image
Judges Chapter قضاۃ باب 16
⬅ Prev Next ➡

Judges 16: Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Verse 1

Scripture: Then went Samson to Gaza and saw there an harlot and went in unto her

  • English Explanation: This verse marks a period of spiritual decline for Samson. Despite being a Judge of Israel, he ventures into the Philistine stronghold of Gaza, showcasing his recurring weakness for forbidden relationships.

  • Urdu Explanation: اس آیت میں شمشون کے روحانی زوال کی نشاندہی ہوتی ہے۔ اسرائیل کا قاضی ہونے کے باوجود وہ غزہ گیا جو کہ فلسطینیوں کا گڑھ تھا اور وہاں ایک بدکار عورت کے پاس ٹھہرا جو اس کی اخلاقی کمزوری کو ظاہر کرتا ہے۔

Verse 2

Scripture: And it was told the Gazites saying Samson is come hither And they compassed him in and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city and were quiet all the night saying In the morning when it is day we shall kill him

  • English Explanation: News of Samson’s presence spreads quickly. His enemies, the Philistines, plan a lethal ambush at the city gates, assuming they can trap him within the walls until dawn.

  • Urdu Explanation: جب اہل غزہ کو معلوم ہوا کہ شمشون وہاں ہے تو انہوں نے اسے گھیر لیا اور شہر کے پھاٹک پر رات بھر گھات لگا کر بیٹھ گئے۔ انہوں نے سوچا کہ صبح ہوتے ہی اسے قتل کر دیں گے۔

Verse 3

Scripture: And Samson lay till midnight and arose at midnight and took the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts and went away with them bar and all and put them upon his shoulders and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron

  • English Explanation: Displaying supernatural strength, Samson doesn’t just escape; he humiliates the Philistines by ripping out the city gates—symbols of power and security—and carrying them miles away toward Hebron.

  • Urdu Explanation: شمشون آدھی رات تک لیٹا رہا پھر اٹھ کر شہر کے پھاٹک کے دونوں پٹ اور چوبیں اکھاڑ لیں اور انہیں اپنے کندھوں پر رکھ کر اس پہاڑی کی چوٹی پر لے گیا جو حبرون کے سامنے ہے۔ یہ اس کی غیر معمولی طاقت کا ثبوت تھا۔

Verse 4

Scripture: And it came to pass afterward that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah

  • English Explanation: Samson enters a fateful relationship with Delilah. The name “Delilah” is often associated with “weakening” or “languishing,” foreshadowing the impact she would have on his life.

  • Urdu Explanation: اس کے بعد شمشون کو وادی سورق کی ایک عورت سے محبت ہو گئی جس کا نام دلیلہ تھا۔ دلیلہ کے معنی کمزور کرنے والے کے ہیں جو شمشون کے مستقبل کی طرف اشارہ تھا۔

Verse 5

Scripture: And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her and said unto her Entice him and see wherein his great strength lieth and by what means we may prevail against him that we may bind him to afflict him and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver

  • English Explanation: The Philistine leaders offer a massive bribe—5,500 pieces of silver in total—to Delilah to betray Samson. They seek to find the source of his divine strength to neutralize him.

  • Urdu Explanation: فلسطینی سرداروں نے دلیلہ کو بڑی رقم کا لالچ دیا تاکہ وہ شمشون کو ورغلا کر اس کی طاقت کا راز معلوم کر سکے تاکہ وہ اسے قابو کر کے ذلیل و خوار کر سکیں۔

Verse 6

Scripture: And Delilah said to Samson Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee

  • English Explanation: Delilah wastes no time and directly questions Samson about his strength. Her persistence begins the psychological battle that eventually wears Samson down.

  • Urdu Explanation: دلیلہ نے شمشون سے پوچھا کہ تمہاری اتنی بڑی طاقت کا راز کیا ہے اور تمہیں کس چیز سے باندھا جائے کہ تم بے بس ہو جاؤ؟

Verse 7

Scripture: And Samson said unto her If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried then shall I be weak and be as another man

  • English Explanation: Samson provides his first false answer, suggesting that fresh, undried bowstrings (withs) would bind his power. He is playing a dangerous game with his secret.

