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.

JUDGES 16:30KJV
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Judges 16:30 (KJV)

What does Judges 16:30 mean?

Judges 16:30 describes Samson’s final act, where he asks to die with the Philistines and then uses his remaining strength to bring down the building, killing himself and many Philistines. The verse notes that Samson killed more people in his death than during his entire life.

Samson is speaking to God and the Philistines, having been captured and blinded by them. In this moment, Samson is in the Philistines’ temple, chained between two pillars during a celebration. By pulling down the pillars, Samson causes the building to collapse on the Philistine leaders and crowd, ending his own life and theirs in a single, dramatic event.

The Hebrew behind Judges 16:30

  • “Die” (מוּת, mût): This word is used for both Samson’s request to die and the description of those who died. It shows that Samson willingly accepts his own death as part of his final act.
  • “Might” (כֹּחַ, koach): The word for “might” emphasizes that Samson’s strength, even at the end, is central to the story. The verse highlights that Samson’s physical power is still remarkable, even after his suffering.
  • “Lords” (סְרָנִים, seranim): This word refers to the Philistine rulers present in the temple. The verse points out that Samson’s action struck at the highest levels of Philistine leadership, not just ordinary people.
  • “House” (בַּיִת, bayit): The word for “house” here means the temple or building where the Philistines gathered. The destruction of the “house” symbolizes the collapse of Philistine power in that moment.

Why Judges 16:30 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Samson’s greatest impact against the Philistines happened at the moment of his death, not during his years as a judge, which may surprise readers familiar with his earlier exploits.
  • The focus on the Philistine “lords” shows the event’s political and symbolic weight, as Samson’s final act targets the leaders and not just the common people.
  • The verse connects back to the larger story of Samson’s life, showing how his strength, even when misused or lost, ultimately fulfills his role as an adversary to the Philistines.

Where else these words appear

“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 16:27 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.
  • 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.

“Samson” Hebrew H8123 · used in 37 verses

  • Judges 13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
  • Judges 15:4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
  • Judges 16:9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.

“might” Hebrew H3581 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
  • 2 Chronicles 25:8 But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
  • Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.