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.