  • Urdu Explanation: شمشون نے اسے پہلا جھوٹا جواب دیا کہ اگر مجھے سات کچی تانتوں سے جو سوکھی نہ ہوں باندھا جائے تو میں عام آدمیوں کی طرح کمزور ہو جاؤں گا۔

Verse 8

Scripture: Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried and she bound him with them

  • English Explanation: The Philistines provide the materials, and Delilah tests Samson’s claim while he is likely resting or unsuspecting.

  • Urdu Explanation: فلسطینی سرداروں نے دلیلہ کو سات کچی تانتیں دیں اور اس نے شمشون کو ان سے باندھ دیا۔

Verse 9

Scripture: 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

  • English Explanation: With soldiers hiding in the room, Delilah cries out a warning. Samson snaps the cords effortlessly, like burnt flax, keeping the source of his strength a mystery.

  • Urdu Explanation: کمرے میں لوگ گھات لگائے بیٹھے تھے۔ جب دلیلہ نے اسے جگایا تو شمشون نے ان تانتوں کو ایسے توڑ دیا جیسے دھاگا آگ لگنے سے ٹوٹ جاتا ہے۔ یوں اس کی طاقت کا راز پوشیدہ رہا۔

Verse 10

Scripture: And Delilah said unto Samson Behold thou hast mocked me and told me lies now tell me I pray thee wherewith thou mightest be bound

  • English Explanation: Delilah uses emotional manipulation, accusing Samson of mocking her and being untruthful, pressuring him to reveal the real secret.

  • Urdu Explanation: دلیلہ نے شمشون سے گلہ کیا کہ تم نے مجھ سے مذاق کیا اور جھوٹ بولا اب مجھے سچ بتاؤ کہ تم کس طرح جکڑے جا سکتے ہو؟

Verse 11

Scripture: 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

  • English Explanation: Samson gives a second false explanation, this time claiming that brand-new ropes that have never been used would subdue him.

  • Urdu Explanation: شمشون نے دوسرا جھوٹ بولا کہ اگر مجھے بالکل نئی رسیوں سے جو کبھی استعمال نہ ہوئی ہوں جکڑ دیا جائے تو میں کمزور ہو جاؤں گا۔

Verse 12

Scripture: Delilah therefore took new ropes and bound him therewith and said unto him The Philistines be upon thee Samson And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber And he brake them from off his arms like a thread

  • English Explanation: The cycle repeats. Delilah binds him with new ropes, the Philistines wait, but Samson snaps them off his arms as if they were thin thread.

  • Urdu Explanation: دلیلہ نے نئی رسیاں لیں اور اسے باندھ دیا۔ پھر وہی پکار لگائی لیکن شمشون نے ان رسیوں کو بھی دھاگے کی طرح توڑ ڈالا۔

Verse 13

Scripture: And Delilah said unto Samson Hitherto thou hast mocked me and told me lies tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound And he said unto her If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web

  • English Explanation: Samson gets closer to the truth by mentioning the “locks of his head.” He tells her that weaving his hair into a loom would incapacitate him.

  • Urdu Explanation: دلیلہ نے پھر اصرار کیا کہ تم اب تک مجھ سے جھوٹ بول رہے ہو۔ شمشون نے اس بار حقیقت کے قریب جاتے ہوئے کہا کہ اگر تم میرے سر کی سات لٹوں کو تانے بانے کے ساتھ بن دو تو میں کمزور ہو جاؤں گا۔

Verse 14

Scripture: And she fastened it with the pin and said unto him The Philistines be upon thee Samson And he awaked out of his sleep and went away with the pin of the beam and with the web

  • English Explanation: While he sleeps, she weaves his hair into the loom. When she wakes him with the alarm, he simply stands up and walks away with the entire weaving equipment attached to his hair.

