Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

JUDGES 16:8KJV
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Judges 16:8 (KJV)

What does Judges 16:8 mean?

Judges 16:8 describes how the leaders of the Philistines brought Delilah seven fresh, undried cords, and she used them to tie up Samson. This was part of Delilah's attempt to discover the secret of Samson's strength by following his instructions.

In this scene, Delilah is acting on behalf of the Philistine rulers, who want to capture Samson. The "seven green withs" are likely fresh bowstrings or cords made from plants, not yet dried out, which would make them strong and flexible. Delilah is following Samson's false claim that being tied with these cords would make him as weak as any other man, setting up the next part of the story where the Philistines try to overpower him.

The Hebrew behind Judges 16:8

  • "lords" (סְרָנֵי, sĕrānê): This word refers to the rulers or leaders of the Philistines, emphasizing that it was the highest authorities who were involved in the plot against Samson.
  • "withs" (יִתְרִים, yitrim): This term is often understood as cords or bowstrings, specifically made from fresh plant material. The detail that they were "green" or fresh (לַח, laḥ) and "not dried" (לֹא חָרֵב, lo charev) means they were at their strongest and most flexible, highlighting the seriousness of the Philistines' attempt.

Why Judges 16:8 matters

  • This verse shows the lengths to which the Philistine leaders were willing to go to capture Samson, involving their highest officials and using specific materials based on his supposed weakness.
  • The detail about the cords being fresh and undried highlights that the Philistines were not careless—they followed Samson's instructions exactly, showing their desperation and the seriousness of their plot.
  • This moment sets up the pattern of deception and testing between Delilah and Samson, which becomes a key theme in the rest of the chapter.

Where else these words appear

“green” Hebrew H3892 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 30:37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
  • Numbers 6:3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
  • Ezekiel 17:24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.

“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.

“dried” Hebrew H2717 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 8:13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
  • Isaiah 37:18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
  • Jeremiah 51:36 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

“bound” 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.