Judges 16:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samson goes to the Philistine city of Gaza and gives himself to a harlot there.
What Does Judges 16:1 Mean?
The chapter opens with Samson, Israel's appointed deliverer, walking straight into enemy territory at Gaza, one of the chief cities of the Philistines. The man set apart from the womb to begin saving his people instead seeks out a harlot and enters her house.
Strength of body is no shield against weakness of heart. The same Samson who could not be bound by armies is led wherever his appetites pull him. Scripture records the failing plainly, without excusing it, so that we feel the ache of a gifted life squandered. It is a quiet warning that the Lord's calling on a person does not exempt them from the slow ruin of unchecked desire.
Judges 16:1 in the Original Language
The Hebrew here is zonah (זוֹנָה), 'harlot' -- a common prostitute.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 16:1
What does Judges 16:1 mean?
Samson goes to the Philistine city of Gaza and gives himself to a harlot there.