He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.”
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to her, “If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.”
- KJV And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
- NKJV So he said to her, “If they bind me securely with new ropes that have never been used, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”
- NASB Then he said to her, “If they bind me tightly with new ropes which have not been used, then I will become weak and be like any other man.”
- NLT Samson replied, “If I were tied up with brand-new ropes that had never been used, I would become as weak as anyone else.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Samson offers a second lie: new, unused ropes would weaken him. He keeps playing a dangerous game.
Overview
This false answer recalls the new ropes that failed to hold him in Judah (15:13). Samson edges closer to the truth without disclosing it, showing both his cunning and his folly. His refusal to flee reveals a man dulled to danger, presuming his strength makes him untouchable.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Prov 29:25The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
- Eph 4:25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
- Prov 13:3He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
- Judg 15:13“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.
- Prov 13:5The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 16:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.