Judges 16:21
New International Version
Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.

New Living Translation
So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.

English Standard Version
And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.

New American Standard Bible
Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and restrained him with bronze chains, and he became a grinder in the prison.

NASB 1995
Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.

NASB 1977
Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.

Amplified Bible
Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with [two] bronze chains; and he was forced to be a grinder [of grain into flour at the mill] in the prison.

Christian Standard Bible
The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles, and he was forced to grind grain in the prison.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles, and he was forced to grind grain in the prison.

American Standard Version
And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.

Contemporary English Version
The Philistines grabbed Samson and poked out his eyes. They took him to the prison in Gaza and chained him up. Then they put him to work, turning a millstone to grind grain.

English Revised Version
And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Philistines grabbed him. They poked out his eyes and took him to the prison in Gaza. They tied him up with double chains and made him grind grain in the mill there.

Good News Translation
The Philistines captured him and put his eyes out. They took him to Gaza, chained him with bronze chains, and put him to work grinding at the mill in the prison.

International Standard Version
Then the Philistines grabbed him, gouged out his eyes, brought him down to Gaza, tied him up in bronze chains, and made him grind grain in their prison.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
The Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him in bronze chains. He became a grinder in the prison.

New Heart English Bible
The Philistines seized him, and gouged out his eyes. And they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with bronze shackles, and he ground at the mill in the prison.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
The Philistines laid hold on him and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with fetters of bronze; and he ground at the mill in the prison.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the Philistines seize him, and pick out his eyes, and bring him down to Gaza, and bind him with two bronze chains; and he is grinding in the prison-house.

Young's Literal Translation
And the Philistines seize him, and pick out his eyes, and bring him down to Gaza, and bind him with two brazen fetters; and he is grinding in the prison-house.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Philisteim will seize him, and they will bore out his eyes, and will bring him down to Gaza and bind him with fetters of brass, and he will be grinding in the house of bonds.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then the Philistines seized upon him, and forthwith pulled out his eyes, and led him bound in chains to Gaza, and shutting him up in prison made him grind.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when the Philistines had seized him, they immediately plucked out his eyes. And they led him, bound in chains, to Gaza. And enclosing him in a prison, they made him work a millstone.

New American Bible
But the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. Then they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze fetters, and he was put to grinding grain in the prison.

New Revised Standard Version
So the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles; and he ground at the mill in the prison.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the Philistines seized him, and put out his eyes and bound him with fetters and brought him down to Gaza, and he did grind wheat in the prison house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Philistines seized him and they put out his eyes, and they bound him with chains, and they took him down to Azath, and he was grinding meal in the house of prisoners
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he ground in the prison-house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Delilah Discovers the Secret
20Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. 21Then 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. 22However, the hair of his head began to grow back after it had been shaved.…

Cross References
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 39:7
Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon.

2 Samuel 12:11
This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.

Lamentations 5:13
Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.

Isaiah 42:7
to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.

2 Kings 25:4-6
Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him. / The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him.

Jeremiah 52:11
Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon, where he kept him in custody until his dying day.

Isaiah 3:1-3
For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water, / the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder, / the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.

2 Chronicles 33:11
So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

Psalm 107:10-12
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains, / because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. / He humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

Matthew 18:34
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.

Acts 12:4
He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

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

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

Acts 16:23-24
And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. / On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.


Treasury of 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.

and put out.

Proverbs 5:22
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Proverbs 14:14
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

Judges 2:19
And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

bound him

2 Kings 25:7
And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 33:11
Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

Psalm 107:10-12
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; …

grind

Exodus 11:5
And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

Isaiah 47:2
Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.

Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Jump to Previous
Bound Brass Chaining Chains Crushing Eyes Hold House Laid Mill Philistines Pick Prison Prison-House Seize Seized Shackles Work
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Bound Brass Chaining Chains Crushing Eyes Hold House Laid Mill Philistines Pick Prison Prison-House Seize Seized Shackles Work
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














Then the Philistines seized him
This phrase marks the culmination of Samson's betrayal by Delilah, highlighting the consequences of his repeated disobedience and failure to adhere to his Nazirite vow. The Philistines, long-time enemies of Israel, finally capture Samson, symbolizing the triumph of pagan forces over God's chosen judge due to his personal failings.

gouged out his eyes
The act of gouging out Samson's eyes is both literal and symbolic. It represents the loss of his physical sight and the spiritual blindness that led to his downfall. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, blinding a captive was a common practice to humiliate and incapacitate them. This act also serves as a metaphor for Samson's inability to see the spiritual truths and consequences of his actions.

and brought him down to Gaza
Gaza was one of the five major Philistine cities and a place where Samson had previously demonstrated his strength (Judges 16:1-3). His being brought back to Gaza signifies a reversal of his earlier triumphs and underscores the Philistines' dominance over him. Gaza's location as a fortified city along the coastal plain made it a strategic and symbolic site for the Philistines.

