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People of the Bible
Who Was Samson?
In short
Samson was a judge of Israel set apart from birth and given extraordinary strength. His story is one of great gifting and tragic weakness, as he squandered his calling.
Yet even at the end, blind and broken, Samson cried out to God, and God used even his failure to bring deliverance. A story of grace reaching the fallen.
“And 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.”
Judges 16:28 · King James Version (public domain)
Samson at a glance
| Name | Samson |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Judges |
| Key passage on this page | Judges 16:28 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Scripture explains Scripture. These passages are linked to this one most often by readers.
- Jeremiah 15:15
- Lamentations 3:31-32
- Psalms 91:15
- Psalms 143:12
- Revelation 6:10
- Psalms 50:15
- Psalms 58:10-11
- Jonah 2:1-2
- 2 Timothy 4:14
- Psalms 74:18-23
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Samson in the Bible?
Samson appears in Judges. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Judges 16:28?
Readers most often set it next to Jeremiah 15:15, Lamentations 3:31-32, Psalms 91:15, Psalms 143:12.
Why does Samson matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Samson is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Lord Christ, you love the people of Samson more than we can. We bring you Samson, Judges. Teach us to love one another, as you have loved us. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Where to begin this week.
- Read the key passage, Judges 16:28, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Samson's story says about God, not only about Samson.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Samson
You can read the story of Samson in Judges on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
