Judges 16:26-30 · Bible study
Judges 16:26-30 Commentary: Samson's Final Act
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Samson asked to feel the pillars and what his final act reveals about faith, judgment, and God's sovereignty.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Samson destroys the Philistine temple, killing thousands, as a final act of deliverance for Israel.
- Key words: “Feel” (מוּשׁ, Hiphil, to feel by touch); “please” (נָא, a particle of entreaty); “avenge” (נָקַם, to take vengeance).
- Main debate: Was Samson’s act personal vengeance or a public, faithful judgment? Commentators are divided.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over human weakness and the reversal of earthly power.
- Best use: A narrative showing that even flawed leaders can be used by God when they turn to Him in honest need.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
26Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Lead me where I can feel the pillars supporting the temple, so I can lean against them.”
27Now the temple was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there, and about three thousand men and women were on the roof watching Samson entertain them.
28Then Samson called out to the LORD: “O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, so that with one vengeful blow I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”
29And Samson reached out for the two central pillars supporting the temple. Bracing himself against them with his right hand on one pillar and his left hand on the other,
30Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people in it. So in his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.
WEB World English Bible 2000
26and Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, “Allow me to feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean on them.”
27Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who saw while Samson performed.
28Samson called to Yahweh, and said, “Lord Yahweh, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”
29Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house rested and leaned on them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left.
30Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those who he killed in his life.
KJV King James Version 1769
26And 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.
27Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
28And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
29And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
30And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
26and Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house resteth, that I may lean upon them.
27Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
28And Samson called unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
29And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and leaned upon them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left.
30And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
26And Samson saith unto the young man who is keeping hold on his hand, `Let me alone, and let me feel the pillars on which the house is established, and I lean upon them.'
27And the house hath been full of men and of women, and thither are all the princes of the Philistines, and on the roof are about three thousand men and women, who are looking on the playing of Samson.
28And Samson calleth unto Jehovah, and saith, `Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this time, O God; and I am avenged--vengeance at once--because of my two eyes, on the Philistines.'
29And Samson turneth aside to the two middle pillars, on which the house is established, and on which it is supported, to the one with his right hand, and one with his left;
30and Samson saith, `Let me die with the Philistines,' and he inclineth himself powerfully, and the house falleth on the princes, and on all the people who are in it, and the dead whom he hath put to death in his death are more than those whom he put to death in his life.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
26And Samson said to the lad that held him by the hand, Let loose of me, and suffer me to feel the pillars upon which the house stands, that I may lean upon them.
27Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and upon the roof there were about three thousand men and women, who looked on while Samson made sport.
28And Samson called to Jehovah, and said, Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, OGod, that I may take one vengeance upon the Philistines for my two eyes.
29And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood (and he supported himself upon them), the one with his right hand and the other with his left.
30And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines! And he bowed himself with might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than those whom he had slain in his life.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
26And he said to the lad that guided his steps: Suffer me to touch the pillars which support the whole house, and let me lean upon them, and rest a little.
27Now the house was full of men and women, and all the princes of the Philistines were there. Moreover about three thousand persons of both sexes, from the roof and the higher part of the house, were beholding Samson's play.
28But he called upon the Lord, saying: O Lord God remember me, and restore to me now my former strength, O my God, that I may revenge myself on my enemies, and for the loss of my two eyes I may take one revenge.
29And laying hold on both the pillars on which the house rested, and holding the one with his right hand, and the other with his left,
30He said: Let me die with the Philistines. And when he had strongly shook the pillars, the house fell upon all the princes, and the rest of the multitude, that was there: and he killed many more at his death, than he had killed before in his life.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 16:26
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Samson’s request to feel the pillars was a deliberate move to bring down the house on the Philistines. Barnes notes that Samson “feigned weariness” after performing and asked to lean on the pillars, a pretense to locate the supports. Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown both highlight that his prayer to Yahweh was a genuine cry for strength, not a mere act of personal vengeance. The Cambridge Bible points out the grim humor in his plea for “one of my two eyes,” suggesting the loss of sight drove his request. All see this as a moment where Samson, despite his earlier failures, turns back to God. The house collapses, killing the Philistine lords and thousands on the roof, an event the text presents as divine judgment. Hebrews 11:32 lists Samson among the faithful, and the commentators take this as evidence that his final act was, in some sense, an act of faith.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Vindictive suicide: Samson asks for personal vengeance for his eyes and deliberately causes his own death.
- Public-spirited act of judgment: Samson acts as a judge of Israel, targeting the enemies of God’s people; his death is incidental.
- Faithful end: Hebrews 11:32 lists Samson among the faithful, suggesting his final prayer was an act of trust in God.
What is clear: Samson called on Yahweh, was strengthened by God, and brought down the Philistine temple, killing many enemies of Israel.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Samson's motive | All agree Samson intended to bring down the house on the Philistines and that God enabled him. | Some see personal vengeance for his eyes; others see a public-spirited act as judge of Israel. |
| Was it suicide? | Samson knew he would die in the act, as his words “Let me die with the Philistines” show. | Protestant commentators often say it was not suicide because he was acting as a magistrate and his death was incidental. Others view it as a form of self-sacrifice. |
| The prayer in v. 28 | Samson cried out to God for strength, and God answered. | The tone is debated: was it a prayer of faith (Clarke, Jamieson) or a prayer still tinged with personal anger (Barnes)? |
| Numbers of dead | All note that the Philistine lords and about 3,000 on the roof were killed. | The LXX has 70 for 3,000 (Cambridge), but most traditions follow the Masoretic Text. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Philistines credited their fish-god Dagon with Samson’s capture, so they gathered in a temple or festival hall to offer a great sacrifice and rejoice (Judges 16:23-24). This building almost certainly had a flat roof supported by two central pillars, as was common in ancient Near Eastern architecture. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown compare it to open amphitheaters where spectators stood on a wooden floor resting on two large beams, themselves supported by pillars close together. The roof could hold about three thousand men and women, while the lords and principal persons sat under it. Samson, blinded and forced to grind grain in prison (the work of slaves and women, as Ellicott notes), was brought out to entertain the crowd. He was placed between the pillars, possibly on a stage. When he asked to feel the pillars, he acted as a blind man seeking support, but his real aim was to destroy the house. The flat roofs of Canaanite houses are attested in Deuteronomy 22:8 (railing required) and Joshua 2:8 (Rahab on the roof). The crowd saw his performance as a triumph of their god over Yahweh, so his final act was a decisive reversal, demonstrating that the God of Israel is not mocked.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note two textual variants: In verse 27, the LXX (Codex B) reads “70” instead of “3,000” for the number on the roof. The main Hebrew tradition consistently has three thousand. Also, in verse 28, the phrase “at once avenged” is a questionable rendering; the margin suggests “that I may be avenged for one of my two eyes,” which the Cambridge Bible prefers as more in character. No other significant variants are mentioned by the supplied commentaries.
Reception History
Early Christian writers often allegorized Samson as a type of Christ, his death bringing down the enemies of God. In the Reformation, interpreters like Matthew Henry and John Gill saw him as a flawed but faithful judge, and highlighted his inclusion in Hebrews 11. John Milton’s Samson Agonistes (1671) dramatized the final scene, emphasizing Samson’s inner struggle and eventual vindication. Modern readers wrestle with the ethics of his act, questioning whether it was revenge or justice. Across all eras, the story has served as a warning against compromising one’s calling and a testament to God’s power to redeem failure.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Setting of Humiliation: Samson is blind, grinding grain, and made a spectacle. Yet in his lowest moment, God is not finished with him.
- The Cry for Help: Samson calls on Yahweh, asking to be remembered and strengthened. This is a prayer of dependence, not revenge.
- The Reversal of Judgment: By pulling down the pillars, Samson judges the enemies of Israel. His death brings more deliverance than his life did.
Five-point outline
- Samson’s failure leads to captivity and shame (vv. 21-25).
- In the temple of Dagon, Philistines celebrate their god’s victory (vv. 23-24).
