Judges 16:25It happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he may entertain us." They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars;
The setting
Gaza, Palestine. Temple roof packed with 3,000 people. Samson, blind and weak, brought between the load-bearing pillars...
The emotion here: building suspense — the narrator knows what's about to happen
The original word
sahaq (שחק) — to laugh mockingly, to make sport of someone's pain
Why it matters
Philistine temples were architectural marvels with two massive central pillars supporting the entire roof structure
Read with care
What most readers miss in Judges 16:25
They positioned him between the pillars for maximum humiliation — not knowing it was perfect positioning for maximum destruction
Common misconceptionPeople think Samson was helpless entertainment. He was actually gathering intelligence, feeling for the pillars, preparing for the most devastating counterattack in military history.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Judges 16:25
Bible Genome reading
Judges 16:25 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Judges 16:25 comes from the book of Judges, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Philistines. The dominant emotion in this verse is joyful, with a comfort power of 65% and a tone that is celebratory. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include mockery, humiliation. Notable phrases: Call for Samson; entertain us. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same joyful
“For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, …”
— Isaiah 9:6
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:22
“"Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?"”
— 1 Corinthians 15:55
“Rejoice always.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:16
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
Your reflection
What does Judges 16:25 mean to you, today?
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