Judges 16:17
New International Version
So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

New Living Translation
Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”

English Standard Version
And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

Berean Standard Bible
Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

King James Bible
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a rasor 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.

New King James Version
that he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

New American Standard Bible
So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.”

NASB 1995
So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.”

NASB 1977
So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like every other man.”

Amplified Bible
Then [finally] he told her everything that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never been used on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like any [other] man.”

Christian Standard Bible
he told her the whole truth and said to her, “My hair has never been cut, because I am a Nazirite to God from birth. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like any other man.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
he told her the whole truth and said to her, “My hair has never been cut, because I am a Nazirite to God from birth. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like any other man.”

American Standard Version
And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazirite 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.

Contemporary English Version
Finally, Samson told her the truth. "I have belonged to God ever since I was born, so my hair has never been cut. If it were ever cut off, my strength would leave me, and I would be as weak as anyone else."

English Revised Version
And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazirite 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Finally, he told her the truth. He told her, "Because I'm a Nazirite, no one has ever cut the hair on my head. I was dedicated to God before I was born. If my hair is ever shaved off, my strength will leave me. Then I'll be like any other man."

Good News Translation
that he finally told her the truth. "My hair has never been cut," he said. "I have been dedicated to God as a nazirite from the time I was born. If my hair were cut, I would lose my strength and be as weak as anybody else."

International Standard Version
So he finally disclosed everything. He told her, "A razor has never touched my head, because I've been a Nazirite for God before I was born. If I am shaved, then my strength will abandon me and I will become weak like every human being."

Majority Standard Bible
Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

NET Bible
Finally he told her his secret. He said to her, "My hair has never been cut, for I have been dedicated to God from the time I was conceived. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be just like all other men."

New Heart English Bible
He told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come on my head; for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I will become weak, and be like any other man."

Webster's Bible Translation
That he told her all his heart, and said to her, There hath not come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazarite to God from my birth: if I be shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

World English Bible
He told her all his heart and said to her, “No razor has ever come on my head; for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me and I will become weak, and be like any other man.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that he declares all his heart to her, and says to her, “A razor has not gone up on my head, for I [am] a Nazarite to God from the womb of my mother; if I have been shaven, then my power has turned aside from me, and I have been weak, and have been as all of mankind.”

Young's Literal Translation
that he declareth to her all his heart, and saith to her, 'A razor hath not gone up on my head, for a Nazarite to God I am from the womb of my mother; if I have been shaven, then hath my power turned aside from me, and I have been weak, and have been as any of the human race.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will announce to her all his heart, and he will say to her, A razor came not up upon my head, for I am devoted to God from my mother's womb: if I were shaved, and my strength removed from me, and I was weak, and was as all men.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then opening the truth of the thing, he said to her: The razor hath never come upon my head, for I am a Nazarite, that is to say, consecrated to God from my mother's womb: if my head be shaven, my strength shall depart from me, and I shall become weak, and shall be like other men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then disclosing the truth of the matter, he said to her: “Iron has never been drawn across my head, for I am a Nazirite, that is, I have been consecrated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head will be shaven, my strength will depart from me, and I will be faint and will be like other men.”

New American Bible
So he told her all that was in his heart and said, “No razor has touched my head, for I have been a nazirite for God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I shall grow weaker and be like anyone else.”

New Revised Standard Version
So he told her his whole secret, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head; for I have been a nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, then my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be like anyone else.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So he told her all his heart, and said to her, There has never come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazarite to God from my mother's womb; if I be shaven, then my strength will depart from me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he revealed to her all his heart and said to her: “A razor has not gone up on my head because I am a Nazarite of God from the womb of my mother; if it is shaved, my power departs from me and I am weak and I am like any man”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he told her all his heart, and said unto her: 'There hath not come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazirite 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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then he told her all his heart, and said to her, A razor has not come upon my head, because I have been a holy one of God from my mother's womb; if then I should be shaven, my strength will depart from me, and I shall be weak, and I shall be as all other men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Delilah Discovers the Secret
16Finally, after she had pressed him daily with her words and pleaded until he was sick to death, 17Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.” 18When Delilah realized that he had revealed to her all that was in his heart, she sent this message to the lords of the Philistines: “Come up once more, for he has revealed to me all that is in his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came to her, bringing the money in their hands.…

Cross References
Numbers 6:5
For the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. He must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long.

Numbers 6:2-21
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, / he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. / All the days of his separation, he is not to eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. ...

Judges 13:5
For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 13:7
But he said to me, ‘Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. Now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.’”

