Who Was Samson in the Bible?
Who Was Samson in the Bible? Samson was a judge of Israel with supernatural strength from God, whose story warns about the consequences of compromise and disobedience despite great gifting.
Key verse: Judges 16:28 (KJV)
Samson was a judge of Israel with supernatural strength from God, whose story warns about the consequences of compromise and disobedience despite great gifting.
Samson was a judge of Israel with supernatural strength from God, whose story warns about the consequences of compromise and disobedience despite great gifting.
"And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God." — Judges 16:28 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
Samson's story spans Judges 13-16. He was set apart as a Nazirite from birth, given supernatural strength by the Spirit of God. He performed incredible feats—killing a lion bare-handed, striking down a thousand Philistines with a donkey's jawbone, and carrying the gates of Gaza on his shoulders. However, Samson repeatedly compromised with sin, pursuing Philistine women and eventually revealing the secret of his strength to Delilah. When his hair was cut, the Spirit departed and he was captured, blinded, and imprisoned. In his final act, God restored his strength and Samson destroyed the Philistine temple, killing more enemies in death than in life.
Key Scripture References
"And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God."
"And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid."
"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
Who Was Gideon in the Bible?
Gideon was a judge of Israel whom God used to defeat the Midianites with just 300 men, demonstrating that victory belongs to God, not human strength.
What Is a Nazirite Vow in the Bible?
A Nazirite vow was a special dedication to God involving abstaining from wine, not cutting hair, and avoiding contact with the dead.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Who Was Moses?
Moses was the great deliverer and lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Judges. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Judges on day 64 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “Who Was Samson in the Bible?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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