Judges 16:6

*So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength is and how you may be bound to afflict you.”* (v.6) In this passage, the Philistine woman Delilah directly requests the secret of Samson’s extraordinary physical power. Historically, Samson served as a judge of Israel in the late 12th century BC, during a time when the Israelites repeatedly fell under the domination of hostile neighbors. Samson’s significance in Israelite history includes his role as a deliverer against the Philistines, though he often struggled with personal weaknesses. Delilah, residing in the Valley of Sorek, which lay between the Philistine territory and the central hills of Judah in ancient Israel, represents a cunning figure seeking to exploit Samson’s gifts for her own gain.

*“Please tell me where your great strength is…”* (v.6) captures Delilah’s deceptively persuasive appeal. She bids Samson to reveal the source of this remarkable ability, a power linked to God’s calling on Samson’s life (Judges 13:3-5, NASB-95). Although she poses her words politely, her intent is to lure him into bondage—reflecting how people can sometimes mask harmful motives beneath gentle invitations. This moment glimmers with spiritual tension, since Samson stood as a chosen servant, yet he was susceptible to trusting someone outside of his covenant with the Lord.

Her question—*“…and how you may be bound to afflict you.”* (v.6)—underscores that Delilah’s request is not simply one of innocent curiosity. She is actually plotting harm. Despite the potential benefit of mutual trust within relationships, Delilah illustrates a betrayal that foreshadows later instances of treachery in Scripture (such as Judas betraying Jesus in Matthew 26:47-50, NASB-95). This verse warns believers to be vigilant about placing their trust in those who may not share a commitment to God’s ways.

We witness in this request the dangerous exchange of trust for personal gain.