Judges 13:3-5
The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son. / Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean. / For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

1 Samuel 16:13
So 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.

1 Samuel 17:37
David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”

1 Samuel 17:50
Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

1 Samuel 18:12
So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:28
When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

1 Samuel 28:15
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

1 Samuel 28:18
Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.

1 Samuel 28:20
Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.

1 Samuel 31:4
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.


Treasury of Scripture

That he told her all his heart, and said to her, There has not come a razor on my head; for I have been a Nazarite to 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.

all his heart

Proverbs 12:23
A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

Micah 7:5
Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

there hath

Judges 13:5
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Numbers 6:5
All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no rasor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Acts 18:18
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Jump to Previous
Birth Head Heart Mother's Nazarite Nazirite Razor Shaved Shaven Strength Weak Womb
Jump to Next
Birth Head Heart Mother's Nazarite Nazirite Razor Shaved Shaven Strength Weak Womb
Judges 16
1. Samson at Gaza escapes, and carries away the gates of the city
4. Delilah corrupted by the Philistines, entices Samson
6. Thrice she is deceived
15. At last she overcomes him
21. The Philistines take him, and put out his eyes
22. His strength renewing, he pulls down the house upon the Philistines and dies














So he told her all his heart
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Samson and Delilah. The Hebrew word for "heart" here is "לֵב" (lev), which often signifies not just the seat of emotions but also the center of one's will and intellect. Samson's decision to reveal his heart to Delilah indicates a complete and vulnerable disclosure of his innermost being. In the context of ancient Israel, the heart was seen as the core of one's identity and decision-making. This act of revealing his heart signifies a profound trust and surrender, albeit misplaced, as it leads to his downfall. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of giving one's heart to those who do not honor God.

and said to her
The act of speaking in the biblical context often carries weight and consequence. In Hebrew culture, words were seen as powerful and binding. Samson's verbal confession to Delilah is not just a casual conversation but a significant act that sets the course for the events that follow. This highlights the biblical principle that words have the power to create and destroy, to bless and to curse.

No razor has ever come upon my head
This statement refers to the Nazirite vow, a special commitment to God described in Numbers 6:1-21. The vow included abstaining from wine, avoiding contact with the dead, and not cutting one's hair. Samson's long hair was a symbol of his consecration to God and the source of his supernatural strength. The mention of the razor underscores the sacredness of his vow and the divine empowerment that came with it. Historically, the Nazirite vow was a sign of dedication and separation unto the Lord, and breaking it was a serious offense.

because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb
Samson's identity as a Nazirite was divinely ordained even before his birth, as seen in Judges 13:5. The phrase "from my mother’s womb" emphasizes the lifelong nature of his calling and the divine purpose set for him. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such a lifelong dedication was rare and signified a special mission. This underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and purpose in the lives of God's people.

If I am shaved
The conditional "if" introduces the potential for breaking the Nazirite vow. Shaving his head would symbolize the severing of his covenant with God. In the ancient world, hair often symbolized strength and vitality, and for Samson, it was the outward sign of his unique relationship with God. This phrase foreshadows the impending loss of his strength and the spiritual consequences of his actions.

my strength will leave me
Samson's strength was not inherent but was a gift from God, contingent upon his faithfulness to the Nazirite vow. The Hebrew word for "strength" is "כֹּחַ" (koach), which denotes not just physical power but also the ability to accomplish God's purposes. The departure of his strength signifies the withdrawal of God's empowering presence due to his disobedience. This serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience and the reliance on God's power rather than one's own.

and I will become as weak as any other man
This phrase highlights the contrast between Samson's divinely endowed strength and the natural human condition. The implication is that without God's empowerment, Samson is no different from any other person. It serves as a humbling reminder of human frailty and the necessity of divine grace. In the broader biblical narrative, it underscores the theme that true strength and effectiveness come from God alone, not from human effort or ability.

Verse 17. - That he told her. This begins a new sentence. Read, And he told her. Any other man. Rather, like all men. Man, though singular in the Hebrew, is collective as in ver. 7, and as the lier in wait in vers. 9 and 12, and is properly rendered men in English.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
he told
וַיַּגֶּד־ (way·yag·geḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

her
לָ֣הּ (lāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

all that was
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

in his heart:
לִבּ֗וֹ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

“My hair
רֹאשִׁ֔י (rō·šî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7218: The head

has never
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

been cut,
מוֹרָה֙ (mō·w·rāh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4177: A razor

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

I [have been]
אֲנִ֖י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

a Nazirite
נְזִ֧יר (nə·zîr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5139: Nazirite -- one consecrated, devoted

to God
אֱלֹהִ֛ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

from
מִמֶּ֣נִּי (mim·men·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

my mother's
אִמִּ֑י (’im·mî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

womb.
מִבֶּ֣טֶן (mib·be·ṭen)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I am shaved,
גֻּלַּ֙חְתִּי֙ (gul·laḥ·tî)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1548: To be bald, to shave, to lay waste

my strength
כֹחִ֔י (ḵō·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3581: A small reptile (of unknown species)

will leave me,
וְסָ֣ר (wə·sār)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

and I will become as weak
וְחָלִ֥יתִי (wə·ḥā·lî·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2470: To be weak or sick

as
וְהָיִ֖יתִי (wə·hā·yî·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

any
כְּכָל־ (kə·ḵāl-)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

other man.”
הָאָדָֽם׃ (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT History: Judges 16:17 He told her all his heart (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 16:16
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