Judges 16:20
Judges 16:20 in Multiple Translations
Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he knew not that Jehovah was departed from him.
Then she said, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And awaking from his sleep, he said, I will go out as at other times, shaking myself free. But he was not conscious that the Lord had gone from him.
She shouted out, “Samson, the Philistines are here to get you!” Samson woke up and thought to himself, “I'll do like before and shake myself free.” But he didn't know that the Lord had left him.
Then she said, The Philistims be vpon thee, Samson. And hee awoke out of his sleepe, and thought, I will go out now as at other times, and shake my selfe, but he knewe not that the Lord was departed from him.
and she saith, 'Philistines [are] upon thee, Samson;' and he awaketh out of his sleep, and saith, 'I go out as time by time, and shake myself;' and he hath not known that Jehovah hath turned aside from off him.
She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” He awoke out of his sleep, and said, “I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free.” But he didn’t know that the LORD had departed from him.
And she said, the Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he knew not that the LORD had departed from him.
And she said: The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And awaking from sleep, he said in his mind: I will go out as I did before, and shake myself, not knowing that the Lord was departed from him.
Then after she tied him up, she called out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” He woke up and thought, “I will do as I did before. I will shake these ropes off myself and be free!” But he did not realize that Yahweh had left him.
Berean Amplified Bible — Judges 16:20
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Judges 16:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Judges 16:20
Study Notes — Judges 16:20
- Context
- Cross References
- Judges 16:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Judges 16:20
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 16:20
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 16:20
- Trapp's Commentary on Judges 16:20
- Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 16:20
- Cambridge Bible on Judges 16:20
- Barnes' Notes on Judges 16:20
- Whedon's Commentary on Judges 16:20
- Sermons on Judges 16:20
Context — Delilah Learns the Secret
20Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison. 22However, the hair of his head began to grow back after it had been shaved.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 14:42–43 | Do not go up, lest you be struck down by your enemies, because the LORD is not among you. For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, He will not be with you.” |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 16:14 | After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him. |
| 3 | Joshua 7:12 | This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 18:12 | So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. |
| 5 | 2 Chronicles 15:2 | So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. |
| 6 | Isaiah 59:1–2 | Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. |
| 7 | 1 Samuel 28:14–16 | “What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence. Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? |
| 8 | 2 Corinthians 3:5 | Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. |
| 9 | Judges 16:14 | So while he slept, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the web. Then she tightened it with a pin and called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin with the loom and the web. |
| 10 | Isaiah 42:24 | Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and they would not obey His law. |
Judges 16:20 Summary
[Judges 16:20 teaches us that our strength comes from the Lord, and when we rely on our own abilities, we can fall into trouble, as seen in the story of Samson. This verse reminds us to always depend on God's power and presence in our lives, as stated in Philippians 4:13. By recognizing our limitations and trusting in the Lord, we can avoid the pitfalls of self-reliance and walk in the strength and wisdom that comes from Him, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Samson's strength in Judges 16:20?
According to Judges 16:19, Samson's strength left him when Delilah shaved off the seven braids of his head, and as stated in Judges 16:20, he did not know that the LORD had departed from him, which further explains his loss of strength.
Why did Samson think he could escape as he did before?
Samson thought he could escape as he did before because he was relying on his past experiences and his physical strength, as seen in previous chapters of Judges, but he failed to recognize that his strength came from the Lord, as stated in Judges 16:20.
What is the significance of the phrase 'the LORD had departed from him' in Judges 16:20?
The phrase 'the LORD had departed from him' signifies that God's presence and empowerment had left Samson, much like what happened to King Saul in 1 Samuel 16:14, and this departure of the Lord's presence is what led to Samson's downfall.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual strength?
This verse highlights the importance of spiritual strength, which comes from the Lord, as stated in Psalm 28:7, and warns against relying solely on physical strength or past experiences, as seen in the story of Samson's life in the book of Judges.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be relying on my own strength rather than the Lord's?
- How can I, like Samson, fail to recognize when the Lord's presence has departed from me, and what are the consequences of such failure?
- In what ways can I cultivate a deeper dependence on the Lord's strength and presence in my life, as encouraged in Isaiah 40:31?
- What lessons can I learn from Samson's mistakes, and how can I apply them to my own walk with the Lord, as warned in 1 Corinthians 10:12?
Gill's Exposition on Judges 16:20
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 16:20
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 16:20
Trapp's Commentary on Judges 16:20
Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 16:20
Cambridge Bible on Judges 16:20
Barnes' Notes on Judges 16:20
Whedon's Commentary on Judges 16:20
Sermons on Judges 16:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Grieving the Holy Spirit by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the experience of feeling distant from God and lacking spiritual understanding, comfort, and power. He emphasizes the need for individuals and |
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Prison Houses by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher shares a powerful story of a man named Bob who was tormented by a demonic spirit for four years. The preacher and Bob took authority over the demons in |
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A Silent Church Amidst a Sinful Nation by E.A. Johnston | In this sermon, the speaker highlights the current state of the Christian Church, describing it as helpless and facing powers of darkness. He emphasizes that the Church has substit |
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Where Is Your Strength by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher talks about a man who was a menace to his enemies. His enemies tried to find his secret and eventually captured him. They bound him, blinded him, and m |
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Sovereignty and Salvation by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the simplicity and universality of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. He highlights the power of a simple act of looking to Jesus for |
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Beth Shemesh: Beware of Lust by John Barnett | This sermon delves into the tragic story of Samson from Judges 16, highlighting how he lost everything due to being dominated by lust and a vengeful spirit. Samson's life serves as |
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(Following the Footsteps of Christ) the First Saying on the Cross by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of perseverance in prayer, using the example of Daniel from the Bible. He highlights how Daniel mourned and fasted for three |






