Bible Strands
Judges 16:11
He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samson speaks to Delilah in direct response to her demand for his restraint method, marking their second confrontation.
The words — The Hebrew employs אִם־ (’im, “if”) and חֲדָשִׁים (ḥadašîm, “new”) to construct a conditional statement about untested binding cords.
The thread — The danger of deceptive speech and its consequences appears in Proverbs 13:3 and Proverbs 29:25, while Ephesians 4:25 commands believers to put off falsehood.
Why it lands — The text records Samson’s false claim that untested ropes would weaken him, requiring readers to confront how repeated deception erodes trust and precipitates downfall.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
- Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
- Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
- Judges 15:13 “No,” they answered, “we will not kill you, but we will tie you up securely and hand you over to them.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.
- Proverbs 13:5 The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.