New International VersionAs he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands.
New Living TranslationAs Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph. But the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists.
English Standard VersionWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.
Berean Standard BibleWhen Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.
King James BibleAnd when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
New King James VersionWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.
New American Standard BibleWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him so that the ropes that were on his arms were like flax that has burned with fire, and his restraints dropped from his hands.
NASB 1995When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily so that the ropes that were on his arms were as flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds dropped from his hands.
NASB 1977 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily so that the ropes that were on his arms were as flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds dropped from his hands.
Legacy Standard Bible When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of Yahweh came upon him mightily so that the ropes that were on his arms were as flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds dropped from his hands.
Amplified BibleWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and the ropes on his arms were like flax (linen) that had been burned, and his bonds dropped off his hands.
Christian Standard BibleWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines came to meet him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully on him, and the ropes that were on his arms and wrists became like burnt flax and fell off.
Holman Christian Standard BibleWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines came to meet him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD took control of him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like burnt flax and his bonds fell off his wrists.
American Standard VersionWhen he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
English Revised VersionWhen he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines met him with shouts [of triumph]. But the LORD's Spirit came over him. The ropes on his arms became like strings burned in a fire, and those on his hands snapped.
Good News TranslationWhen he got to Lehi, the Philistines came running toward him, shouting at him. Suddenly the power of the LORD made him strong, and he broke the ropes around his arms and hands as if they were burnt thread.
International Standard VersionWhen Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, so that the ropes that bound him were like flax that's been burned by fire, and his bonds dissolved.
NET BibleWhen he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the LORD's spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands.
New Heart English BibleWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd when he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his the hands. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.
World English BibleWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burned with fire; and his bands dropped from off his hands. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe has come to Lehi—and the Philistines have shouted at meeting him—and the Spirit of YHWH prospers over him, and the thick bands which [are] on his arms are as flax which they burn with fire, and his bands are melted from off his hands,
Young's Literal Translation He hath come unto Lehi -- and the Philistines have shouted at meeting him -- and the Spirit of Jehovah prospereth over him, and the thick bands which are on his arms are as flax which they burn with fire, and his bands are wasted from off his hands,
Smith's Literal TranslationHe came even to Lehi, and Philisteim shouted at his meeting: and the spirit of Jehovah will come suddenly upon him, and the cords which were upon his arms will be as flax which was burnt in fire, and his bands will melt from off his hands. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNow when he was come to the place of the Jawbone, and the Philistines shouting went to meet him, the spirit of the Lord came strongly upon him: and as the flax is wont to be consumed at the approach of fire, so the bands with which he was bound were broken and loosed.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd when he had arrived at the place of the Jawbone, and the Philistines, shouting aloud, had met him, the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him. And just as flax is usually consumed by a hint of fire, so were the ties with which he was bound broken and released.
New American BibleWhen he reached Lehi, and the Philistines came shouting to meet him, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon him: the ropes around his arms became like flax that is consumed by fire, and his bonds melted away from his hands.
New Revised Standard VersionWhen he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him; and the spirit of the LORD rushed on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when he came to Lehi, the Philistines rose up to kill him; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the chains that were on his arms became like flax that has caught fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd he came unto Lekhi, and the Philistines rose up to kill him and The Spirit of LORD JEHOVAH gave prosperity to him, and the chains that were upon his arms became as fine linen that burned in fire, and the chains were released from his hands OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917When he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd they came to Lechi: and the Philistines shouted, and ran to meet him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as tow which is burnt with fire; and his bonds were consumed from off his hands.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Samson's Revenge… 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. 14When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands. 15He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and struck down a thousand men.…
Cross References Acts 2:2-4Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. / They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. / And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
1 Samuel 11:6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.
Isaiah 59:19So shall they fear the name of the LORD where the sun sets, and His glory where it rises. For He will come like a raging flood, driven by the breath of the LORD.
1 Samuel 16:13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
1 Samuel 10:6Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person.
Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
2 Timothy 1:7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
1 Kings 18:46And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Romans 8:2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
1 Samuel 17:45But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
John 3:8The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
2 Samuel 23:2The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.
Ephesians 6:17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Zechariah 4:6So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.
