The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Judges 16:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And she said: The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And awaking from sleep, he said in his mind: I will go out as I did before, and shake myself, not knowing that the Lord was departed from him.

Douay-Rheims

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר פְּלִשְׁתִּ֥ים עָלֶ֖יךָ שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן וַיִּקַ֣ץ מִשְּׁנָת֗וֹ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֵצֵ֞א כְּפַ֤עַם בְּפַ֙עַם֙ וְאִנָּעֵ֔ר וְהוּא֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה סָ֥ר מֵעָלָֽיו׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

4 Church Fathers comment on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

Carefully consider what the Scriptures declare, particularly concerning Samson, who, when he accomplished his feats and experienced victory, did so with the Spirit of the Lord upon him (Judges 14:6), especially during times of his own weakness. After he had his hair cut and relinquished the grace bestowed upon him, it is noted that the Lord departed from Samson. Despite the arrival of enemies, the Spirit of the Lord empowered him; yet, when he strayed, it was said that the Lord left him, and rightly so, for ‘the Lord ... is the Spirit’ (2 Cor. 3:17).

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You have observed that there are those who have found glory in both prosperity and adversity, in marriage and in celibacy. Now, consider the other side, where individuals have faced ruin in both marriage and celibacy, as well as in wealth and poverty. For instance, some experienced destruction in marriage not because of the union itself but due to their own choices, such as Samson. Furthermore, five virgins fell into ruin through their choice to remain single (Matthew 25:1-13). From these illustrations, it is clear that when we engage with ... in the right manner, it leads to our well-being, but if we do so improperly, everything may lead to our downfall.

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

Samson roused from his slumber and declared: ‘I will go out as before and confront my foes!’ Yet, he found within himself no might or power, no energy or favor remained.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

The one who exhibited tremendous bravery and was celebrated for extraordinary accomplishments was captured by his own gentleness. This gentleness also stripped him of heavenly favor. As it is written: "And Samson was aroused from his sleep, and he said: I will go out, I will do as I have always done, and I will shake myself off, and he did not realize that the Lord had departed from him."

Dimitri of Rostov

17th centuryChurch Father

Individuals who fall back into their old sins after repenting, convincing themselves, "I will repent again," have a hope akin to that of Samson. Recall the temptations that the mighty Samson faced at the hands of the deceitful and charming Delilah, who sought to learn the secret of his strength. Samson misled her with various falsehoods, first claiming that he would lose his power if bound with seven fresh ropes, and then, that new ropes would have the same effect (Judges 16:11-15). Ultimately, he easily broke free from all these entanglements, as if escaping from mere cobwebs. Even when he recognized the cunning of the flattering woman plotting against him, he refused to liberate himself from the apparent danger posed by his misguided desires.

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He revealed the truth to her, confessing that his strength would fade once his hair was cut. After falling asleep in Delilah's embrace, his hair was shaved, and she cried out to him, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" Upon awakening, he believed, "I will go out as I have done before and free myself." Oh, how misplaced is your hope, Samson! You will not escape your enemies as you did before, for your strength has left you. Samson failed to recognize that the Lord had departed from him; the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes.

We can observe two important points here. First, Samson was unaware that the Lord had forsaken him and that his strength was gone. Second, in his ignorance, he nurtured a false hope of achieving victory over his enemies once again. "I will go out," he said, "as before." Similarly, a person who turns back to their old sins after repenting comforts themselves with the belief that they can sin and then seek repentance just as before, thinking, "I will offend God, and afterward I will ask for His forgiveness, as I have done previously; I will stain myself, and then I will cleanse myself again through repentance, as I did before." Oh, the deluded hope of the sinner! Oh, the foolish heart! Oh, the empty expectation! Behold, the Lord has already withdrawn, and the grace that once sustained you has departed.

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