In brief
Delilah is the woman whom Samson loved in the valley of Sorek, in the time of the Judges. The lords of the Philistines each offered her eleven hundred shekels of silver to discover the secret of his strength. After three lies, Samson told her that his strength came from his consecration to God. She handed him over to his enemies, who shaved his head and put out his eyes. She is remembered as a warning about seduction and betrayal.
What does the name Delilah mean?
The meaning of the name Delilah is uncertain: it is sometimes linked to a root suggesting frailty or languor, but other proposals exist. The Bible gives no explanation of this name, and does not say which people she belonged to.
The story of Delilah
Samson loves a woman of the valley of Sorek
Judges 16:4After the episode at Gaza, Samson loved a woman who lived in the valley of Sorek. Her name was Delilah. The text stresses that he loved her, but says nothing of her feelings. Samson, consecrated to God from his mother's womb, once again frequents a place dangerous for his mission.
The bargain of the Philistine lords
Judges 16:5The lords of the Philistines came up to Delilah and told her to entice him to find out where his great strength came from, so they could bind him and subdue him. They each promised her eleven hundred shekels of silver. The Bible reports no hesitation on her part: she accepts and sets to work.
Samson's three lies
Judges 16:6-14Delilah asks Samson where his strength comes from. He first answers seven fresh bowstrings, then new ropes, then the seven locks of his head woven into the loom. Each time she cries out that the Philistines are upon him, and he breaks free. The game is dangerous, and yet Samson keeps playing.
The secret revealed
Judges 16:15-18Delilah says to him: how can you say you love me when your heart is not with me? Because she pressed him day after day, his soul grew weary to death and he opened his whole heart to her. He confessed that no razor had ever touched his head, for he was consecrated to God. She called the lords.
Samson's downfall and end
Judges 16:19-30Samson is shaved and the Philistines seize him, put out his eyes and bring him down to Gaza, where he grinds at the mill in prison. His hair begins to grow again. At a feast for Dagon, he calls on the Lord, receives strength one last time and brings the house down on his enemies. Delilah is mentioned no more.
What Delilah teaches us
- A relationship that pushes you to give up your consecration is a spiritual danger, as Samson discovered.
- Small compromises prepare great falls: Samson plays with the truth three times before telling everything.
- Seduction and money can drive people to betrayal, and the Bible presents Delilah without justifying her.
- Our strength comes from God and from our relationship with him, not from our personal assets.
- Even after failure, God listens to the one who cries out to him, as Samson did at the end of his life.
Key verses
Samson loved a woman of the valley of Sorek, named Delilah. In a few words, the verse introduces the one who will change the course of his life and his mission.
The lords of the Philistines ask her to find out the secret of Samson's strength, in exchange for eleven hundred shekels of silver each. Betrayal has a price.
Samson opens his whole heart: no razor has touched his head, for he has been consecrated to God from his mother's womb. He reveals the secret of his mission.
Sermons about Delilah
Frequently asked questions
Who was Delilah in the Bible?
Delilah was the woman whom Samson loved in the valley of Sorek. Judges 16 tells how she discovered the secret of his strength for the silver of the Philistine lords and handed him over to his enemies, who shaved his head and put out his eyes.
What does the name Delilah mean?
The meaning of the name Delilah is uncertain. It is sometimes linked to an idea of languor or frailty, but the Bible gives no explanation. It is better not to claim a precise meaning and to focus on what the text says about her conduct.
Where can I find the story of Delilah in the Bible?
The story of Delilah is found in the book of Judges, chapter 16, verses 4 to 22. The chapter begins with the episode at Gaza and ends with the death of Samson, who had judged Israel for twenty years.