BibleWord.ai› Bible› Judges› Chapter 16› Verse 11

Judges 16:11

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 16:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he said unto her, If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he said unto her, If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.
Judges 16:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withes which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
9Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withes, as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
10And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
11And he said unto her, If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.
12So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And the liers-in-wait were abiding in the inner chamber. And he brake them off his arms like a thread.
13And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
14And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.
← Judges 16:10Judges 16:12 →
← Full Chapter 16 Judges Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he said unto her, etc.] Abarbinel presents Samson replying to her, that he had told her the truth at first, only forgot one circumstance, that the “cords”, for so he takes the word for “withs” to signify, should be “new”, such as were never used, as follows: if they bind me fast with new ropes, that never were occupied; the word signifies thick ropes, which, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, were trebled, or made of three cords twisted together, and those such as were just made, and had never been put to any use, and so strong and firm: then shall I be weak, and be as another man; (see <071607>Judges 16:7).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Occupied - The margin, “wherewith work hath not been done,” is better. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“If they bind me: Pro 13:3, Pro 13:5, Pro 29:25; Eph 4:25 that never: etc. Heb. wherewith work hath not been done Judges 16:13”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Judges 16 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification