Judges 16 · Verse 25

Judges 16:25

And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Judges 16:25, King James Version

Judges 16:25 in other translations

BSBAnd while their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison to entertain them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
WEBWhen their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.” They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars;
ASVAnd it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. And they set him between the pillars:
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, when their heart is glad, that they say, ‘Call for Samson, and he doth play before us;' and they call for Samson out of the prison-house, and he playeth before them, and they cause him to stand between the pillars.
DARBYAnd it came to pass when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house, and he played before them; and they set him between the pillars.
BBENow when their hearts were full of joy, they said, Send for Samson to make sport for us. And they sent for Samson out of the prison-house, and he made sport before them; and they put him between the pillars.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

What does Judges 16:25 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 Call for Samson, that he may make us sport - What the sport was we cannot tell; probably it was an exhibition of his prodigious strength. This seems to be intimated by what is said, Jdg 16:22, of the restoration of his hair; and the exertions he was obliged to make will account for the weariness which gave him the pretense to ask for leave to lean against the pillars. Some think he was brought out to be a laughing-stock, and that he was variously insulted by the Philistines; hence the version of the Septuagint: και ερραπιζον αυτον, and they buffeted him. Josephus, Antiq. Jud. lib. v., cap. 8, s. 12, says: He was brought out, ὁπως ενυβρισωσιν αυτον παρα τον ποτον, that they might insult him in their cups.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Judges 16:25-31
Nothing fills up the sins of any person or people faster than mocking and misusing the servants of God, even thought it is by their own folly that they are brought low. God put it into Samson's heart, as a public person, thus to avenge on them God's quarrel, Israel's, and his own. That strength which he had lost by sin, he recovers by prayer. That it was not from passion or personal revenge, but from holy zeal for the glory of God and Israel, appears from God's accepting and answering the prayer. The house was pulled down, not by the natural strength of Samson, but by the almighty power of God. In his case it was right he should avenge the cause of God and Israel. Nor is he to be accused of self-murder. He sought not his own death, but Israel's deliverance, and the destruction of their enemies. Thus Samson died in bonds, and among the Philistines, as an awful rebuke for his sins; but he died repentant. The effects of his death typified those of the death of Christ, who, of his own will, laid down his life among transgressors, and thus overturned the foundation of Satan's kingdom, and provided for the deliverance of his people. Great as was the sin of Samson, and justly as he deserved the judgments he brought upon himself, he found mercy of the Lord at last; and every penitent shall obtain mercy, who flees for refuge to that Saviour whose blood cleanses from all sin. But here is nothing to encourage any to indulge sin, from a hope they shall at last repent and be saved.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Judges 16:25 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַֽיְהִי֙vay.Hiand it wasH1961
[ ][ ]
כְּט֣וֹבke.tovlike goodH2895
לִבָּ֔םli.Bamheart theirH3820
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.Ruand they saidH559
קִרְא֥וּkir.'UsummonH7121
לְשִׁמְשׁ֖וֹןle.shim.Shon<to> SamsonH8123
וִישַֽׂחֶק\־vi.sa.chek-so he may make sportH7832
לָ֑נוּLa.nufor <the> us
וַיִּקְרְא֨וּvai.yik.re.'Uand they summonedH7121
לְשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹןle.shim.Shon<to> SamsonH8123
מִבֵּ֣יתmi.Beitfrom [the] house ofH1004
הָאֲסוּרִ֗יםha.'a.si.rimthose imprisonedH631
וַיְצַחֵק֙vay.tza.Chekand he made sportH6711
לִפְנֵיהֶ֔םlif.nei.Hem<to> before themH6440
וַיַּעֲמִ֥ידוּvai.ya.'a.Mi.duand they made standH5975
אוֹת֖וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
בֵּ֥יןbeinbetweenH996
הָעַמּוּדִֽים\׃ha.'a.mu.Dimthe pillarsH5982

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Judges 16:25

  • Psalms 35:15-16

    But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

  • Hebrews 11:36

    And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

  • 2 Samuel 13:28

    Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

  • Judges 9:27

    And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

  • Judges 19:6

    And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.

  • Daniel 5:2-3

    Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

  • Psalms 69:26

    For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

  • Proverbs 24:17-18

    Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

  • Judges 19:9

    And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

  • Matthew 26:67-68

    Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

  • Matthew 27:39-44

    And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. …

  • Psalms 69:12

    They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
their hearts.
9:27; 18:20; 19:6,9; 2Sa 13:28; 1Ki 20:12; Es 3:15; Isa 22:13
Da 5:2,3; Mt 14:6,7
them. Heb. before them. sport.
Job 30:9,10; Ps 35:15,16; 69:12,26; Pr 24:17,18; Mic 7:8-10
Mt 26:67,68; 27:29,39-44; Heb 11:36

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Judges 16:24

    And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.

  • Judges 16:25

    And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

  • Judges 16:26

    And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

Read all of Judges 16

Judges 16:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aconteció que, yéndose alegrando el corazón de ellos, dijeron: Llamad á Samsón, para que divierta delante de nosotros. Y llamaron á Samsón de la cárcel, y hacía de juguete delante de ellos; y pusiéronlo entre las columnas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva, comme ils avaient le cœur joyeux, qu’ils dirent: Appelez Samson, et qu’il nous amuse! Et ils appelèrent Samson de la maison des prisonniers; et il joua devant eux; et ils le placèrent entre les colonnes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah, als ihr Herz fröhlich war, da sprachen sie: Rufet Simson, daß er vor uns spiele. Und sie riefen Simson aus dem Gefängnis, und er spielte vor ihnen; und sie stellten ihn zwischen die Säulen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Lætantesque per convivia, sumptis jam epulis, præceperunt ut vocaretur Samson, et ante eos luderet. Qui adductus de carcere ludebat ante eos, feceruntque eum stare inter duas columnas.