Judges 15:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samson celebrates his victory in a short song, declaring that with a donkey's jawbone he has left heaps of the slain.
What Does Judges 15:16 Mean?
In the flush of triumph Samson breaks into a brief, rhythmic boast that plays on the words for donkey and heap, which sound alike in Hebrew. He marvels that with so mean a weapon he has piled the enemy in heaps and slain a thousand men. It is a victory chant over the fallen.
The little song captures the wonder of an unlikely deliverance, though it speaks more of Samson's hand than of God's. Scripture preserves both the triumph and its self-regard. It reminds us that even genuine victories given by God can tempt the heart to claim the glory, and that gratitude, not boasting, is the fitting response to His help.
Judges 15:16 in the Original Language
chamor (חֲמוֹר), 'ass' -- a donkey; its name resembles the Hebrew word for 'heap,' making Samson's saying a play on words.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 15:16
What does Judges 15:16 mean?
Samson celebrates his victory in a short song, declaring that with a donkey's jawbone he has left heaps of the slain.