The Bible is filled with inspiring stories and wise words which can be applied to our lives today. One of the most intriguing characters in the Bible is Samson, who had incredible strength gifted to him by God.
If you’re looking for inspiration from this story, why not explore some of the memorable bible verses about Samson? Here are some of them that will help guide your life journey.
Bible Verses About Samson
Samson’s Birth and Call
The story of Samson begins with his miraculous conception and birth to Manoah and his wife, who were both childless. An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and told her that she would give birth to a son who was to be set apart as a Nazirite from birth.
This meant that he was to abstain from wine and other fermented drink, and he was not to cut his hair. The angel also told the woman that her son would begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.
When the boy was born, they named him Samson, and the Lord blessed him. As he grew up, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he showed incredible strength and bravery.
One day, while on a trip to Timnah, he encountered a young lion, and with the Spirit’s help, he tore it apart with his bare hands.
Later, on his way to marry a Philistine woman, he found that bees had made honey in the carcass of the lion, and he took some of the honey and gave it to his parents.
Despite his call and his gifts, Samson struggled with his passions and often made poor choices. He fell in love with a Philistine woman named Delilah, who betrayed him to his enemies by cutting off his hair, the source of his strength.
Samson was captured, blinded, and imprisoned by the Philistines, but in a final act of strength and faith, he prayed to the Lord and pulled down the pillars of the temple, killing himself and his captors.
The story of Samson’s birth and call is a reminder of the importance of following God’s plan for our lives, even when it is difficult or requires sacrifice. It also shows us the danger of giving in to our passions and the importance of relying on God’s strength rather than our own.
Judges 13:3-5
“The angel of the Lord appeared to [Samson’s mother] and said, ‘You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb.”
Judges 13:24-25
“The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.”
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Samson’s Strength and Feats
Samson is known for his incredible strength and feats, which are detailed throughout the book of Judges in the Bible.
Even from his birth, he was set apart by God as a Nazirite, which meant that he was to abstain from wine, never cut his hair, and avoid contact with the dead.
His physical strength came from the Spirit of God that empowered him to perform extraordinary feats.
One of Samson’s most famous feats was his battle with a lion, in which he tore it apart with his bare hands. He later used the jawbone of a donkey to defeat 1,000 Philistines who had come to capture him.
He also showed his strength by carrying the city gates of Gaza on his shoulders and pulling down the temple of Dagon, killing thousands of Philistines.
Samson’s strength was impressive, but it was also his downfall. His love for Delilah, a Philistine woman, led to his capture and eventual death.
Delilah was able to trick Samson into revealing the source of his strength, which was his long hair. Once his hair was cut, he lost his strength, and the Philistines were able to capture him.
Samson’s life teaches us that strength and gifts from God should never be taken for granted. We should use them to serve God and His people, rather than our own desires.
Additionally, Samson’s story reminds us that even the strongest among us can be brought down by our own weaknesses and temptations, and it is essential to remain vigilant and rely on God’s strength and grace to avoid falling.
Judges 14:5-6
“Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.”
Judges 15:14-15
“As [the Philistines] approached him, shouting, the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon [Samson]. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.”
Judges 16:3
“But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.”
Samson’s Weakness and Downfall
The Philistines offered Delilah a large sum of money to find out the secret of Samson’s strength. Three times Samson gave her false answers, but each time she betrayed him to the Philistines.
The fourth time, Samson finally revealed the truth, that his strength came from his long hair, which had never been cut. Delilah cut Samson’s hair while he slept, and when he awoke, he was weak and powerless.
The Philistines seized Samson and gouged out his eyes, and he was forced to grind grain in a mill like a slave. However, Samson’s hair began to grow back, and one day he was brought out to entertain the Philistine rulers.
He asked the boy who led him to the pillars of the temple to let him rest against them, and then he prayed to God for strength one last time. With a mighty effort, he pushed the pillars apart and brought the temple crashing down, killing himself and many Philistines.
Samson’s downfall was caused by his weakness for women and his arrogance in thinking that his strength came from himself rather than from God. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and temptation, and the importance of remaining faithful to God.
