Judges 16:7Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man."
The setting
Delilah's bedroom, Sorek Valley, Palestine, ~1100 BC. Samson lies in bed, part of him knowing something is wrong but unable to resist her charms...
The emotion here: suspicious but still drawn to her, giving a test lie
The original word
yether (יֶתֶר) — moist, fresh bowstrings that retain their flexibility and strength
Why it matters
Green bowstrings were made from animal sinews and had to be kept moist to maintain strength - dried ones would snap easily
Read with care
What most readers miss in Judges 16:7
Samson's answer is actually logical - fresh bowstrings were genuinely used to bind strong prisoners
Common misconceptionPeople think Samson was foolish for lying here, but he was actually being wise - his instincts told him not to trust her completely, so he tested her first.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Judges 16:7
Bible Genome reading
Judges 16:7 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Judges 16:7 comes from the book of Judges, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Samson. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is conversational. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include deception, half truth. Notable phrases: seven green cords; become weak.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Judges 16:7 mean to you, today?
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