John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. And Samson said unto her , etc.] In answer to her pressing solicitations: if they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried ; the word is sometimes used for nerves, and cords or ropes; but neither of these can be here meant, since these, if moistened or made wet, are the less fit to bind with, and the drier the better; but rods or branches of trees just cut off, such as faggots are bound up with, or green osiers, which are easily bent and twisted, and may bind with; Josephus calls them vine branches: then shall I be weak, and be as another man ; which cannot well be excused from a lie; for Samson knew full well that being bound would not weaken his strength; but as he had fallen into one sin, it is no wonder he was drawn into another: unless this can be understood, as it is by some, as jesting with her; however, it shows that he was “compos mentis”, as Josephus observes, and was upon his guard with respect to the secret of his strength.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-17 - Samson had been more than once brought into mischief and danger by the love of women, yet he would not take warning, but is again taken in the same snare, and this third time is fatal. Licentiousness is one of the things that take away the heart. This is a deep pit into which man have fallen; but from which few have escaped, and those by a miracle of mercy, with the loss of reputation and usefulness, of almost all except their souls. The anguish of the suffering is ten thousand time greater than all the pleasures of the sin.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 אליה413 שׁמשׁון8123 אם518 יאסרני631 בשׁבעה7651 יתרים3499 לחים3892 אשׁר834 לא3808 חרבו2717 וחליתי2470 והייתי1961 כאחד259 האדם׃120
