Illustration created for this project.
Delilah
The woman who coaxed from Samson the secret of his strength and betrayed him to the Philistines.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
Life, role & deeds
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus retells the Samson episode and names the woman of the Valley of Sorek in his account. His version is, however, a literary paraphrase of the biblical narrative rather than independent evidence for her existence.
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 5.306-313 (dependent on the biblical text, not an independent attestation).
Name & titles
ScholarlyThe etymology of Delilah (Hebrew Delilah) is disputed. A common proposal links it to the root d-l-l, 'to be low, weak, or brought low,' which would ironically anticipate her weakening of Samson; others connect it to laylah, 'night.'
Onomastic (Hebrew name) analysis; the derivation is genuinely uncertain and no consensus exists.
Where in scripture
JudgesFamily
In their own words — 6 recorded sayings
“So Delilah said to Samson, Make clear to me now what is the secret of your great strength, and how you may be put in bands and made feeble.” — Judges 16:6
“Now she had men waiting secretly in the inner room; and she said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And the cords were broken by him as a twist of thread is broken when touched by a flame. So the secret of his strength did not come to light. Then Delilah said to Samson, See, you have been making sport of me with false words; now, say truly how may you be put in bands?” — Judges 16:9-10
“So Delilah took new thick cords, knotting them tightly round him, and said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And men were waiting secretly in the inner room. And the cords were broken off his arms like threads. Then Delilah said to Samson, Up to now you have made sport of me with false words; now say truly, how may you be put in bands? And he said to her, If you get the seven twists of my hair worked into the cloth you are making and fixed with the pin, I will become feeble and will be like any other man.” — Judges 16:12-13
“So while he was sleeping she got the seven twists of his hair worked into her cloth and fixed with the pin, and said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. Then awaking from his sleep, he got up quickly, pulling up cloth and machine together. And she said to him, Why do you say you are my lover when your heart is not mine? Three times you have made sport of me, and have not made clear to me the secret of your great strength.” — Judges 16:14-15
“And when Delilah saw that he had let her see into his heart, she sent word to the chiefs of the Philistines saying, Come up this time, for he has let out all his heart to me. Then the chiefs of the Philistines came to her, with the money in their hands.” — Judges 16:18
“Then she said, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And awaking from his sleep, he said, I will go out as at other times, shaking myself free. But he was not conscious that the Lord had gone from him.” — Judges 16:20
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
In art
