Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” New Living Translation Samson replied, “If I were tied up with brand-new ropes that had never been used, I would become as weak as anyone else.” English Standard Version And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” Berean Standard Bible He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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.” New American Standard Bible 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.” NASB 1995 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.” NASB 1977 And he said to her, “If they bind me tightly with new ropes which have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” Legacy Standard Bible And he said to her, “If they bind me tightly with new ropes which have not been used for work, then I will become weak and be like any other man.” Amplified Bible He said to her, “If they bind me tightly with new ropes that have not been used, then I will become weak and be like any [other] man.” Christian Standard Bible He told her, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become weak and be like any other man.” Holman Christian Standard Bible He told her, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become weak and be like any other man.” American Standard Version And he said unto her, If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man. Contemporary English Version Samson answered, "Use some new ropes. If I'm tied up with ropes that have never been used, I'll be just as weak as anyone else." English Revised Version And he said unto her, If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man. GOD'S WORD® Translation Samson told her, "If someone ties me up tightly with new ropes that have never been used, I will be like any other man." Good News Translation He told her, "If they tie me with new ropes that have never been used, I'll be as weak as anybody else." International Standard Version He told her, "If I'm tied up securely with new ropes that have never been used, then I'll become weak and just like any other human being." NET Bible He said to her, "If they tie me tightly with brand new ropes that have never been used, I will become weak and be just like any other man." New Heart English Bible 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." Webster's Bible Translation And he said to her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were used, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.” World English Bible 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.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he says to her, “If they certainly bind me with thick bands, new ones, by which work has not been done, then I have been weak, and have been as one of mankind.” Young's Literal Translation And he saith unto her, 'If they certainly bind me with thick bands, new ones, by which work hath not been done, then I have been weak, and have been as one of the human race.' Smith's Literal Translation And he will say to her, If binding, they shall bind me with new cords which work was not done with them, and I was weak and was as another man. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he answered her: If I shall be bound with new ropes, that were never in work, I shall be weak and like other men. Catholic Public Domain Version And he answered her, “If I will be bound with new cords, which have never been used, I will be weak and like other men.” New American Bible “If they bind me tight with new ropes, with which no work has been done,” he answered her, “I shall grow weaker and be like anyone else.” New Revised Standard Version He said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said to her, If they bind me fast with new chains that never were used, then shall I be weak and be like any other man. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he said to her: “If they will bind me with new chains with which no work has been done, I will be weakened and I shall be as one man” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he said unto her: 'If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work, hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as any other man.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And he said to her, If they should bind me fast with new ropes with which work has not been done, then shall I be weak, and shall be as another man. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Samson and Delilah…10Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me! Now please tell me how you can be tied up.” 11He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.” 12So 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.… Cross References Judges 14:6 and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. Judges 15:14 When 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. 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 14:19 Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house, Judges 15:8 And he struck them ruthlessly with a great slaughter, and then went down and stayed in the cave at the rock of Etam. Judges 15:15 He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and struck down a thousand men. 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. 1 Samuel 17:34-35 David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 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 Kings 3:12 behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be. 1 Kings 19:8 So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Kings 1:8 “He was a hairy man,” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.” “It was Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king. Matthew 3:4 John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Treasury of Scripture And he said to her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. if they bind me Proverbs 13:3,5 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction… Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. that never. Jump to Previous Bind Human I'll New Occupied Ones Race Ropes Round Securely Thick Ties Tightly Used Weak Wherewith WorkJump to Next Bind Human I'll New Occupied Ones Race Ropes Round Securely Thick Ties Tightly Used Weak Wherewith WorkJudges 16 1. Samson at Gaza escapes, and carries away the gates of the city4. 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 He replied, This phrase indicates Samson's response to Delilah's persistent questioning. It highlights the ongoing dialogue between them, showcasing the tension and manipulation in their relationship. Samson's responses are part of a pattern where he toys with Delilah, reflecting his overconfidence and disregard for the danger he is in. “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.” Persons / Places / Events 1. SamsonA judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength, which was a gift from God tied to his Nazirite vow. 2. Delilah A woman from the Valley of Sorek who was used by the Philistines to discover the secret of Samson's strength. 