Bible Encyclopedias
Delilah

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dē̇ -lı̄´la ( דּלידלה , delı̄lāh , "dainty one," perhaps; Septuagint Δαλειδά , Daleidá , Δαλιδά , Dalidá ): The woman who betrayed Samson to the Philistines (Jdg 16). She was presumably a Philistine, though that is not expressly stated. She is not spoken of as Samson's wife, though many have understood the account in that way. The Philistines paid her a tremendously high price for her services. The account indicates that for beauty, personal charm, mental ability, self-command, nerve, she was quite a wonderful woman, a woman to be admired for some qualities which she exhibits, even while she is to be utterly disapproved. See SAMSON .