Judges 16:31 · Bible study
Judges 16:31 Commentary: Burial and Legacy of a Flawed Judge
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why the narrator closes Samson's story with his burial and twenty-year judgeship. Honor, failure, and God's use of broken leaders.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The narrator closes Samson’s story with a dignified burial and a summary of his twenty-year judgeship, affirming his God-given role despite personal failure.
- Key words: brothers (H0251), came down (H3381), between (H0996), tomb (H6913), judged (H8199).
- Main debate: Whether “brothers” refers to literal siblings or to the tribe of Dan; both views are argued from the text.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty works through flawed human leaders to accomplish His purposes.
- Best use: Sermons on grace, legacy, and God’s use of imperfect people; funeral meditations; Bible studies on the judges.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then Samson’s brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. And he had judged Israel twenty years.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial site of Manoah his father. He judged Israel twenty years.
KJV King James Version 1769
Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying-place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And his brethren come down, and all the house of his father, and lift him up, and bring him up, and bury him between Zorah and Eshtaol, in the burying-place of Manoah his father; and he hath judged Israel twenty years.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And his brethren came down, and all the house of his father, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zoreah and Eshtaol in the sepulchre of Manoah his father. And he had judged Israel twenty years.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And his brethren and all his kindred, going down took his body, and buried it between Saraa and Esthaol, in the buryingplace of his father Manue: and he judged Israel twenty years.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y descendieron sus hermanos y toda la casa de su padre, y tomáronle, y lleváronle, y le sepultaron entre Sora y Esthaol, en el sepulcro de su padre Manoa. Y él juzgó á Israel veinte años.
E desceram seus irmãos e toda a casa de seu pai, e tomaram-no, e levaram-no, e o sepultaram entre Zorá e Estaol, no sepulcro de seu pai Manoá. E ele julgou a Israel vinte anos.
Ses frères et toute la maison de son père descendirent, et l’ emportèrent. Lorsqu’ ils furent remontés, ils l’ enterrèrent entre Tsorea et Eschthaol dans le sépulcre de Manoach, son père. Il avait été juge en Israël pendant vingt ans.
Da kamen sein Brüder hernieder und seines Vaters ganzes Haus und hoben ihn auf und trugen ihn hinauf und begruben ihn in seines Vaters Manoahs Grab, zwischen Zora und Esthaol. Er richtete aber Israel zwanzig Jahre.
Toen kwamen zijn broeders af, en het ganse huis zijns vaders, en namen hem op, en brachten hem opwaarts, en begroeven hem tussen Zora en tussen Esthaol, in het graf van zijn vader Manoach; hij nu had Israel gericht twintig jaren.
Poi i suoi fratelli e tutta la casa di suo padre scesero e lo portaron via; quindi risalirono, e lo seppellirono fra Tsorea ed Eshtaol nel sepolcro di Manoah suo padre. Egli era stato giudice d’Israele per venti anni.
A przyszedłszy bracia jego, i wszystek dom ojca jego, wzięli go, a wróciwszy się pogrzebli go między Saraa, i między Estaol, w grobie Manue, ojca jego. A on sądził Izraela przez dwadzieścia lat.
И пришли братья его и весь дом отца его, и взяли его, и пошли и похоронили его между Цорою и Естаолом, во гробе Маноя, отца его. Он был судьею Израиля двадцать лет. [После Самсона восстал Емегар, сын Енана, и убил из иноплеменников шестьсот человек, кроме скота. И он спас Израиля.]
參孫的弟兄 和他父 的全 家 都下去 取 他的屍首，抬上來 葬 在 瑣拉 和以實陶 中間，在他父 瑪挪亞 的墳墓裡。參孫作 以色列 的士師 二十 年。
Then his brothers and his father's people came down and took him up and put his body to rest in the earth between Zorah and Eshtaol in the resting-place of Manoah his father. And he had been judge of Israel for twenty years.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 16:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions see this verse as a narrative conclusion that restores a measure of honor to Samson. Gill notes that his kindred reclaimed his body from the ruins and brought it to the family tomb, a common right of burial even for enemies. Cambridge Bible observes that the formulaic close (burial + summary) matches the pattern used for other judges, granting Samson his place among them. Barnes argues that “all the house of his father” means the whole tribe of Dan, who went in force to Gaza after the Philistine lords were killed. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown adds that the catastrophe paralyzed the Philistines, so they did not interfere. Clarke, while critical of Samson’s character, acknowledges the verse confirms his twenty-year judgeship. The consensus is clear: the narrator gives Samson a dignified ending and affirms his role as a judge, despite personal flaws.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse provides a factual conclusion to Samson’s life, recording his burial by his family in the ancestral tomb and the duration of his judgeship, without introducing doctrinal ambiguity.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Brothers and all the house of his father | They traveled to Gaza to recover Samson’s body and bury him with honor. | Gill takes “brethren” as literal siblings (likely because Samson’s mother may have had more children), while Barnes interprets it as the whole tribe of Dan acting through its kinship structure. |
| Effectiveness of Samson’s judgeship | He judged Israel twenty years, and his death killed more Philistines than his life. | Clarke argues his jurisdiction was narrow and he did not complete deliverance; others (e.g., JFB) see him as the greatest champion of his day, though morally flawed. |
| Samson’s faith and final act | He is listed among the faithful in Hebrews 11:32, implying God honored his trust. | Some readers view his final prayer as an act of faith in God’s covenant; others see it primarily as personal vengeance, though still an appeal to the Lord. |
| Geographic significance of Zorah and Eshtaol | These towns mark the region of Samson’s origin and the start of his calling (Judges 13:25). | Some see the burial location as a purely factual note; others read it as a symbolic return to his roots and a reminder of God’s initial stirring of his spirit. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Zorah and Eshtaol are towns in the territory of Dan, in the Shephelah, the low hill country between the coastal plain and the central mountains. Samson’s story begins here: his father Manoah lived in Zorah (Judges 13:2), and the Spirit first stirred him between these two towns (13:25). The burial in Manoah’s tomb brings the narrative full circle.
Gaza, where Samson died, lies on the coast. To “come down” from Gaza and “bring him up” to the hill country reflects the geography: the family traveled inland and upward. The Philistines, stunned by the deaths of their lords and thousands of people, did not prevent the Danites from recovering the body (Cambridge Bible). This contrasts sharply with the treatment of Saul’s corpse later, which was displayed on the walls of Beth Shan (1 Samuel 31:10). The quiet, honorable burial suggests a measure of fear or respect from the Philistines.
The summary “he judged Israel twenty years” repeats the exact phrase from Judges 15:20, reinforcing that Samson’s years of judging, though limited in scope and stained by his passions, were recognized by the narrator as genuine. Clarke suggests Samson served more as a regional champion against the Philistines than a full civil administrator, possibly overlapping with the priesthood of Eli. The Danites, acting through his family, reclaimed him as one of their own. This ending anchors a turbulent life in a specific time, place, and role: twenty years, between Zorah and Eshtaol, in the tomb of his father.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Judges 16:31 in the Hebrew manuscripts. The verse is stable across the major traditions. The phrase “he judged Israel twenty years” appears identically in 15:20, confirming the narrator’s deliberate repetition.
Reception History
Early Christian writers, such as the author of Hebrews (11:32), placed Samson among the heroes of faith, focusing on his trust in God’s power rather than his moral lapses. Medieval commentators often allegorized Samson’s death as a type of Christ’s victory over powers of darkness, with the collapse of Dagon’s temple prefiguring the defeat of idolatry. In the Reformation, Luther and Calvin largely treated the story as a historical warning against lust, while still affirming that God used Samson’s gift of strength. Modern readings tend to emphasize his tragic heroism: a man set apart from birth who squandered much of his calling yet was still used by God in his final moment. The closing verse has been read in funeral contexts as a quiet note of grace, the flawed servant is brought home and his service is recorded.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Burial, Family reclaims the body and lays it in the tomb of Manoah, restoring honor after a violent death.
- The Summary, “He judged Israel twenty years” affirms that God worked through Samson despite his moral failures.
- The Legacy, Samson appears among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, a reminder that God uses flawed people.
Five-point outline
- Grief and recovery: the family travels to Gaza to retrieve Samson’s body.
- Burial as closure: the ancestral tomb is a place of dignity and belonging.
- Geographic markers: Zorah and Eshtaol tie back to the beginning of his calling.
- The twenty-year note: a sovereign timeline that documents God’s patience and purpose.
- From dust to legacy: Samson’s story ends not with his failure but with his ordained role.
Illustration hooks
- A person whose life is a mixture of achievement and regret, yet their community remembers the good they did. Family and friends attend the funeral not to celebrate perfection but to honor the person God used.
- A sports team that wins a crucial game despite a player who consistently makes poor choices off the field. His contribution on the field is undeniable.
- A parent who struggles with personal weaknesses but still provides for and loves their children. Children grow up grateful for what was given, aware of what was lacking.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If Samson was so flawed, why is he listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11?”
- “What does it mean that he judged Israel twenty years? Did he actually lead the nation, or was he just a strongman?”
- “Should we admire Samson or warn against him? How do we hold both his faith and his failures together?”
Leading a Discussion
This verse closes the Samson narrative with quiet dignity. Instead of focusing on his death, the narrator highlights the restoration of his body to the family tomb and repeats the length of his judgeship. These details invite us to consider how God frames a life that was both used and broken. The discussion below moves from what the text says to what it means for us.
Discussion questions
- Observation: Where exactly did Samson’s family bury him? Why do you think the location is specified?
- Observation: The verse says he judged Israel twenty years. Where else in Judges is this exact phrase used? (Check 15:20.) What does the repetition emphasize?
- Interpretation: Barnes says “all the house of his father” may mean the entire tribe of Dan. What difference does it make whether it was his immediate family or the tribe?
- Interpretation: Several commentators note that the Philistines did not stop the burial. Why might they have allowed it? What does that say about the aftermath of Samson’s final act?
- Interpretation: How does the burial between Zorah and Eshtaol connect to Judges 13:25? Why does the narrator bring the story full circle?
- Application: Samson’s character is deeply flawed, yet he is given a proper burial and his judgeship is recorded. How should this affect the way we view people in church history, or people we know, who had serious weaknesses?
- Application: If you were writing the epilogue to Samson’s life, what would you include? Why do you think the narrator chose to end this way instead of with a moral lesson?
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)
| Joshua 19:41 | The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh, |
| Judges 13:2 | There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and childless. |
| Judges 13:25 | Yahweh’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. |
| Judges 15:20 | He judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines. |
| John 19:39 | Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds. |
| John 19:42 | Then, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand), they laid Jesus there. |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that Samson was a man of immense physical strength but small mental and moral capacity, frequently rescued by divine intervention from troubles his own passions created. His relationships produced no heirs, and he never became a true civil leader, serving only as an executor of divine justice against the Philistines.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes interprets "all the house of his father" and "his brethren" as the entire tribe of Dan acting together, not just Samson's immediate family. They seized the moment of Philistine panic and the loss of their leaders to go in force to Gaza, recover Samson's body, and bury it in his father's tomb.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator observes that the Philistines permitted Samson's relatives to bury him, a striking contrast to how they later treated Saul's body. He also notes that "Manoah his father" likely refers to the family ancestor, not Samson's immediate parent. The geographical shift from coastal Gaza to Samson's home in the central hill country is remarked upon as well.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes pause on the specific location of Samson's burial in his father's tomb between Zorah and Eshtaol, and they record his full term as Israel's judge as twenty years, treating both as a straightforward historical detail.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that Samson's twenty-year judgeship included his years living among the Philistines themselves, not only after their oppression ended. He firmly rejects Talmudic claims of forty or twenty-two years as unfounded, insisting the text's repeated statement stands as the accurate account.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB balances admiration for Samson's great service and courage with sharp disapproval of his slavish passion, yet affirms that despite this moral flaw, Samson is still counted among the faithful in Hebrews 11 for his firm trust in God.
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 opens his spiritual eyes; while grinding in prison, he repents and
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.