But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
JUDGES 16:21KJVWhat does Judges 16:21 mean?
Judges 16:21 describes how the Philistines captured Samson, blinded him, took him to Gaza, chained him with bronze shackles, and forced him to grind grain in prison. This verse shows the complete downfall of Samson after he was betrayed and lost his strength.
In the story, Samson was a judge of Israel known for his great strength, but he was captured after Delilah revealed the secret of his power. The Philistines, long-time enemies of Israel, humiliated Samson by taking away his sight and making him do the work of a slave. The verse marks a turning point in Samson’s life, showing the consequences of his choices and the power his enemies now held over him.
The Hebrew behind Judges 16:21
- "Put out his eyes" uses the Hebrew word נָקַר (naqár), which means to gouge or dig out. This is a violent action, emphasizing the cruelty of the Philistines toward Samson.
- "Grind" comes from טָחַן (ṭāḥán), which means to grind grain. This was usually work done by slaves or animals, highlighting Samson’s humiliation and loss of status.
- "Fetters of brass" uses the word נְחֹשֶׁת (neḥóshet), meaning bronze or copper. Bronze shackles were strong and heavy, showing that the Philistines wanted to make sure Samson could not escape.
Why Judges 16:21 matters
- This verse clears up any idea that Samson’s defeat was minor; the details show a complete reversal from his earlier strength and freedom.
- The mention of Gaza connects this event to earlier parts of Samson’s story, as Gaza was a major Philistine city and a place where Samson had previously shown his power.
- The verse sets up the dramatic ending of Samson’s life, where his humiliation in prison leads to the final act of his story.