Judges 5:30
Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? Judges 10:14
Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. Exodus 14:3,5
For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in… the Spirit Judges 3:10
And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. Judges 14:6,19
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… Zechariah 4:6
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. the cords Judges 16:9,12
Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known… 1 Samuel 17:35
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Psalm 18:34
He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. loosed. Jump to Previous Arms Bands Bonds Burned Burnt Cords Dropped Hands Lehi Met Mightily Philistines Ropes Shouted Shouting SpiritJump to Next Arms Bands Bonds Burned Burnt Cords Dropped Hands Lehi Met Mightily Philistines Ropes Shouted Shouting SpiritJudges 15 1. Samson is denied his wife3. He burns the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands6. His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines8. Samson smites them hip and thigh9. He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines14. He kills them with a jawbone18. God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in LehiWhen Samson arrived in LehiLehi is a location in ancient Israel, significant in the narrative of Samson. The name "Lehi" means "jawbone," which is fitting given the events that follow in the chapter. This area was under Philistine control during the time of the Judges, a period characterized by cycles of Israelite disobedience, oppression by foreign powers, cries for deliverance, and the rise of judges like Samson. Samson's arrival in Lehi marks a pivotal moment in his conflict with the Philistines, who were a dominant force in the region. the Philistines came out shouting against him
The Philistines were a seafaring people who settled along the coastal regions of Canaan. They were often in conflict with the Israelites, as seen throughout the book of Judges. Their shouting signifies both a war cry and a display of confidence in their ability to capture Samson, who had been a thorn in their side. This moment reflects the ongoing struggle between the Israelites and the Philistines, a theme that continues into the reigns of Saul and David. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him
The Spirit of the LORD empowering individuals is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Judges. This divine empowerment is not indicative of Samson's personal righteousness but rather God's sovereign choice to use him as an instrument of deliverance for Israel. The Spirit's coming upon Samson mightily signifies a supernatural strength and ability, reminiscent of other judges like Gideon and Jephthah, who were also empowered by the Spirit to deliver Israel from oppression. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax
Flax, when burnt, becomes weak and brittle, easily broken. This imagery highlights the miraculous nature of Samson's deliverance. The ropes, which were meant to bind him securely, become ineffective under the power of the Spirit. This transformation from strong to weak symbolizes God's ability to overturn human constraints and reflects the theme of divine intervention in seemingly impossible situations. and the bonds broke loose from his hands
The breaking of the bonds signifies liberation and foreshadows the victory Samson is about to achieve over the Philistines. This act of breaking free is symbolic of Israel's potential deliverance from their oppressors when they turn to God. It also prefigures the ultimate deliverance found in Jesus Christ, who breaks the bonds of sin and death for humanity. Samson's physical liberation here is a type of the spiritual liberation that Christ offers. Persons / Places / Events 1. SamsonA judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength, which was a gift from God. He was a Nazirite from birth, dedicated to God, and his strength was linked to his uncut hair. 2. PhilistinesA group of people who were enemies of Israel. They oppressed the Israelites during the time of the judges and were often in conflict with them. 3. LehiThe place where the event in Judges 15:14 occurs. The name "Lehi" means "jawbone," which is significant in the context of the account. 4. Spirit of the LORDThe divine presence and power that comes upon Samson, enabling him to perform mighty acts. 5. RopesThe new ropes that bound Samson, which symbolize the Philistines' attempt to control and subdue him. Teaching Points Empowerment by the SpiritJust as the Spirit of the LORD empowered Samson, believers today are empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God's purposes. This empowerment is not for personal gain but for fulfilling God's will. Breaking Free from BondageThe ropes that bound Samson were broken by the power of the Spirit. Similarly, believers can trust in God's power to break the spiritual and emotional bonds that hold them captive. God's Sovereignty in WeaknessSamson's account reminds us that God can use flawed individuals to achieve His purposes. Our weaknesses do not limit God's ability to work through us. Faithfulness to God's CallingSamson's life serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of remaining faithful to God's calling and the consequences of straying from it. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 15:14?
2. How does God's Spirit empower Samson in Judges 15:14 for His purposes?
3. What can we learn about God's deliverance from Samson's victory in Judges 15:14?
4. How does Samson's strength in Judges 15:14 connect to Philippians 4:13?
5. In what ways can we rely on God's strength in daily challenges?
6. How does Judges 15:14 inspire us to trust God's power in adversity?
7. How does Judges 15:14 demonstrate God's power through Samson's actions?
8. What is the significance of the Spirit of the LORD in Judges 15:14?
9. How does Judges 15:14 reflect the theme of divine intervention?
10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 15?
11. How do these supernatural elements in Judges 15 align or conflict with other biblical passages or historical sources describing similar events?
12. What does "God will strengthen you" mean?
13. What is the role of the Tribe of Dan?
14. (2 Samuel 23:8) How could one warrior realistically kill eight hundred men at one time? What Does Judges 15:14 Mean When Samson arrived in Lehi• Lehi had already become a flashpoint (Judges 15:9–10), and Samson’s arrival signals God’s answer to Philistine oppression (Judges 13:5). • The name “Lehi” means “jawbone,” foreshadowing the jawbone Samson will soon wield (Judges 15:15). • God often positions His servants at strategic moments—David at the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:23) and Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:36)—to display His power, not theirs.
The Philistines came out shouting against him• The enemy’s confident shouts echo Goliath’s taunts (1 Samuel 17:10) and the nations’ rage against the LORD’s anointed (Psalm 2:1–3). • Their noise is intimidation, but intimidation cannot overturn God’s calling (Isaiah 41:10). • For believers, opposition often intensifies just before God moves decisively (Acts 4:25-31).
