Judges 16:17

16:17 Finally he told her his secret. ¹  He said to her, “My hair has never been cut, ²  for I have been dedicated to God ³  from the time I was conceived. ⁴  If my head ⁵  were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be just like all other men.”

Judges 16:20

16:20 She said, “The Philistines are here, ⁶  Samson!” He woke up ⁷  and thought, ⁸  “I will do as I did before ⁹  and shake myself free.” But he did not realize that the Lord had left him.

[16:17]  ¹ tn Heb “all his heart.”

[16:17]  ² tn Heb “a razor has not come upon my head.”

[16:17]  ³ tn Or “set apart to God.” Traditionally the Hebrew term נָזִיר (nazir) has been translated “Nazirite.” The word is derived from the verb נָזַר (nazar, “to dedicate; to consecrate; to set apart”).

[16:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “from the womb of my mother.”

[16:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “I.” The referent has been made more specific in the translation (“my head”).

[16:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “are upon you.”

[16:20]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew adds, “from his sleep.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[16:20]  ⁸ tn Heb “and said.”

[16:20]  ⁹ tn Heb “I will go out as before.”