3. Philistines The enemies of Israel during the time of the Judges, who sought to subdue Samson. 4. Valley of Sorek The location where Delilah lived and where Samson frequently visited her. 5. New Ropes Symbolic of Samson's attempts to mislead Delilah about the source of his strength. Teaching Points The Danger of CompromiseSamson's willingness to entertain Delilah's questions shows the peril of compromising one's values and commitments. The Deceptive Nature of Sin Just as Samson was deceived by Delilah, sin often presents itself in attractive forms but leads to destruction. The Importance of Spiritual Discernment Samson's lack of discernment in his relationship with Delilah serves as a warning to seek God's wisdom in our relationships. God's Strength in Our Weakness Despite Samson's failures, God used him to fulfill His purposes, reminding us that God can work through our weaknesses. Guarding the Source of Our Strength Samson's strength was tied to his Nazirite vow; similarly, we must guard our spiritual commitments and relationship with God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 16:11?2. How does Judges 16:11 illustrate Samson's trust in his own strength? 3. What can we learn about deception from Samson's interaction with Delilah? 4. How does Samson's response connect to Proverbs 3:5 about trusting God? 5. How can we guard against being misled by others, as Samson was? 6. What steps can we take to ensure our strength comes from God, not ourselves? 7. How does Judges 16:11 reflect Samson's trust in Delilah despite repeated betrayals? 8. What does Samson's response in Judges 16:11 reveal about his understanding of his own strength? 9. Why does Samson continue to engage with Delilah in Judges 16:11 despite her intentions? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 16? 11. Why did God permit concubines in the Bible? 12. Who was Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, in the Bible? 13. If God is all-good, why does He accept human sacrifices in some cases (Judges 11:30-39)? 14. How can a young man purify his path? What Does Judges 16:11 Mean He replied- Samson is speaking to Delilah in the Philistine city of the Valley of Sorek. His words are a conscious answer, not an off-hand remark. - Already twice (Judges 16:6-10) Delilah has pressed him for the secret of his strength; each time he has misled her. This third response shows a continued willingness to toy with danger while still keeping the real truth hidden. - Cross reference: Proverbs 13:3, “He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites ruin”. Samson’s careless speech contrasts sharply with the wisdom urged elsewhere in Scripture. If they tie me up with new ropes - Samson chooses “new ropes” as the next phony condition. Earlier, the men of Judah had bound him with “two new ropes” (Judges 15:13); he snapped those easily. By repeating the same material, Samson proves that he remembers the past yet assumes Delilah will not. - The statement hints that Samson sees his own deliverance as automatic, taking God’s empowerment for granted (Judges 15:14-15). - Cross reference: Romans 6:1-2 warns against assuming continued grace while persisting in reckless behavior: “Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not!”. Samson is skirting that line. that have never been used - “Never been used” stresses freshness and supposed unbreakability. Culturally, objects set apart for a single purpose often carried special significance (Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3). - Delilah will interpret this as a legitimate vulnerability. Samson counts on God’s past miracles and assumes a mere object—new ropes—cannot hold him. - Cross reference: Psalm 33:16-17 reminds, “No king is saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.” Depending on ritual novelty rather than the Lord always fails. I will become as weak as any other man - Samson’s claim is a lie, yet it foreshadows what will shortly happen when he reveals his Nazarite vow (Judges 16:17). The phrase “as weak as any other man” underscores the truth that Samson’s strength is entirely from God, not innate. - His casual mention of weakness shows how lightly he holds the sacred trust placed on him from birth (Judges 13:5). - Cross reference: John 15:5, “Apart from Me you can do nothing,” echoes the principle that divine power, not human might, sustains God’s servants. summary Samson’s third deceptive answer to Delilah highlights a man trifling with holy gifts. He speaks carelessly, leans on God’s past deliverances, and imagines he controls the outcome. Judges 16:11 warns believers against presuming upon grace, cherishing secret sin, and flirting with temptation. Real strength comes from humble dependence on the Lord, not from clever words or outward symbols. (11) New ropes.--As in Judges 15:13.That never were occupied.--"Occupied" is an old word for "used." (See Exodus 38:24, "All the gold that was occupied for the work;" Luke 19:13; Hebrews 13:9; "Like a new bright silver dish never occupied "--Ascham, Schoolmaster.) Here, again, Samson distantly touches on the consecration which is the secret of his strength. Verse 11. - Ropes - literally, twisted things; hence cords or ropes, as Psalm 2:3; Isaiah 5:18. Occupied - an old obsolete phrase, for which we should now say used.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He replied,וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “If אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not they tie me up אָס֤וֹר (’ā·sō·wr) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle with new חֲדָשִׁ֔ים (ḥă·ḏā·šîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2319: New ropes בַּעֲבֹתִ֣ים (ba·‘ă·ḇō·ṯîm) Preposition-b | Noun - common plural Strong's 5688: Something intwined, a string, wreath, foliage that אֲשֶׁ֛ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that have never לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no been used, נַעֲשָׂ֥ה (na·‘ă·śāh) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make 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 any כְּאַחַ֥ד (kə·’a·ḥaḏ) Preposition-k | Number - masculine singular construct Strong's 259: United, one, first other man.” הָאָדָֽם׃ (hā·’ā·ḏām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being Links Judges 16:11 NIVJudges 16:11 NLT Judges 16:11 ESV Judges 16:11 NASB Judges 16:11 KJV Judges 16:11 BibleApps.com Judges 16:11 Biblia Paralela Judges 16:11 Chinese Bible Judges 16:11 French Bible Judges 16:11 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 16:11 He said to her If they only (Jd Judg. 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