  • Urdu Explanation: دلیلہ نے ایسا ہی کیا اور کھونٹی سے اسے مضبوط کر دیا لیکن شمشون بیدار ہوتے ہی سارا تانا بانا اور کھونٹی اکھاڑ کر ساتھ لے گیا۔

Verse 15

Scripture: And she said unto him How canst thou say I love thee when thine heart is not with me thou hast mocked me these three times and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth

  • English Explanation: Delilah employs “guilt-tripping,” questioning his love for her. This emotional pressure is the turning point in the narrative.

  • Urdu Explanation: دلیلہ نے جذباتی حربہ استعمال کیا کہ تم کیسے کہہ سکتے ہو کہ مجھے تم سے محبت ہے جبکہ تمہارا دل میرے ساتھ نہیں؟ تم نے تین بار مجھے دھوکہ دیا ہے۔

Verse 16

Scripture: And it came to pass when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him so that his soul was vexed unto death

  • English Explanation: The constant nagging and pressure from Delilah became unbearable for Samson. He reached a breaking point where he no longer cared for the consequences.

  • Urdu Explanation: وہ روزانہ اسے اپنی باتوں سے تنگ کرتی رہی یہاں تک کہ شمشون کی جان عاجز آگئی اور وہ ذہنی طور پر ٹوٹ گیا۔

Verse 17

Scripture: 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

  • English Explanation: Samson finally reveals the truth: his strength is tied to his Nazirite vow, symbolized by his uncut hair. To shave it is to break his covenant with God.

  • Urdu Explanation: آخر کار اس نے اپنے دل کا سارا راز کھول دیا کہ میں پیدائشی طور پر خدا کا نذیر ہوں اور میرے سر پر کبھی استرا نہیں پھرا۔ اگر میرے بال کاٹ دیے جائیں تو میری طاقت ختم ہو جائے گی۔

Verse 18

Scripture: And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines saying Come up this once for he hath shewed me all his heart Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her and brought money in their hand

  • English Explanation: Recognizing the sincerity in his voice, Delilah summons the Philistine lords one last time, and they arrive ready to pay the reward.

  • Urdu Explanation: جب دلیلہ کو یقین ہو گیا کہ اس بار شمشون نے سچ بولا ہے تو اس نے فلسطینی سرداروں کو بلوایا اور وہ چاندی لے کر پہنچ گئے۔

Verse 19

Scripture: And she made him sleep upon her knees and she called for a man and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head and she began to afflict him and his strength went from him

  • English Explanation: In a moment of extreme vulnerability, Samson sleeps on Delilah’s lap. She has his hair shaved off, and as the vow is broken, his supernatural strength leaves him.

  • Urdu Explanation: دلیلہ نے شمشون کو اپنے گھٹنوں پر سلا دیا اور ایک آدمی کو بلا کر اس کے سر کی ساتوں لٹیں منڈوا دیں۔ اس کے ساتھ ہی اس کی طاقت رخصت ہو گئی۔

Verse 20

Scripture: 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

  • English Explanation: The most tragic verse: Samson wakes up thinking he can still fight, unaware that because he broke his consecration, the Spirit of the Lord has left him.

  • Urdu Explanation: جب دلیلہ نے پکارا تو شمشون یہ سوچ کر اٹھا کہ وہ پہلے کی طرح بچ نکلے گا لیکن اسے معلوم نہ تھا کہ اس کا رب (خداوند) اسے چھوڑ چکا ہے۔

Verse 21

Scripture: But the Philistines took him and put out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with fetters of brass and he did grind in the prison house

  • English Explanation: The Philistines capture, blind, and enslave Samson. He is taken back to Gaza—the same city whose gates he once tore down—to perform the menial labor of an animal.

  • Urdu Explanation: فلسطینیوں نے اسے پکڑ لیا اور اس کی آنکھیں نکال دیں۔ اسے غزہ لے جا کر پیتل کی زنجیروں سے جکڑ دیا گیا اور وہ قید خانے میں چکی پیسنے لگا۔