Judges 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.

◄ Judges 15:13 ►

New International Version
“Agreed,” they answered. “We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.

New Living Translation
“We will only tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines,” they replied. “We won’t kill you.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

English Standard Version
They said to him, “No; we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will surely not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

Berean Standard Bible
“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.

King James Bible
And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.

New King James Version
So they spoke to him, saying, “No, but we will tie you securely and deliver you into their hand; but we will surely not kill you.” And they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

New American Standard Bible
So they said to him, “No, but we will bind you tightly and give you into their hands; but we certainly will not kill you.” Then they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

NASB 1995
So they said to him, “No, but we will bind you fast and give you into their hands; yet surely we will not kill you.” Then they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

NASB 1977
So they said to him, “No, but we will bind you fast and give you into their hands; yet surely we will not kill you.” Then they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they said to him, “No, but we will bind you fast and give you into their hands; yet surely we will not put you to death.” Then they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

Amplified Bible
So they said to him, “No, we will [only] bind you securely and place you into their hands; but we certainly will not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock [of Etam].

Christian Standard Bible
“No,” they said, “we won’t kill you, but we will tie you up securely and hand you over to them.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and led him away from the rock.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
No,” they said, “we won’t kill you, but we will tie you up securely and hand you over to them.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and led him away from the rock.

American Standard Version
And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

English Revised Version
And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They told him, "We promise we'll only tie you up and hand you over to them. We certainly won't kill you." So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him back from the cliff.

Good News Translation
"All right," they said, "we are only going to tie you up and hand you over to them. We won't kill you." So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him back from the cliff.

International Standard Version
So they said, "No, we won't. But we're going to tie you up securely and transfer you to their custody. But we won't kill you." Then they bound him with two ropes and brought him up from the caves.

Majority Standard Bible
?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.

NET Bible
They said to him, "We promise! We will only take you prisoner and hand you over to them. We promise not to kill you." They tied him up with two brand new ropes and led him up from the cliff.

New Heart English Bible
They spoke to him, saying, "No; but we will bind you fast, and deliver you into their hand; but surely we will not kill you." They bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they spoke to him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.

World English Bible
They spoke to him, saying, “No, but we will bind you securely and deliver you into their hands; but surely we will not kill you.” They bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they speak to him, saying, “No, but we certainly bind you, and have given you into their hand, and we certainly do not put you to death”; and they bind him with two thick bands, new ones, and bring him up from the rock.

Young's Literal Translation
And they speak to him, saying, No, but we certainly bind thee, and have given thee into their hand, and we certainly do not put thee to death;' and they bind him with two thick bands, new ones, and bring him up from the rock.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say to him, saying, No; but binding, we will bind thee and give thee into their hand: and killing, we will not kill thee. And they will bind him with two new cords and will bring him up from the rock.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
They said: We will not kill thee: but we will deliver thee up bound. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him from the rock Etam.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They said: “We will not kill you. But we will deliver you tied.” And they bound him with two new cords. And they took him from the rock at Etam.

New American Bible
“No,” they replied, “we will only bind you and hand you over to them. We will certainly not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the crag.

New Revised Standard Version
They said to him, “No, we will only bind you and give you into their hands; we will not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And they said to him, No; but we will bind you and deliver you into their hands; but surely we will not kill you. So they bound him with two new chains and brought him up from the rock.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They said to him, “No, but certainly to bind you, and we will deliver you into their hands, and certainly we will not kill you!” And they bound him with two new chains, and they brought him from the precipice where he was

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And they spoke unto him, saying: 'No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand; but surely we will not kill thee.' And they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they spoke to him, saying, Nay, but we will only bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand, and will by no means slay thee: and they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him from that rock.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Samson's Revenge
…12But they said to him, “We have come down to arrest you and hand you over to the Philistines.” Samson replied, “Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves.” 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.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Judges 16:21
Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.

Judges 16:11-12
He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.” / So Delilah took new ropes, tied him up with them, and called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But while the men were hidden in her room, he snapped the ropes off his arms like they were threads.

1 Samuel 17:51
David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

1 Samuel 18:25
Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 23:12-13
So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD. / Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

2 Kings 6:19
And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

2 Kings 25:7
And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

Jeremiah 38:6
So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

Jeremiah 40:1
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

Matthew 27:2
They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.

Mark 15:1
Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

Luke 22:63
The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.

John 18:12
Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.

John 18:24
Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Acts 12:6
On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.

Treasury of Scripture

And they spoke to him, saying, No; but we will bind you fast, and deliver you into their hand: but surely we will not kill you. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.

