CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 16:1 One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/16-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/07_Jdg_16_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 16:1 - Samson Escapes Gaza" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/judges/16-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/judges/16-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/judges/">Judges</a> > <a href="/judges/16.htm">Chapter 16</a> > Verse 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/15-20.htm" title="Judges 15:20">◄</a> Judges 16:1 <a href="/judges/16-2.htm" title="Judges 16:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/16.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/16.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/16.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/16.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/16.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/16.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and had relations with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/16.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there and went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went to bed with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went to bed with her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/16.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />One day while Samson was in Gaza, he saw a prostitute and went to her house to spend the night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/16.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Samson went to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute and slept with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/16.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />One day Samson went to the Philistine city of Gaza, where he met a prostitute and went to bed with her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/16.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Sometime later, Samson went to Gaza, saw a prostitute there, and went in to have sex with her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/16.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute and went in to have sex with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And Samson went from there to Gaza, and saw a prostitute there, and went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/16.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a prostitute, and went in to her. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Samson goes to Gaza, and sees a woman there, a harlot, and goes in to her;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Samson goeth to Gaza, and seeth there a woman, a harlot, and goeth in unto her;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Samson will go to Gaza, and he will see there a woman, a harlot, and he will go in to her.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He went also into Gaza, and saw there a woman a harlot, and went in unto her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />He also went into Gaza. And there he saw a harlot woman, and he entered to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/16.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Once Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and visited her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Once Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to her.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />THEN Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and he went in unto her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/16.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Samson went on to Azath and he saw there a woman, a whore, and he went into union with her at Azath<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/16.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/16.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Sampson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/16-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=4685" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/16.htm">Samson Escapes Gaza</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8123.htm" title="8123: šim·šō·wn (N-proper-ms) -- A deliverer of Isr. From shemesh; sunlight; Shimshon, an Israelite.">One day Samson</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: way·yê·leḵ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">went</a> <a href="/hebrew/5804.htm" title="5804: ‘az·zā·ṯāh (N-proper-fs:: 3fs) -- A Philistine city. Feminine of az; strong; Azzah, a place in Palestine.">to Gaza,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">where</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: way·yar- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">he saw</a> <a href="/hebrew/2181.htm" title="2181: zō·w·nāh (N-fs) -- To commit fornication, be a harlot. A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to commit idolatry.">a prostitute</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇō (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">and went in to spend the night</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·le·hā (Prep:: 3fs) -- To, into, towards. ">with her.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>When the Gazites heard that Samson was there, they surrounded that place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They were quiet throughout the night, saying, “Let us wait until dawn; then we will kill him.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1-3</a></span><br />One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman. / So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.” / But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20</a></span><br />And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/6-26.htm">Proverbs 6:26</a></span><br />For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/7-25.htm">Proverbs 7:25-27</a></span><br />Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. / For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number. / Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/23-27.htm">Proverbs 23:27-28</a></span><br />For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well. / Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-4</a></span><br />King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. / He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/13-26.htm">Nehemiah 13:26</a></span><br />Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/19-1.htm">Genesis 19:1-5</a></span><br />Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown, / and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” / But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15-18</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. / Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired. / “I will send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah answered. But she replied, “Only if you leave me something as a pledge until you send it.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/11-2.htm">2 Samuel 11:2-4</a></span><br />One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Hosea 4:14</a></span><br />I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-28.htm">Matthew 5:28</a></span><br />But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-31.htm">Matthew 21:31-32</a></span><br />Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. / For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/15-30.htm">Luke 15:30</a></span><br />But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-3.htm">John 8:3-11</a></span><br />The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them / and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. / In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in to her.</p><p class="hdg">Gaza.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/10-19.htm">Genesis 10:19</a></b></br> And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/15-47.htm">Joshua 15:47</a></b></br> Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border <i>thereof</i>:</p><p class="hdg">an harlot.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/38-16.htm">Genesis 38:16-18</a></b></br> And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she <i>was</i> his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/9-1.htm">Ezra 9:1,2</a></b></br> Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, <i>doing</i> according to their abominations, <i>even</i> of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/11-1.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/judges/11-1.htm">Loose</a> <a href="/judges/9-34.htm">Night</a> <a href="/judges/11-1.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/judges/15-20.htm">Samson</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-23.htm">Spend</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/19-2.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/judges/21-15.htm">Loose</a> <a href="/judges/16-2.htm">Night</a> <a href="/judges/19-2.