Delilah

Technical Profile

Name Meaning: Possibly from Hebrew laylāh (“night”), a name associated with darkness in later interpretation
Period/Era: Divided Kingdom (Judges period)
Main References: Judges 16:4–22
Key Connections: Samson; Philistine rulers of Gaza

Who was Delilah?

Delilah was a woman from the Valley of Sorek who became closely involved with Samson.
Philistine leaders offered her money to discover the source of Samson’s strength.
She persistently pressed Samson until he disclosed the truth about his Nazirite dedication.

Key Events & Achievements

Event 1: Accepts payment from Philistine rulers to obtain Samson’s secret (Judges 16:5).
Event 2: Repeatedly tests Samson with false explanations until he reveals his uncut hair as the sign of his consecration (Judges 16:6–17).
Event 3: Arranges for Samson’s hair to be cut and signals the Philistines, leading to his capture (Judges 16:18–21).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Delilah’s account highlights how political pressure and personal gain can be used to undermine Israel’s deliverer during the Judges period.

Key Verse

"And she made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him." — Judges 16:19, ESV

Quizzes

Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.

1. What did the Philistine leaders offer Delilah in exchange for discovering the source of Samson’s strength?

2. What did Delilah arrange that led to Samson’s capture?