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So the [five] lords (governors) of the Philistines came to her and said to her, “Persuade him, and see where his great strength lies and [find out] how we may overpower him so that we may bind him to subdue him. And each of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.” So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies and with what you may be bound and subdued.” Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh cords ([a]tendons) that have not been dried, then I will be weak and be like any [other] man.”

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 16:7 Animal tendons were used as bowstrings. When they were freshly cut, they would contract as they dried, and Samson pretended that he would be incapacitated at that point.

The rulers of the Philistines(A) went to her and said, “See if you can lure(B) him into showing you the secret of his great strength(C) and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels[a] of silver.”(D)

So Delilah(E) said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 16:5 That is, about 28 pounds or about 13 kilograms