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/judges/16-2.htm">Samson</a> <a href="/judges/19-10.htm">Spend</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 16</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/16-1.htm">Samson at Gaza escapes, and carries away the gates of the city</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/16-4.htm">Delilah corrupted by the Philistines, entices Samson</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/16-6.htm">Thrice she is deceived</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/16-15.htm">At last she overcomes him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/16-21.htm">The Philistines take him, and put out his eyes</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/16-22.htm">His strength renewing, he pulls down the house upon the Philistines and dies</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/16.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/16.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>One day Samson went to Gaza</b><br>Samson, a judge of Israel, is known for his extraordinary strength, which was a gift from God to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Gaza was one of the five major Philistine cities, located on the southwestern coast of Canaan. It was a significant Philistine stronghold, and Samson's presence there indicates his boldness and disregard for the danger posed by the Philistines. This journey to Gaza also reflects the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Philistines during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance.<p><b>where he saw a prostitute</b><br>The mention of a prostitute highlights Samson's moral weaknesses, particularly his susceptibility to sexual temptation. This aspect of his character is a recurring theme in his narrative, as seen in his relationships with women like Delilah. The presence of a prostitute in Gaza also reflects the moral and spiritual decay prevalent in Philistine society, which was often at odds with the covenantal standards of Israel. This encounter foreshadows the further complications in Samson's life due to his inability to resist such temptations.<p><b>and went in to spend the night with her</b><br>Samson's decision to spend the night with the prostitute demonstrates his impulsive nature and lack of self-control. This act of disobedience to God's laws concerning sexual purity and separation from pagan practices is a significant flaw in his character. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's commandments, as seen throughout the history of Israel. Samson's actions here can be contrasted with the life of Jesus Christ, who, though tempted, remained sinless and obedient to God's will, serving as the ultimate example of righteousness and self-control.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/samson.htm">Samson</a></b><br>A judge of Israel known for his extraordinary strength, which was a gift from God tied to his Nazirite vow. His life is marked by personal weaknesses and lapses in judgment.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/gaza.htm">Gaza</a></b><br>A Philistine city, one of the five major cities of the Philistines, who were enemies of Israel. It represents a place of temptation and danger for Samson.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_prostitute.htm">The Prostitute</a></b><br>An unnamed woman in Gaza with whom Samson spends the night. This encounter highlights Samson's recurring struggle with lust and his tendency to disregard his Nazirite vow.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_compromise.htm">The Danger of Compromise</a></b><br>Samson's visit to Gaza and his actions there demonstrate the danger of compromising one's values and commitments. As believers, we must be vigilant in maintaining our spiritual integrity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>Samson's life illustrates that sin, especially habitual sin, can lead to destructive consequences. We must be aware of the long-term impact of our choices.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_grace_and_redemption.htm">God's Grace and Redemption</a></b><br>Despite Samson's failures, God still used him to fulfill His purposes. This reminds us that God's grace is available, and He can redeem our mistakes for His glory.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_accountability.htm">The Importance of Accountability</a></b><br>Samson often acted alone, which contributed to his downfalls. Having accountability partners can help us stay on the right path and avoid similar pitfalls.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_temptation.htm">Guarding Against Temptation</a></b><br>Samson's account is a cautionary tale about the need to guard our hearts and minds against temptation. We must be proactive in setting boundaries and seeking God's strength to resist.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 16</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_samson_carry_a_city_gate.htm">In Judges 16:1–3, how could Samson realistically carry away an entire city gate on his shoulders? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_samson's_strength_ruin_him.htm">How did Samson's strength lead to his downfall?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/explain_lot's_daughters'_actions_morally.htm">How do we explain the moral implications and consistency with the rest of Scripture regarding Lot’s daughters’ actions in Genesis 19:30–38? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_hair_give_supernatural_strength.htm">In Judges 16:17, how can hair be the source of such supernatural strength from a scientific perspective?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(1) <span class= "bld">Then went Samson to Gaza.</span>--Rather, <span class= "ital">And Samson, &c. </span>The narrative is brief and detached. Gaza is near the sea, and was the chief town of the Philistines, in the very heart of their country. It is useless to inquire how Samson could venture there in safety, or whether he went in disguise, or what was his object in going there; to such side-questions the narrative gives us no reply.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Then</span>. It should be and. There is nothing to show when the incident occurred. It may have been many years after his victory at hal-Lechi, towards the latter part of his twenty years' judgeship. <span class="cmt_word">Gaza</span>, now <span class="accented">Ghuzzeh</span>, one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, once a strong place, but now a large open town. It was the last town in South-West Palestine on the road from Jerusalem to Egypt (<a href="/acts/8-26.htm">Acts 8:26, 27</a>). It played an important part in history in all ages - in the times, of the Pharaohs, the Seleucidae, the Maccabees, the Romans, the Khalifs, and the Crusaders. It was within the limits of the tribe of Judah (<a href="/joshua/15-47.htm">Joshua 15:47</a>). It is first mentioned in <a href="/genesis/10-19.htm">Genesis 10:19</a>, as the south-west border of the Canaanites. Its real transliteration from the Hebrew is Azzah, as it is actually expressed in the A.V. of <a href="/deuteronomy/2-23.htm">Deuteronomy 2:23</a>, and <a href="/1_kings/4-24.htm">1 Kings 4:24</a>. Gaza is the Greek form. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/16-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">One day Samson</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁמְשׁ֖וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(šim·šō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8123.htm">Strong's 8123: </a> </span><span class="str2">Samson -- a deliverer of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">went</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yê·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Gaza,</span><br /><span class="heb">עַזָּ֑תָה</span> <span class="translit">(‘az·zā·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5804.htm">Strong's 5804: </a> </span><span class="str2">A Philistine city</span><br /><br /><span class="word">where</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁם֙</span> <span class="translit">(šām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> </span><span class="str2">There, then, thither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he saw</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּרְא־</span> <span class="translit">(way·yar-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a prostitute</span><br /><span class="heb">זוֹנָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(zō·w·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2181.htm">Strong's 2181: </a> </span><span class="str2">To commit adultery, to commit idolatry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and went in to spend the night</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּבֹ֖א</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·ḇō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with her.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלֶֽיהָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·le·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/16-1.htm">OT History: Judges 16:1 Samson went to Gaza and saw there (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/15-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 15:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 15:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/16-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 16:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 16:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>