And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.

JUDGES 15:13KJV
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Judges 15:13 (KJV)

What does Judges 15:13 mean?

Judges 15:13 describes how the men of Judah assured Samson that they would not kill him themselves, but would only tie him up securely and hand him over to the Philistines. They then bound Samson with two new ropes and led him away from the place where he was staying.

In this scene, the leaders of Judah are speaking to Samson, who had taken refuge in a rocky area after angering the Philistines. The men promise not to harm Samson, using strong language to stress their intent, but insist on delivering him to their enemies. The verse highlights the tension between Samson and his own people, as well as their fear of the Philistines’ power.

The Hebrew behind Judges 15:13

  • The word for "bind" (אָסַר, ʾasar) is repeated here, emphasizing how carefully and securely the men of Judah tied Samson. The use of "two new cords" (חֲבָלִים חֲדָשִׁים, ḥavalim ḥadashim) shows they wanted to make sure the ropes were strong and had not been weakened by previous use.
  • The word for "surely" and "kill" (מוּת, mût) is used to stress their promise: they are saying, in effect, "We will not put you to death ourselves." This double use of the word underlines their oath to Samson.

Why Judges 15:13 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Samson’s own people were not acting out of personal hatred, but out of fear of the Philistines, and wanted to avoid direct violence against him.
  • The detail about "two new cords" sets up the dramatic events that follow, where Samson’s strength is shown to be greater than any ordinary restraint.
  • The verse reveals the strained relationship between Samson and the tribe of Judah, showing how isolated he was even among his own people.

Where else these words appear

“cords” Hebrew H5688 · used in 23 verses

  • Exodus 28:14 And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.
  • Judges 15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
  • Isaiah 5:18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

“new” Hebrew H2319 · used in 48 verses

  • Exodus 1:8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
  • 1 Kings 11:29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
  • Isaiah 41:15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

“rock” Hebrew H5553 · used in 54 verses

  • Numbers 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
  • 2 Chronicles 25:12 And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
  • Isaiah 31:9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

“bind” Hebrew H631 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 39:20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
  • Judges 16:5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.