James Version
Now men were lying in wait, staying with her in the room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks when it touches fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
New Living Translation
She had hidden some men in one of the inner rooms of her house, and she cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!" But Samson snapped the bowstrings as a piece of string snaps when it is burned by a fire. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
New Life Bible
She had men hiding and waiting in another room. She said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he broke the ropes like a string breaks when it touches fire. So they did not find the secret of his strength.
New Revised Standard
While men were lying in wait in an inner chamber, she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he snapped the bowstrings, as a strand of fiber snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, the liers in wait, were tarrying for her, in an inner chamber, - and she said unto him, - The Philistines, are upon thee, Samson! And he snapped the cords as a thread of tow is broken, when fire bloweth thereon, so his strength was not discovered.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Men lying privately in wait with her, and in the chamber, expecting the event of the thing, and she cried out to him: The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he broke the bands, as a man would break a thread of tow twined with spittle, when it smelleth the fire: so it was not known wherein his strength lay.
Revised Standard Version
Now she had men lying in wait in an inner chamber. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he snapped the bowstrings, as a string of tow snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now she had men lying in wait in an inner room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he snapped the cords as a string of tow snaps when it touches fire. So his strength was not discovered.

Contextual Overview

4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lies, and how we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will each give you eleven hundred [pieces] of silver. 6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray you, wherein your great strength lies, and with which you might be bound to afflict you. 7 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. 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withes which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had ambushers abiding in the inner chamber. And she said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And he broke the withes, as a string of flax is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength wasn't known. 10 And Delilah said to Samson, Look, you have mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray you, with which you might be bound. 11 And he said to her, If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then I shall become weak, and be as one of man. 12 So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And the ambushers were abiding in the inner chamber. And he broke them off his arms like a thread. 13 And Delilah said to Samson, Until now you have mocked me, and told me lies: tell me with which you might be bound. And he said to her, If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web, and fasten them with the pin on the loom, I shall become weak as any man.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

toucheth: Heb. smelleth, Psalms 58:9

Reciprocal: Judges 15:14 - the cords Judges 16:20 - I will go

Cross-References

Genesis 16:5
And Sarai said to Abram, My wrong be on you: I gave my slave into your bosom; and when she saw that she had become pregnant, I was despised in her eyes: Yahweh judge between me and you.
Genesis 16:6
But Abram said to Sarai, Look, your slave is in your hand; do to her that which is good in your eyes. And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
Ecclesiastes 10:4
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness allays great offenses.
Ephesians 5:21
subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
Titus 2:9
[Exhort] slaves to be in subjection to their own masters, [and] to be well-pleasing [to them] in all things; not opposing;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now there were men lying in wait,.... Very likely some of the servants of the lords of the Philistines, who were placed privately on purpose, that when an opportunity offered, they might rush out, and fall upon Samson; Josephus y calls them soldiers:

abiding with her in the chamber; in a private part of it, or otherwise they could not be said to lie in wait; in it may mean near it; perhaps it was in the next apartment to hers, where they were set:

and she said unto him, the Philistines be upon thee, Samson; are just ready to fall upon thee, and seize thee; this she said to arouse him, and try whether he could break the withs or not, before she called in the men that lay in wait, and whether he had told her the truth or not:

and he brake the withs as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire; or "smells it" z; as soon as it comes near it; a thread of tow or linen catches the fire presently, it being so weak that it cannot stand before the least force of it; so easily did the withs give way, and were broken, when Samson did but just stir himself, and move his arms:

so his strength was not known; by Delilah, nor by the Philistines; that is, where it lay, so as that it might be weakened; for otherwise it was known by the easy breaking of the withs.

y Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 11. z בהריחו "cum olfecerit", Drusius, so Piscator.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 16:9. Men lying in wait — They probably did not appear, as Samson immediately broke his bonds when this bad woman said, The Philistines be upon thee.


 
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