Who is…
Delilah

Hebrew: דְּלִילָה —transliteration: Delilah —meaning: delicate

Greek: Δαλιδά

Delilah was a Philistine woman who lived in the valley of Sorek (Judges 16:4-20). She was loved by Samson, a Nazarite (Nazirite), but the Bible does not say that she loved him. To the contrary, she treacherously betrayed him.

She was bribed with much silver by the “lords of the Philistines” to obtain from Samson the secret of his strength and the means of overcoming it (Judges 16:4-18).

And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Entice him, and see where his great strength lies and how we may overpower him that we may bind him to afflict him. Then we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” —Judges 16:5 LSB

She tried in vain on three occasions to obtain this secret from him. On the fourth occasion she wrung it from him. She then made him sleep upon her knees, and then called the man who was waiting to help her; who “cut off the seven locks of his head,” and so his “strength went from him.”

Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison. —Judges 16:21 LSB

More information

• Who is Samson?
• Sorek
• What is the Book of Judges?
• Biblical women with much more admirable character, include: Mrs. Noah, Mary (mother of Jesus), Esther, Deborah, and Milcah, daugher of Zelophehad, and Persis of Rome
• Women of the Bible