Judg 16:7-9 | NETfull | STEP | 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.”

Judges 16:7-9

7 Samson said to her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh ^{▼▼ Or “moist.”} bowstrings ^{▼▼ The word refers to a bowstring, probably made from animal tendons. See Ps 11:2; Job 30:11.} that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man.” 8 So the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried and they tied him up with them. 9 They hid ^{▼▼Heb “And the ones lying in wait were sitting for her.” The grammatically singular form וְהָאֹרֵב (v^eha’orev) is collective here, referring to the rulers as a group (so also in v. 16).} in the bedroom and then she said to him, “The Philistines are here, ^{▼▼Heb “are upon you.”} Samson!” He snapped the bowstrings as easily as a thread of yarn snaps when it is put close to fire. ^{▼▼Heb “when it smells fire.”} The secret of his strength was not discovered. ^{▼▼Heb “His strength was not known.”}