Judges 16:2
Judges 16:2 in Multiple Translations
When the Gazites heard that Samson was there, they surrounded that place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They were quiet throughout the night, saying, “Let us wait until dawn; then we will kill him.”
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, Let be till morning light, then we will kill him.
And it was said to the Gazites, Samson is here. So they went round, watching for him all day at the doorway of the town, but at night they kept quiet, saying, When daylight comes we will put him to death.
The men of Gaza found out Samson was there, so they gathered to spend the night lying in wait for him at the town gates. They kept quiet all night, whispering to one another, “We'll kill him when it gets light.”
And it was tolde to the Azzahites, Samson is come hither. And they went about, and laied wayte for him all night in the gate of the citie, and were quiet all the nyght, saying, Abide till the morning earely, and we shall kill him.
[it is told] to the Gazathites, saying, 'Samson hath come in hither;' and they go round and lay wait for him all the night at the gate of the city, and keep themselves silent all the night, saying, 'Till the light of the morning — then we have slain him.'
The Gazites were told, “Samson is here!” They surrounded him and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, “Wait until morning light; then we will kill him.”
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they encompassed him , and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning when it is day we shall kill him.
And when the Philistines had beard this, and it was noised about among them, that Samson was come into the city, they surrounded him, setting guards at the gate of the city, and watching there all the night in silence, that in the morning they might kill him as he went out.
People soon found out that Samson was there, so the men of Gaza gathered together at the city gate and waited all night. They said to themselves, “When it dawns tomorrow morning, we will kill him when he tries to leave the city.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Judges 16:2
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Judges 16:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Judges 16:2
Study Notes — Judges 16:2
- Context
- Cross References
- Judges 16:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Judges 16:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 16:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 16:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Judges 16:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 16:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Judges 16:2
- Cambridge Bible on Judges 16:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Judges 16:2
- Sermons on Judges 16:2
Context — Samson Escapes Gaza
2When the Gazites heard that Samson was there, they surrounded that place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They were quiet throughout the night, saying, “Let us wait until dawn; then we will kill him.”
3But Samson lay there only until midnight, when he got up, took hold of the doors of the city gate and both gateposts, and pulled them out, bar and all. Then he put them on his shoulders and took them to the top of the mountain overlooking Hebron. 4Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 118:10–12 | All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were extinguished like burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 23:26 | Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. |
| 3 | Acts 9:24 | but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. |
| 4 | 2 Corinthians 11:32–33 | In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp. |
| 5 | Matthew 27:1 | When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. |
| 6 | Judges 15:18 | And being very thirsty, Samson cried out to the LORD, “You have accomplished this great deliverance through Your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” |
| 7 | 1 Samuel 19:11 | Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” |
| 8 | Acts 23:15 | Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.” |
| 9 | Matthew 21:38 | But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ |
Judges 16:2 Summary
This verse tells us that the people of Gaza found out that Samson was in their city and they wanted to kill him, so they waited quietly at the city gate all night. They planned to attack him at dawn, but Samson had other plans (Judges 16:3). This shows us that our actions can have serious consequences, and we need to be careful about the choices we make (Proverbs 22:3). By considering the potential outcomes of our decisions, we can avoid danger and stay safe, just like Samson tried to do in this situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Gazites want to kill Samson?
The Gazites wanted to kill Samson because he was an Israelite and they saw him as a threat, as evidenced by his previous actions against the Philistines (Judges 14:19, Judges 15:8).
What does this verse reveal about Samson's character?
This verse reveals that Samson was reckless and impulsive, as he went to spend the night with a prostitute in Gaza, despite the danger it posed to himself (Judges 16:1).
How does this verse relate to the overall story of Samson?
This verse is a pivotal moment in the story of Samson, as it sets the stage for his escape from Gaza and ultimately leads to his downfall, as he continues to disregard God's laws and his own safety (Judges 16:4, Judges 16:20-21).
What can we learn from the Gazites' patience in waiting for Samson?
The Gazites' patience in waiting for Samson until dawn teaches us that sometimes, waiting and timing are crucial in achieving our goals, as seen in the example of David waiting for God's timing to become king (1 Samuel 24:12-13, 1 Samuel 26:10).
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am being reckless and impulsive, and how can I seek God's guidance to make better decisions?
- How can I learn to wait patiently for God's timing, rather than rushing into situations that may lead to harm or danger?
- What are some ways that I can prioritize my safety and well-being, while still being faithful to God's calling on my life?
- How can I use Samson's story as a cautionary tale to avoid making similar mistakes in my own life?
Gill's Exposition on Judges 16:2
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 16:2
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 16:2
Trapp's Commentary on Judges 16:2
Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 16:2
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Judges 16:2
Cambridge Bible on Judges 16:2
Whedon's Commentary on Judges 16:2
Sermons on Judges 16:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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His Manifest Presence - Part 4 by Walter Beuttler | In this sermon, the speaker discusses four ways in which one can lose God's presence. The first way is through a loss of consecration, where one becomes disconnected from God due t |
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Homily 20 on the Acts of the Apostles by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches on the conversion of Saul, highlighting how Ananias, a humble disciple, was chosen by the Lord to play a crucial role in Saul's transformation. Despite Ana |
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I Am Barabbas and So Are You by Shane Idleman | This sermon delves into the profound story of Barabbas and Jesus in Matthew 27, highlighting the choice between darkness and light, sin and salvation. It emphasizes the substitutio |
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All That Jesus Taught Bible Study - Part 76 by Zac Poonen | This sermon delves into the events surrounding Jesus' trial and crucifixion, drawing lessons from how Jesus dealt with betrayal, false accusations, and suffering. It emphasizes the |
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Week of Meetings 1986-02 by Stan Ford | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the scene of the crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary Hill. He highlights the presence of a curious crowd that had gathered to witness this even |
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Ford at Southside-st.louis 01 Matt 27 by Stan Ford | In this sermon, the speaker begins by talking about a hypothetical scenario where the world's greatest pianist sits down to play on a toy piano instead of a grand piano. He uses th |
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The Great Double Cross by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer delivers a powerful sermon titled 'The Great Double Cross,' focusing on the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. He emphasizes the tragic irony of Judas's actions, drive |






