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Samson — Samson and Delilah — Peter Paul Rubens

Judge

Samson

Strongest Man

c. 1100-1070 BC

Samson and Delilah — Peter Paul Rubens

Biography

Samson was a Nazirite from birth, set apart by God to begin Israel's deliverance from forty years of Philistine oppression. His miraculous birth was announced by the angel of the LORD, who instructed his parents that no razor should touch his head. Empowered by the Spirit of the LORD, Samson possessed supernatural strength. He killed a lion with bare hands, slaughtered a thousand Philistines with a donkey's jawbone, and carried Gaza's city gates to a hilltop. Yet his great strength was paired with great weakness for Philistine women. His relationship with Delilah proved fatal. Repeatedly she pressed him for the secret of his strength, and repeatedly he lied—until finally, worn down by her nagging, he revealed that his hair had never been cut. She had his head shaved while he slept, and the LORD departed from him. Blinded and grinding grain in prison, Samson's hair began to grow. At a Philistine celebration where thousands gathered to mock him, Samson prayed for strength one final time. Bracing himself against the central pillars, he collapsed the temple on the Philistine lords. In his death, he killed more than in his life—a tragic hero whose potential was never fully realized.

Samson in one verse
Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces.

Judges 14:6→

The Spirit empowered Samson's strength

Key events

  1. 1
    Birth announcedJudges 13:2-24→

    Angel announced Samson's birth as a Nazirite

    Read the verse here
    Judges 13:2-24

    Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children.

  2. 2
    Killed lionJudges 14:5-6→

    Tore a lion apart with bare hands

    Read the verse here
    Judges 14:5-6

    Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,

  3. 3
    Killed 1000 with jawboneJudges 15:14-17→

    Slaughtered Philistines with a donkey's jawbone

    Read the verse here
    Judges 15:14-17

    When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.

  4. 4
    Betrayed by DelilahJudges 16:4-21→

    Revealed secret, was captured and blinded

    Read the verse here
    Judges 16:4-21

    Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

  5. 5
    Death in templeJudges 16:23-30→

    Killed more Philistines in death than in life

    Read the verse here
    Judges 16:23-30

    Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”

More key verses

“O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God.”
Judges 16:28— Samson's final prayer for strength
“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson...”
Hebrews 11:32— Samson named among faith heroes

What they got right, and what they got wrong

Strengths

Supernatural physical strength, faith in final moments, began Israel's deliverance

Weaknesses

Enslaved to lust, careless with his Nazirite vow, arrogant about his gifts, easily manipulated by women

Lessons

Great gifts carry great responsibility. Moral compromise leads to spiritual defeat. God can use even our failures. True repentance opens the door to restoration.

Spiritual significance

Samson warns that great gifts can be wasted through moral compromise. Yet his inclusion in Hebrews 11 shows that faith can shine even through tragic failure.

How Samson points to Jesus

Samson's death—stretching out his arms to destroy enemies and save his people—prefigures Christ on the cross, who through death destroyed the works of the devil.

Samson in Scripture

48 verses use this name, in 2 books. Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, some of these verses may speak of another person called Samson.

First namedJudges 13:24So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him.Last namedHebrews 11:32And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions

Old Testament1 book · 47 mentions

Judges47 mentions

42 further mentions in Judges — read them in the book.

All of Judges→

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