John Gill Commentary Judges 16:7

"And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man." — Judges 16:7 (ASV)

And Samson said to her
In answer to her pressing solicitations:

if they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried ;
the word is sometimes used for nerves, and cords or ropes; but neither of these can be here meant, since these, if moistened or made wet, are the less fit to bind with, and the drier the better; but rods or branches of trees just cut off, such as faggots are bound up with, or green osiers, which are easily bent and twisted, and may bind with; Josephus ^F21 calls them vine branches:

then shall I be weak, and be as another man ;
which cannot well be excused from a lie; for Samson knew full well that being bound would not weaken his strength; but as he has fallen into one sin, it is no wonder he was drawn into another: unless this can be understood, as it is by some, as jesting with her; however, it shows that he was "compos mentis", as Josephus ^F23 observes, and was upon his guard with respect to the secret of his strength.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F21: Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 9.)
• F23: Ibid.