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Agreed Bands Bind Bound Cords Death Deliver Hand Hands Kill Led New Rock Ropes Round Speak Surely Thick Tie

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Agreed Bands Bind Bound Cords Death Deliver Hand Hands Kill Led New Rock Ropes Round Speak Surely Thick Tie

Judges 15

1. Samson is denied his wife
3. He burns the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands
6. His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines
8. Samson smites them hip and thigh
9. He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines
14. He kills them with a jawbone
18. God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

“No,” they answered,
This response comes from the men of Judah, who are speaking to Samson. The context is a negotiation between Samson and his fellow Israelites, who are under Philistine oppression. The Israelites are attempting to avoid further conflict with the Philistines by handing Samson over. This reflects the Israelites' fear and subjugation under Philistine rule, highlighting their lack of faith in God's deliverance through Samson.

“we will not kill you,
The men of Judah assure Samson that they will not harm him themselves. This promise indicates a level of respect or fear for Samson, acknowledging his role as a judge and deliverer of Israel. It also reflects the cultural and legal norms of the time, where blood vengeance and familial ties were significant, and killing a fellow Israelite could lead to internal conflict.

but we will tie you up securely
The act of tying Samson securely suggests a desire to ensure he cannot escape or cause harm. This reflects the Israelites' pragmatic approach to dealing with the Philistines, prioritizing their immediate safety over trust in Samson's divine mission. The use of ropes also symbolizes the Israelites' spiritual bondage and lack of faith, as they rely on human means rather than divine intervention.

and hand you over to them.”
The intention to hand Samson over to the Philistines shows the Israelites' desperation to appease their oppressors. This act of betrayal is reminiscent of other biblical instances where God's chosen leaders face rejection by their own people, such as Joseph being sold by his brothers or Jesus being handed over by Judas. It underscores the recurring theme of God's deliverers being misunderstood and rejected.

So they bound him with two new ropes
The use of "two new ropes" emphasizes the Israelites' determination to ensure Samson's captivity. New ropes would be stronger and less likely to break, indicating their fear of his strength. This detail foreshadows the miraculous nature of Samson's eventual escape, as it highlights the futility of human efforts against God's power. The binding of Samson can also be seen as a type of Christ, who was bound and led to crucifixion, yet ultimately triumphed over death.

and led him up from the rock.
The phrase "led him up from the rock" suggests a geographical movement from a place of refuge or hiding. The rock may symbolize a place of strength or divine protection, as rocks often do in biblical literature. This movement away from the rock can be seen as a departure from God's protection due to the Israelites' lack of faith. It also sets the stage for God's power to be displayed through Samson's subsequent actions, reinforcing the theme of deliverance despite human failure.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Samson
A judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength, which was a gift from God. He was a Nazirite, dedicated to God from birth.

2. The Men of Judah
Fellow Israelites who, out of fear of the Philistines, agreed to bind Samson and hand him over to their enemies.

3. The Philistines
The oppressors of Israel during this period. They were a constant threat and enemy to the Israelites.

4. The Rock of Etam
A location where Samson took refuge before being handed over to the Philistines.

5. New Ropes
Symbolic of the fresh attempts to bind and control Samson, representing the ongoing struggle between Israel and their oppressors.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty in Deliverance
Despite human fear and compromise, God’s plans for deliverance prevail. Samson’s account reminds us that God can use flawed individuals to achieve His purposes.

The Danger of Compromise
The men of Judah chose to compromise with the Philistines rather than trust in God’s deliverance. This serves as a warning against compromising our faith out of fear.

Strength in Weakness
Samson’s physical strength was a gift from God, but his true strength lay in his calling and purpose. We must recognize that our abilities are from God and should be used for His glory.

Faith Amidst Fear
The Israelites’ fear of the Philistines led them to act against one of their own. This challenges us to trust God even when circumstances seem overwhelming.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Brought him up from the rock.--Again the details are uncertain. Was Samson's cave down the steep side of a cliff? Such caves are common in Palestine, and such a situation would explain these expressions. (See Josephus, Antt. xiv. 15, ? 5, where he says that the brigands' caves were inaccessible against a few defenders, either from below or from above, and that Herod could only attack the robbers by letting down soldiers in chests from the top of the precipices.)

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“No,”
לֹ֚א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

they answered,
וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“we will not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

kill you,
וְהָמֵ֖ת (wə·hā·mêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

but
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

we will tie you up securely
אָסֹ֤ר (’ā·sōr)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle

and hand you over to
וּנְתַנּ֣וּךָ (ū·nə·ṯan·nū·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

them.”
בְיָדָ֔ם (ḇə·yā·ḏām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

So they bound him
וַיַּאַסְרֻ֗הוּ (way·ya·’as·ru·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle

with two
בִּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ (biš·na·yim)
Preposition-b | Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

new
חֲדָשִׁ֔ים (ḥă·ḏā·šîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2319: New

ropes
עֲבֹתִ֣ים (‘ă·ḇō·ṯîm)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 5688: Something intwined, a string, wreath, foliage

and led him up
וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּהוּ (way·ya·‘ă·lū·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the rock.
הַסָּֽלַע׃ (has·sā·la‘)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5553: A craggy rock

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OT History: Judges 15:13 They spoke to him saying No (Jd Judg. Jdg)