Judges EraOld Testament

Samson

Judges Hebrews

When

c. 1075 BC· In the text

Placed by the story. The date is a rough guide. How the dates are worked out

Name meaning

"of the sun" (from shemesh) · Hebrew

About

Judge of Israel set apart as a Nazirite from birth, giving him supernatural strength. He killed a lion with his bare hands, slew a thousand Philistines with a donkey's jawbone, and carried off the gates of Gaza. His weakness was revealed to Delilah who betrayed him. Captured and blinded, he pulled down the pillars of the Philistine temple, killing himself and more enemies in death than in life.

Relationships

SpouseDelilahLover who betrayed his secret

Key Scripture AppearancesKJV

Judges 13:24

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.Judges 13:24, KJV

Judges 14:6

And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.Judges 14:6, KJV

Judges 16:17

That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.Judges 16:17, KJV

Judges 16:28

And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.Judges 16:28, KJV

Hebrews 11:32

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:Hebrews 11:32, KJV

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