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Samson said, With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps on heaps, With the jawbone of a donkey I have struck a thousand men.

Verse Takeaways

1

A Poetic Victory Cry

Commentators explain that Samson's victory cry is a clever poem in the original Hebrew. The word for "ass" (chamor) is the same as the word for "heap." This wordplay, which is lost in translation, is a form of ancient poetry used to express deep, triumphant emotion.

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4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Judges 15:16

18th Century

Theologian

There is a play upon the word, three times repeated, which means both “an ass” and also “a heap.” The spirit of riddle-making ([Reference Judges 14…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Judges 15:16

19th Century

Bishop

And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass. — Here we once more find ourselves in very primitive regions of poetry and paronomasia. Samso…

John Gill

John Gill

On Judges 15:16

17th Century

Pastor

And Samson said
In a kind of triumphant song:

with the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps

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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Judges 15:9–17

17th Century

Minister

Sin dispirits people; it hides from their eyes the things that belong to their peace. The Israelites blamed Samson for what he had done against the…