where he was bound with bronze shackles
Bronze shackles indicate the severity of Samson's captivity. Bronze, a strong metal, symbolizes the strength of his bondage and the Philistines' determination to prevent any further threat from him. This imagery contrasts with Samson's previous freedom and strength, highlighting his complete subjugation.

and forced to grind grain in the prison
Grinding grain was typically a task for slaves or women, emphasizing Samson's humiliation and the loss of his status as a judge and leader of Israel. This menial labor in prison reflects his fall from a divinely empowered deliverer to a powerless captive. The image of grinding grain also foreshadows his eventual redemption and final act of strength, as it sets the stage for his ultimate sacrifice and victory over the Philistines.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Samson
A judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength, which was a gift from God tied to his Nazirite vow. His downfall came through his relationship with Delilah, who betrayed him to the Philistines.

2. Philistines
A group of people who were enemies of Israel. They captured Samson after Delilah revealed the secret of his strength.

3. Gaza
A Philistine city where Samson was taken after his capture. It symbolizes the place of his humiliation and suffering.

4. Delilah
Although not mentioned in this specific verse, she played a crucial role in Samson's capture by betraying him to the Philistines.

5. Prison
Represents the physical and spiritual bondage that Samson experienced as a result of his disobedience and the consequences of his actions.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Disobedience
Samson's capture and suffering are direct results of his disobedience to God's commands. This serves as a reminder of the serious consequences that can follow when we stray from God's path.

The Danger of Pride and Complacency
Samson's account illustrates how pride and complacency can lead to a fall. Believers are encouraged to remain humble and vigilant in their walk with God.

God's Sovereignty and Redemption
Despite Samson's failures, God used him to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines. This demonstrates God's ability to work through our weaknesses and failures for His purposes.

The Importance of Spiritual Vigilance
Samson's physical blindness is symbolic of his spiritual blindness. Believers are called to remain spiritually vigilant and aware of the enemy's schemes.

Hope in Repentance
Samson's account ends with a redemptive act, showing that repentance and turning back to God can lead to restoration and fulfillment of God's purposes.(21) Put out his eyes.--the margin, "bored out," is more correct. The Arabic version has the curious gloss that they burnt out his eyes with the red-hot style with which stibium (see Job 42:14) is applied to the eyes. To blind a man was the most effectual humiliation (2Kings 25:7). The story of Evenius, a priest of the sun-god, who is blinded by the people of Apollonia, who thereby incur the anger of the gods, seems to move in a similar circle of ideas to this.

Fetters of brass.--Literally, two brasses--i.e., pairs of brazen fetters (nechushtarim).

He did grind in the prison house.--This was the degrading work of slaves and females (Exodus 11:5; Isaiah 47:2). Grotius in a curious note says that slaves thus employed were blinded by the Scythians to save them from giddiness (see Herod. iv. 2). The end of Samson was mournful; "his whole powerful life was only like a light, blazing up brightly at moments, and shining afar, but often dimmed, and utterly extinguished before its time" (Ewald).

Verse 21. - Put out his eyes. One of the cruel punishments of those times (see Numbers 16:14; 2 Kings 25:7), and still, or till quite lately, practised by Oriental despots to make their rivals incapable of reigning. So King John, in Shakespeare, ordered Arthur s eyes to be put out with a hot iron (King John, Act IV. scene 1.). Herodotus (Melp. 4:2) says that the Scythians used to put out the eyes of all their slaves. He did grind - the most degrading form of labour, the punishment of slaves among the Greeks and Romans (see too Isaiah 47:2).

CHAPTER 16:23-31

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

seized him,
וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ (way·yō·ḥă·zū·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 270: To grasp, take hold, take possession

gouged out
וַֽיְנַקְּר֖וּ (way·naq·qə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5365: To bore, pick, dig

his eyes,
עֵינָ֑יו (‘ê·nāw)
Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

and brought him down
וַיּוֹרִ֨ידוּ (way·yō·w·rî·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to Gaza,
עַזָּ֗תָה (‘az·zā·ṯāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5804: A Philistine city

where he was bound
וַיַּאַסְר֙וּהוּ֙ (way·ya·’as·rū·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 bronze shackles
בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם (ban·ḥuš·ta·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - fd
Strong's 5178: Copper, something made of that metal, coin, a fetter, base

and forced
וַיְהִ֥י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

to grind
טוֹחֵ֖ן (ṭō·w·ḥên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2912: To grind meal, to be a, concubine

grain in the prison.
בְּבֵ֥ית (bə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT History: Judges 16:21 The Philistines laid hold on him (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 16:20
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