Dictionary Article

Samson’s mistress, who betrayed him to his Philistine enemies (Jgs 16 (RV · LV · Read together)). Because Philistia held southern Israel in vassalage at the time (c. 1070 BC), Samson was chosen by God to begin the delivery of Israel. His success prompted the five Philistine rulers to offer Delilah a bribe if she would help capture him by discovering the secret of his enormous strength.

Rembrandt’s Samson and Delilah

Probably no painting more brutally depicts the theme of betrayal than that of the 17th-century Dutch artist Rembrandt. Delilah is hurrying out of her room, scissors and her lover’s streaming hair in hand, while Samson’s captors gouge out his eyes. The Bible makes no further mention of Delilah after the betrayal.

Delilah was from the valley of Sorek, in the southeast corner of Dan’s territory, only a few miles from Samson’s home in Zorah. It is clear from Judges 14:1 (RV · LV · Read together) that she was a Philistine, although the large reward she accepted (5,500 pieces of silver) implies that her motivations were other than Philistine loyalty. Her unhindered contact with men probably indicates that she was a prostitute.

On her fourth attempt Delilah finally tricked Samson into revealing his secret. His strength was from God; his long hair, which signified that he was under a Nazirite vow (see Nm 6:1-8 (RV · LV · Read together)) and thus “set apart” by God for special service (Jgs 13:5 (RV · LV · Read together)), was never to be cut. Delilah lulled him to sleep, shaved his head, and delivered him (still unsuspecting) into the hands of his enemies.

NUM 6:1–8: RV NUM 6:1–8 · LV NUM 6:1–8 · Read together NUM 6:1–8

Show passage in OET

OET-RV NUM 6:1

6 Then Yahweh told Mosheh (Moses),

OET-RV NUM 6:2

2 “Tell the Israelis that when any man or woman wants to make a solemn vow to separate themself to Yahweh as a Nazirite,

OET-RV NUM 6:3

3 they must keep away from wine and strong drink, and even vinegar made from wine or strong drink, plus they mustn’t drink grape juice or eat either grapes or raisins.

OET-RV NUM 6:4

4 For the entire time of their separation, they mustn’t eat anything coming from a grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.

OET-RV NUM 6:5

5 “For the entire time of their vow to Yahweh as a Nazirite, they mustn’t cut their hair—they must sacred and grow their hair long.

OET-RV NUM 6:6

6 “For the entire time of their separation to Yahweh, they mustn’t approach any dead body,

OET-RV NUM 6:7

7 even if it’s their father or mother, or brother or sister. They mustn’t defile themselves with death, because their consecration to their god is on their head.

OET-RV NUM 6:8

8 They must remain holy to Yahweh for the whole time.

OET-LV NUM 6:1

6 And_ YHWH _he/it _spoke to Mosheh to_saying.

OET-LV NUM 6:2

2 Speak to the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_you _will _say to_them a _man or a _woman if/because he _will _make _hard to_vow a _vow _of a _Nāzīr to_be _a _Nāzīr to/for_YHWH.

OET-LV NUM 6:3

3 From_wine and_strong _drink he _will _keep _separate vinegar _of wine and_vinegar _of strong _drink not he _will _drink and_all juice _of grapes not he _will _drink and_grapes fresh and_dry not he _will _eat.

OET-LV NUM 6:4

4 All _of the _days _of his _consecration _of_his from_all that it _is _made from_the _vine _of the _wine from_seeds and_unto skin not he _will _eat.

OET-LV NUM 6:5

5 All _of the _days _of the _vow _of his _consecration _of_his a _razor not it _will _pass over his/its_head until the_days which he _will _be _a _Nāzīr to/for_YHWH are _completed holy he _will _be the _lock[s]_of the _hair _of his/its_head he _will _make _grow.

OET-LV NUM 6:6

6 All _of the _days _of his _being _a _Nāzīr to/for_YHWH to a _corpse a _dead_person not he _will _go.

OET-LV NUM 6:7

7 For_father _of_his and_for_mother _of_his for_brother _of_his and_for_sister _of_his not he _will _make _himself _unclean to/for_them when_die _of_they if/because the _consecration _of his/its_god is_on his/its_head.

OET-LV NUM 6:8

8 All _of the _days _of his _consecration _of_his is_holy he to/for_YHWH.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary