Judges 16:7 (KJV)

What does Judges 16:7 mean?

Judges 16:7 records Samson telling Delilah that if he is tied up with seven fresh, undried cords, he will become as weak as any other man. Samson is not telling the truth here, but is instead giving Delilah a false way to take away his strength.

In this verse, Samson is speaking to Delilah, who is trying to discover the secret of his strength at the request of the Philistine rulers. The "seven green withs" refers to fresh, flexible cords that have not yet dried out. Samson claims that being bound with these would make him lose his strength and become like any ordinary man, but he is misleading Delilah as part of their ongoing interaction.

The Hebrew behind Judges 16:7

• "Green" (לַח, laḥ) means fresh or moist, emphasizing that the cords are newly made and not brittle. This detail shows that Samson is describing a binding that would be strong and hard to break.
• "Withs" (יִתְרִים, yit'rim) refers to cords or bowstrings, often made from animal tendons or plant fibers. The choice of this word suggests something strong and flexible, not easily snapped.
• "Weak" (חָלָה, chalah) is a verb that often means to become weak, sick, or powerless. Samson is claiming he would lose his extraordinary strength and become vulnerable.

Why Judges 16:7 matters

• This verse shows Samson intentionally misleading Delilah, which sets the stage for the repeated pattern of her questioning and his deceptive answers.
• The specific mention of "seven" and "green withs" adds detail to the story, highlighting the seriousness of Delilah's attempts and the creativity of Samson's responses.
• Understanding the materials and words used helps clarify that Samson is not just making up a random answer, but describing something that would seem plausible as a restraint to someone unfamiliar with the true source of his strength.