Judges 16:23 Meaning and Explanation
“Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The Philistine lords assemble to sacrifice to their god Dagon, crediting him with delivering Samson into their power.
What Does Judges 16:23 Mean?
The Philistine lords gather for a great festival, offering sacrifice to their god Dagon and rejoicing aloud. They declare that Dagon has delivered their enemy Samson into their hand, attributing his fall to the power of their idol.
The Philistines turn Samson's defeat into a celebration of false worship, glorifying a god who never gave them victory. It is the boast of every power that imagines it has overcome the work of the living God. Yet the scene is heavy with dramatic irony, for the One truly in control has not been defeated at all. The praise rising to Dagon is built on a misreading of who holds history's reins, and that misreading is about to collapse.
Judges 16:23 in the Original Language
Dagon (דָּגוֹן) was a chief Philistine deity associated with grain, here exalted in a triumph that proves hollow.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 16:23
What does Judges 16:23 mean?
The Philistine lords assemble to sacrifice to their god Dagon, crediting him with delivering Samson into their power.