Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 16:15
And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart [is] not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength [lieth].
When thine heart is not with me; when thy love consists only in outward expression, not in affection, and thou wilt not open thy heart to me, as one true friend doth to another.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And she said unto him, how canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?…. She took an opportunity, when he was caressing her, to upbraid him with dissembled love, and a false heart: thou hast mocked me these three times; she had urged him to tell her where his strength lay, and by what it might be weakened, first pretending it might be done by binding him with green withs, and then with new ropes, and a third time by weaving his locks into the web:
and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth; the thing so frequently and so importunately requested.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Betrayed by Delilah, vs. 15-20
Samson’s lustful desire brought him back to Delilah again and again. And bit by bit she broke him down, so that the Scriptures say she vexed his soul to death. It got so that Samson desired his pleasure with Delilah more than pleasing God and honoring his vow. How deeply can a child of God go into sin! At last he told her everything. He told her how he had the vow of the Nazarite, of dedication to God’s service, from his birth, and that he had never been shaved as a sign of that vow. Taking off his locks and beard would not destroy the source of Samson’s strength, but it would show that Samson had already separated himself from that Source of strength.
Delilah knew at once that Samson had told her the truth this time, and she sent for her money. She was a shrewd woman, for she no longer bothered simply with the liers in wait, but sent for the lords of the cities. They came up and waited the outcome. Delilah evidently drugged Samson and let him go to sleep in her lap, totally unmindful of the Lord’s will for him. She brought in a man to shave him, and when that was done, was the first to ridicule and mock her victim Her own affliction of Samson shows her own sorry character and the traitor she was. She screamed, “The Philistines are upon you Samson,” and this time it was true.
It seems that Samson may have realized that he had lost his hair and beard, but the Lord had come to his aid so may times he expected him to do so again. He thought he could go out and flex his muscles and do away with his tormentors as usual. This time it did not work. The Scriptures say Samson did not know that the Lord was no longer with him, for Samson had left the Lord,(cf. 1Co 5:5).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(15) How canst thou say, I love thee . . .?Samson had undergone all these wiles before, and experienced their hollowness (Jdg. 14:16), yet he had not learnt wisdom.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘ And she said to him, “How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? You have made fun of me these three times, and have not told me in what your great strength lies.” ’
Now she was getting very angry, but disguised it as hurt love. Always beware of a man or woman who says, “If you loved me you would –.” They are using deceitful tactics as Delilah was here. She accused him of not loving her with all his heart. “These three times.’ A complete set of jests. And still she did not know the answer.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 16:15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart [is] not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength [lieth].
Ver. 15. How canst thou say, I love thee? ] This was, it seems, a great word in Samson’s mouth, “I love thee dearly, Delilah.” This she twitteth him with, as if only from the teeth outward: and that he did not Medullitus et animitus eam amare. In amore sese comitantur .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
How . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dying with the Philistines
Jdg 16:15-31
It may be that the razor has already severed your union with Christ. If we abide not in living union with Him, we are cast out as branches from the vine, and wither. This is bad enough, but it is still worse when we are not aware of it. See Hos 7:9. Some of our greatest spiritual experiences may be like sunrise or sunset. There is no speech nor language; their voice is not heard, but the effect, for good or ill, soon shows itself.
We may be blind and captive, yet for us also the hair that was cut may begin to grow again. The old faith and love, the old consecration and surrender, the old power with God and man may come again. Do not turn away from Him, penitent soul, for God is willing to take you back again into the secret of His power. He hateth putting away, Mal 2:16; Isa 50:1. Out of your sorrowful heart, send up Samsons prayer! But do not ask to be strengthened only this once. God will do it not for once, but for many times, if only you will trust Him absolutely, 2Ki 13:19. And do not ask to die; believe that life shall again become bright, strong and victorious.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
How canst: Jdg 14:16, Pro 2:16, Pro 5:3-14
when thine: Gen 29:20, Deu 6:5, 1Sa 15:13, 1Sa 15:14, 2Sa 16:17, Pro 23:26, Son 8:6, Son 8:7, Joh 14:15, Joh 14:21-24, Joh 15:10, 2Co 5:14, 2Co 5:15, 1Jo 2:15, 1Jo 2:16, 1Jo 5:3
Reciprocal: Jdg 16:10 – now tell me Neh 6:4 – four times Pro 5:4 – sharp Pro 7:21 – With her Pro 23:7 – Eat Eze 16:30 – the work 2Co 6:6 – love Eph 4:15 – speaking the truth Jam 3:6 – a world
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 16:15-16. Thy heart is not with me Not open to me. His soul was vexed unto death Being tormented by two contrary passions, desire to gratify her, and fear of betraying himself. So that he had no pleasure of his life.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, {h} I love thee, when thine heart [is] not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength [lieth].
(h) For Samson used to say “I love you”.