Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

JUDGES 16:12KJV
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Judges 16:12 (KJV)

What does Judges 16:12 mean?

Judges 16:12 describes how Delilah tied Samson with new ropes and called out that the Philistines were attacking him, but Samson broke free from the ropes as easily as if they were just threads. This verse shows another failed attempt by Delilah and the Philistines to capture Samson through deception.

Delilah is speaking to Samson in this scene, following his false instructions about what would make him lose his strength. The Philistines are hiding nearby, ready to ambush Samson if he is truly weakened. The verse highlights Samson’s extraordinary strength and the ongoing efforts to discover the secret behind it.

The Hebrew behind Judges 16:12

  • "new" (חָדָשׁ, chadash): This word means "fresh" or "unused." The detail that the ropes were new emphasizes that they should have been strong and hard to break, making Samson’s escape even more remarkable.
  • "brake" (נָתַק, nathaq): This verb means to tear apart or snap. The use of this word stresses the ease and force with which Samson broke free, showing that even strong, new ropes could not hold him.
  • "thread" (נִימָה, nimah): This word refers to a thin string or thread. Comparing the ropes to a thread underlines just how effortlessly Samson overcame what should have been a strong restraint.

Why Judges 16:12 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Samson’s strength was not tied to ordinary physical means, as even new ropes could not restrain him, pointing to something unusual about his power.
  • The detail about the Philistines lying in wait in the chamber shows the seriousness of their intent and the level of planning involved in trying to capture Samson.
  • The verse builds suspense in the story, showing repeated failures and setting up the eventual moment when Delilah does succeed, making that later event more significant.

Where else these words appear

“Delilah” Hebrew H1807 · used in 6 verses

  • Judges 16:4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
  • Judges 16:6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
  • Judges 16:13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.

“thread” Hebrew H2339 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 14:23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
  • 1 Kings 7:15 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.
  • Song of Solomon 4:3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

“ropes” 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 15:13 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.
  • Isaiah 5:18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

“brake” Hebrew H5423 · used in 26 verses

  • Leviticus 22:24 Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.
  • Job 18:14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
  • Jeremiah 5:5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.