And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.

JUDGES 16:5KJV
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Judges 16:5 (KJV)

What does Judges 16:5 mean?

Judges 16:5 describes how the leaders of the Philistines approached Delilah and asked her to seduce Samson in order to discover the secret of his great strength, promising her a large sum of silver if she succeeded. The verse shows the Philistines’ determination to capture Samson by using Delilah to uncover what made him so powerful.

In this scene, the "lords" of the Philistines (their rulers) come to Delilah, who is close to Samson, and ask her to "entice" him—meaning to lure or persuade him—to reveal the source of his strength. Their goal is to find out how they can overpower and bind Samson, so they can "afflict" or harm him. Each leader offers Delilah eleven hundred pieces of silver, showing how serious and desperate they are to defeat Samson, who has been a major threat to them.

The Hebrew behind Judges 16:5

  • "Entice" (פָּתָה, pathah): This word means to persuade, seduce, or lure someone into doing something. Here, it highlights that the Philistine leaders are asking Delilah to use personal influence and deception, not force, to get Samson’s secret.
  • "Strength" (כֹּחַ, koach): This word means physical power or might. The Philistines are not just curious about Samson’s abilities—they want to know the exact source of his unusual power so they can neutralize it.
  • "Afflict" (עָנָה, anah): This word often means to humble, oppress, or cause suffering. The Philistines’ intent is not just to capture Samson, but to humiliate and harm him once he is powerless.
  • "Silver" (כֶּסֶף, keseph): The large amount of silver offered to Delilah underlines how valuable Samson’s capture is to the Philistines and the extent of their resources and motivation.

Why Judges 16:5 matters

  • Judges 16:5 explains why Delilah is motivated to betray Samson, showing that her actions are driven by a significant financial reward rather than personal feelings.
  • The verse highlights the Philistines’ strategy: instead of direct confrontation, they use manipulation and bribery, revealing their desperation and cunning.
  • This verse sets up the unfolding drama of Samson’s downfall, making it clear that his vulnerability comes not from his enemies’ strength, but from betrayal by someone close to him.

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 16:30 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.

“Entice” Hebrew H6601 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 9:27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
  • Proverbs 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

“bind” Hebrew H631 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 39:20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
  • 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.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

“afflict” Hebrew H6031 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
  • 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.
  • Psalms 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.