Delilah facts for kids

Delilah from the Promptuarium Iconum Insigniorum

Delilah (whose name means "delicate") is a woman mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible. She is known for her role in the story of Samson, a very strong man who was a Judge of Israel. Delilah was loved by Samson, but she was also involved in a plan to discover the secret of his great strength.

The leaders of the Philistines, who were enemies of the Israelites, offered Delilah a lot of money. They wanted her to find out what made Samson so powerful so they could capture him.

The Story of Delilah and Samson

Samson was a Nazirite, which meant he had made special promises to God. One of these promises was never to cut his hair. This was the source of his incredible strength.

Delilah's Plan

Delilah tried three times to get Samson to tell her his secret. Each time, he tricked her by telling her something false.

• First, he said he would lose his strength if he was tied with seven fresh bowstrings.
• Next, he said he would become weak if he was tied with new ropes.
• Then, he claimed he would lose his power if his hair was woven into a loom.

Each time, Delilah tried these methods, but Samson easily broke free.

The Betrayal

Finally, Delilah kept asking Samson about his secret every day. She bothered him so much that he eventually told her the truth: his strength came from his long hair, which had never been cut.

While Samson was sleeping, Delilah called a servant to cut off his seven braids of hair. As soon as his hair was cut, Samson lost his strength. Delilah then called the Philistines, who captured Samson. They took him away and put him in prison.

Delilah's Legacy

The story of Delilah and Samson is very famous. It shows how someone can be betrayed by someone they trust. Delilah's name has become known for women who are seen as tricky or who betray others.

This story has been told in many ways over the years. For example, John Milton wrote a play called Samson Agonistes. There was also a popular Hollywood movie in 1949 called Samson and Delilah.

Images for kids

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  Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr in the movie Samson and Delilah (1949)

See also

In Spanish: Dalila para niños