And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.

JUDGES 16:18KJV
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Judges 16:18 (KJV)

What does Judges 16:18 mean?

Judges 16:18 describes how Delilah realized Samson had finally told her the full truth about his strength, so she summoned the Philistine leaders, telling them he had revealed everything. The Philistine rulers came to her, bringing money as payment for her betrayal.

In this verse, Delilah is the one acting after hearing Samson’s confession about his strength’s source. She calls for the "lords of the Philistines," who had been waiting for her signal. The verse highlights the moment of betrayal, showing Delilah’s determination and the Philistine leaders’ readiness to pay her for her role in capturing Samson.

The Hebrew behind Judges 16:18

  • לֵב (lev, "heart"): This word is used twice in the verse and often means not just emotions, but the inner self or deepest secrets. Here, it emphasizes that Samson has truly revealed everything important to Delilah.
  • סְרָנֵי (seranei, "lords"): This term refers to the five rulers of the Philistines, showing that the highest leaders were personally involved in the plot against Samson.
  • כֶּסֶף (kesef, "money"): The mention of money in their hands underlines that Delilah’s motivation was financial gain, not personal grievance or loyalty.

Why Judges 16:18 matters

  • This verse clears up that Delilah did not act alone or out of sudden anger; she was working with the Philistine leaders all along, and her actions were deliberate and calculated.
  • The repeated mention of "heart" stresses the depth of Samson’s trust and the seriousness of his mistake in revealing his secret.
  • The arrival of the Philistine rulers with money connects this moment directly to their earlier bargain with Delilah, showing the fulfillment of their agreement and setting up the final betrayal of Samson.

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 16:12 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.

“lords” Hebrew H5633 · used in 20 verses

  • Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
  • Judges 16:30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
  • 1 Samuel 6:18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.

“once” Hebrew H6471 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • Deuteronomy 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.
  • 2 Kings 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.