Delilah
Gentile Valley of Sorek; commonly regarded as a Philistine (the text does not state) · Conquest & Judges · Old Testament
- Name means
- Delicate (commonly given)
- Role
- Woman who betrayed Samson
- When
- The days of the judges
What they did
Loved by Samson, she was paid by the lords of the Philistines to learn the secret of his strength. She pressed him daily until he told her, and had his hair shaved.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
Her story warns of the danger of compromise and of love for money; yet God still worked through Samson's fall to judge the Philistines.
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. Judges 16:4 (KJV)
Bible references
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. Judges 16:4-5 (KJV)
And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. Judges 16:16-17 (KJV)
And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. Judges 16:18-19 (KJV)
Family
Scripture records little about this person's family.