And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him• This is the third record of the Spirit rushing upon Samson (Judges 14:6, 14:19), underscoring that his strength is wholly Spirit-given (Zechariah 4:6). • The verb “came mightily” portrays an overwhelming surge; the same Spirit later empowers Saul (1 Samuel 11:6) and believers at Pentecost (Acts 1:8). • God’s faithfulness shines: despite Samson’s earlier flaws, the Spirit equips him for Israel’s deliverance (2 Timothy 2:13).
The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax• Flax disintegrates to powder when scorched; likewise, man-made restraints crumble under divine power (Nahum 1:6). • Samson had allowed himself to be bound by fellow Israelites (Judges 15:12–13), yet God ensures those very ropes vanish, proving that earthly compromises cannot cancel heavenly purposes (Romans 11:29). • This moment anticipates Paul shaking off a viper in Acts 28:5—another picture of God nullifying threats.
And the bonds broke loose from his hands• Freedom follows empowerment: Samson’s hands, once tied, soon wield judgment (Judges 15:15). • Scripture repeatedly links divine deliverance with immediate action—Peter’s chains fall before he leaves prison (Acts 12:7–8); Lazarus is unbound to walk (John 11:44). • The broken bonds affirm that no obstacle can hinder those whom the Lord sets free (John 8:36).
summaryJudges 15:14 shows a dramatic pattern: the enemy roars, the Spirit rushes in, restraints disintegrate, and God’s servant is liberated to accomplish divine purposes. The verse teaches that intimidation cannot surpass God’s power, Spirit-empowerment overcomes human limitations, and every bondage—literal or spiritual—yields to the Lord’s deliverance. (14) Shouted against him.--Rather, cheered as they came to meet him (LXX., ???????? ??? ?????????? ?????; Vulg., cum vociferantes occurrissent ei) . The verb heerioo is an onomatop?ia, like our "hurrah." This was not a war cry, as in 1Samuel 17:20, but a shout of joy. The cords that were upon his arms became as flax.--It seems clear that the poetical colour and rhythmic structure of the narrative are influenced by some poem which described the deeds of Samson. That was burnt with fire.--In both the LXX. and the Vulg. we find the metaphor, "flax when it has smelt the fire." His bands loosed.--Literally, melted, or flowed off, a highly poetic expression. A legend of Hercules in Egypt, who suddenly burst his bonds and slew the Egyptians who were leading him to sacrifice, may possibly have been coloured by this event in the life of Samson. (See Rawlinson's Herodotus, 2, p. 70.) Verse 14. - When he came, i.e. as soon as he was come to Lehi, where the Philistine camp was (ver. 9). Shouted against him. Rather, shouted as they ran out to meet him. It expresses concisely the double action of their all going out to meet him, and shouting with joy when they saw him bound and, as they thought, in their power.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Whenהוּא־ (hū-)Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are[Samson] arrivedבָ֣א (ḇā)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, goinעַד־ (‘aḏ-)Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, whileLehi,לֶ֔חִי (le·ḥî)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3896: Lehi -- a place probably in Judahthe Philistinesוּפִלְשִׁתִּ֖ים (ū·p̄ə·liš·tîm)Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistiacame out shoutingהֵרִ֣יעוּ (hê·rî·‘ū)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7321: To mar, to split the ears, shoutagainst him.לִקְרָאת֑וֹ (liq·rā·ṯōw)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way And the Spiritר֣וּחַ (rū·aḥ)Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spiritof the LORDיְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelcame mightilyוַתִּצְלַ֨ח (wat·tiṣ·laḥ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6743: To push forwardupon him.עָלָ֜יו (‘ā·lāw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, againstThe ropesהָעֲבֹתִ֜ים (hā·‘ă·ḇō·ṯîm)Article | Noun - common plural
Strong's 5688: Something intwined, a string, wreath, foliageonעַל־ (‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, againsthis armsזְרוֹעוֹתָ֗יו (zə·rō·w·‘ō·w·ṯāw)Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2220: The arm, the foreleg, forcebecameוַתִּהְיֶ֨ינָה (wat·tih·ye·nāh)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, belike burntבָּעֲר֣וּ (bā·‘ă·rū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutishflax,כַּפִּשְׁתִּים֙ (kap·piš·tîm)Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6593: Flax, linenand the bondsאֱסוּרָ֖יו (’ĕ·sū·rāw)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 612: A band, bondbroke looseוַיִּמַּ֥סּוּ (way·yim·mas·sū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4549: To liquefy, to waste, to faintfromמֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, againsthis hands.יָדָֽיו׃ (yā·ḏāw)Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand
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OT History: Judges 15:14 When he came to Lehi the Philistines (Jd Judg. Jdg) |