- Samson’s request to feel the pillars is both practical and strategic (v. 26).
- His prayer reveals a heart turned back to God, even as he seeks justice (v. 28).
- God answers, and the house falls, killing thousands, a victory won through sacrifice (vv. 29-30).
Illustration hooks
- Underestimating someone in a wheelchair: often people assume a person with a disability is helpless, but they may have unseen strengths.
- An athlete’s final game: a player who has been benched or injured comes back for one last play that changes the outcome.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Was Samson’s act a suicide? And does that mean it was sinful?
- Why does the Bible seem to approve of violent vengeance here?
- What does this story teach us about God using flawed people?
Leading a Discussion
Samson’s final moments raise hard questions about how God works through broken, desperate people. This passage challenges us to consider what it means to call on God in our lowest point, and whether our motives for action are pure.
Discussion questions
- What do the Philistines’ words in verses 23-24 tell us about their view of God? How does Samson’s prayer challenge that?
- Why do you think Samson asked to feel the pillars? Was it just to rest, or was he planning something from the start?
- How does Samson’s prayer show both humility and faith? What does he ask for?
- Hebrews 11:32 lists Samson as a hero of faith. How does this help us understand his final act?
- Some see this story as promoting personal revenge. Others see a divinely sanctioned judgment. Which view do you lean toward, and why?
- What does this passage reveal about God’s ability to bring good out of human failure?
- How might we apply the principle of “calling on God in trouble” (Psalm 50:15) to our own lives today?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 22:8 | When you build a new house, then you shall make a railing around your roof, so that you don’t bring blood on your house if anyone falls from there. |
| Joshua 2:8 | Before they had lain down, she came up to them on the roof. |
| Judges 9:51 | But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. |
| II Samuel 11:2 | At evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at. |
| Judges 5:31 | “So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had rest forty years. |
| Judges 15:18 | He was very thirsty, and called on Yahweh and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” |
| II Chronicles 20:12 | Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” |
| Psalms 50:15 | Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke defends the building's design as entirely plausible: many pillars could support it, but the two center ones were the structural key; pulling them down would collapse the whole house. He also highlights the historical outcome, noting that Samson's final act killed so many Philistine lords and chiefs that Israel was free from their oppression for years.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes gives a vivid picture of the physical scene: Samson feigned exhaustion and leaned on the two pillars that supported a crowded roof, and when he pushed them over, the roof collapsed on the three thousand people below, killing them all. He then notes that the cry for one final revenge, while not expressing the Gospel spirit, was a natural sentiment for a man of Samson's time and character.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary notes that the number 3000 is likely a later insertion to heighten drama, with the Greek Old
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill defends Samson's final act by arguing he acted as a civil magistrate under God's direction, not from personal revenge or suicide. He also addresses objections about the building's structure, noting ancient architecture could support large crowds on two central pillars. This public, Spirit-led role makes Samson a type of Christ.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown argue that Samson's final act was not vengeful suicide but the deed of a public magistrate dying for his country. They believe his prayer was a silent, inward cry that God accepted, and that he did not seek his own death but accepted it as the inevitable cost of his effort.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch insists Samson's final act was not suicide but a heroic, God-ordained victory. By pulling down Dagon's temple, Samson vindicated Jehovah's honor against the Philistine fish-deity and proved that God would not let His enemies triumph. The shame of Samson's sin was taken away, and his death brought a greater defeat than his life had.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Samson's physical blindness became spiritual sight: in prison he repented and recovered his calling. His prayer using three names of God marks his full restoration. The final act is not suicide but a warrior's victory, with Samson willingly dying to strike one decisive blow for God and his people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that Samson's final prayer was not mere personal revenge but a plea for God to be glorified over the Philistine idol Dagon. His strength returned as an act of faith, and his death accomplished more for Israel's deliverance than his entire life had done.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley rejects Matthew Henry's claim that the goodness of God's promised land will intensify the punishment of those who perish. He argues that this reasoning fails under predestination: if some are not elected, they never had a genuine offer, and if all the elect are saved, the grant was never free to the others.