Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
JUDGES 16:27KJVWhat does Judges 16:27 mean?
Judges 16:27 describes a large gathering inside a building, where many Philistine men and women—including all their rulers—are present. About three thousand more people are on the roof, watching as Samson is made to perform for their entertainment.
The verse sets the scene for a major event in Samson’s story. The Philistines have captured Samson and are using him as a spectacle during a festival or celebration. The detail that the house is "full" and that so many people are on the roof highlights how public and significant this moment is, with all the Philistine leaders and a huge crowd gathered to watch Samson’s humiliation.
The Hebrew behind Judges 16:27
- "Lords" (סְרָנִים, sĕrānîm): This word refers specifically to the five rulers of the Philistines, not just any leaders. Their presence shows the importance of the event.
- "Roof" (גַּג, gag): In ancient buildings, flat roofs were often used as gathering spaces. The mention of about three thousand people on the roof emphasizes the massive crowd and the building’s size.
- "Made sport" (שָׂחַק, sakhak): This word means to entertain or amuse, often by mocking or humiliating someone. Samson is being forced to perform in a way that is degrading, not just entertaining.
Why Judges 16:27 matters
- The verse shows the scale of the event and the humiliation Samson faces, making the coming events even more dramatic.
- Noting that all the Philistine rulers are present helps explain the significance of what happens next in the story.
- The detail about the crowd on the roof gives a sense of the building’s structure and the number of people affected by what is about to happen.