Despite his flaws, Samson was still used by God to achieve great things, and his story reminds us that even those who fall short can still be part of God’s plan.
Judges 16:4-5
“Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, ‘See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.'”
Judges 16:15-17
“Then [Delilah] said to him, ‘How can you say, “I love you,” when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.’ With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it. So he told her everything.”
Judges 16:20
“Then she called, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him.”
Judges 16:28-30
“Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.”
Samson’s Nazirite Vow
The story of Samson was born to a barren woman, who was visited by an angel of the Lord and told that she would conceive and give birth to a son who would be set apart as a Nazirite from birth.
As a Nazirite, Samson was bound by a special vow that required him to abstain from wine and other fermented drinks, avoid coming into contact with the dead, and let his hair grow long.
Samson’s Nazirite vow was intended to be a sign of his dedication to God and his separation from the world. His long hair, in particular, was a symbol of his devotion to God, and cutting it off would have been a violation of his vow.
Despite this, Samson’s hair would ultimately become his downfall, as he revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah, who betrayed him to the Philistines by cutting off his hair while he slept.
Samson’s life as a Nazirite offers lessons on the importance of dedication and separation from the world. His vow was a reminder that God’s people are called to be holy, set apart from the world and consecrated to the Lord.
It also teaches the importance of keeping our promises to God and the dangers of letting our guard down when it comes to temptation.
Samson’s story is a reminder that even those who are called to great things can fall if they do not remain faithful to their calling and rely on God’s strength rather than their own.
Numbers 6:1-4
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.””
Judges 13:7
“But [the angel of the Lord] said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.'”
Judges 13:14
“He [the angel of the Lord] will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
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Samson’s Role as a Judge
Judges 15:20
“And [Samson] led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.”
Judges 16:31
“Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.”
Hebrews 11:32
“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets.”
Lessons from Samson’s Life
Samson was a complex character with great strength and tremendous flaws. He was called by God to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines, but his personal weaknesses and poor decisions led to his downfall. Despite this, there are many lessons that we can learn from his life.
One lesson is the danger of pride and self-reliance. Samson’s strength came from God, but he often took it for granted and failed to acknowledge its source. He also allowed his success to go to his head, which made him vulnerable to temptation and compromise.
Another lesson is the importance of spiritual preparation and discipline. Samson was a Nazirite, which meant that he had taken a vow of consecration to God.
However, he often disregarded the rules of his vow, such as by drinking wine and interacting with unclean things. It was because of this lack of spiritual discipline that he was exposed to the world’s temptations.
The high cost of sin is a third lesson that can be taken away from Samson’s life. Delilah, a Philistine woman whom he was in love with, betrayed him to his enemies after he revealed to her the secret of his strength.
This result of his sin led to his ultimate humiliation, capture, and death. It is a stark reminder that no matter how long it takes, the consequences of sin must be faced.
Additionally, Samson can be seen as a testament to God’s grace and mercy, despite his many flaws, he was still able to use his imperfection to do God’s will, delivering Israel from the Philistines and serving as a judge for twenty years. This is a reminder that God can use any of us, in spite of our weaknesses, for His glory.
Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Samson’s downfall through his love for Delilah)
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (Samson’s strength coming from God’s power, not his own)
Ephesians 6:10-11
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Samson’s lack of spiritual armor leading to his downfall)
James 1:13-15
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (Samson’s temptation and sin leading to his downfall)
1 Corinthians 10:12
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (Samson’s downfall as a warning to others to remain humble and vigilant)
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the story of Samson in the Bible is a rich source of inspiration and wisdom. Through his life, we can learn about the dangers of pride and self-reliance, the importance of spiritual preparation and discipline, and the high cost of sin.
We also see how God can use imperfect people to accomplish His purposes, and how even our weaknesses can be used for His glory.
The story of Samson is a reminder that we are all flawed, but with God’s help, we can overcome our weaknesses and achieve great things. It is a call to humility, spiritual discipline, and trust in God’s plan for our lives. By studying the lessons of Samson’s life, we can deepen our faith, grow in wisdom, and become better servants of God.