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 15:13KJVWhat 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.