And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is the focus on the "fresh" or "moist" jawbone, not just as a readily available weapon, but as a sign of God's providence. This detail suggests the bone was still pliable, making it a more effective, less brittle tool for Samson, and subtly points to the miraculous nature of the event being ordained.
And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Samson has just been handed over to the Philistines by his own tribe, the men of Judah, who feared retaliation and tied him up with ropes. After God's Spirit empowers him, Samson breaks free and finds a fresh donkey's jawbone. He then uses this unlikely weapon to strike down a thousand Philistines, leading him to compose a song of triumph and then seek water from God in his exhaustion.
Samson's victory wasn't just about brute strength; it started with a surprisingly ordinary, yet divinely placed, object. What makes a 'new' jawbone so significant?
The text specifies a "fresh" or "moist" jawbone. This isn't just a detail; it speaks to God's provision and preparedness.
A Tougher Tool
A jawbone from a recently deceased animal would be more pliable and less brittle than a dry, old bone. This made it a more effective, durable weapon in Samson's hands.
Providence at Play
Commentators note that this jawbone was conveniently found right where Samson was freed. This suggests divine orchestration, ensuring Samson had the 'weapon' he needed at the precise moment God empowered him. It wasn't luck; it was God setting the stage for His purposes.
A thousand men fallen to one man with a bone? This incredible feat points beyond human ability to the One who truly empowers.
While Samson is the hero of the story, the text makes it clear where the ultimate power came from.
The Spirit's Might
The narrative preceding this verse (and implied here) is that "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him." This wasn't just Samson's personal strength; it was God's Spirit supercharging him.
God's Promise Fulfilled
Ask a follow-up
This event echoes God's promises to Israel: that one man could chase a thousand if God fought for them. Samson's victory demonstrated that God was indeed fighting through him, making the impossible possible.
A 'Foolish' Weapon
Using a donkey's jawbone highlights how God doesn't rely on conventional strength or weapons. He can use the seemingly weak and insignificant to achieve His grand purposes, proving His power is supreme.
Understand the original words
nakah · Hebrew Verb
The act of striking or smiting, often used in a military context to signify victory in battle through divine or human force.
This event highlights a moment of divine empowerment where God used an ordinary, even ignoble, object—a donkey's jawbone—as the instrument of a miraculous victory. It underscores the biblical theme that God's power is often displayed through seemingly weak means, emphasizing His strength rather than human capability.
c. 1100-1075 BC— this verse
Samson's Exploits and Philistine Oppression
This period in the Book of Judges details the life of Samson, a judge of Israel known for his immense strength and his ongoing conflict with the Philistines, who were dominating the region.
c. 1100-1075 BC
Philistines Muster Against Israel
The Philistines gathered in large numbers to attack Judah, seeking to consolidate their control and subdue the Israelites, setting the stage for Samson's dramatic confrontation.
c. 1100-1075 BC
Samson's Escape and Victory at Lehi
After being betrayed and bound by the men of Judah, Samson was delivered to the Philistines. The Spirit of the Lord empowered him to break his bonds and seize a donkey's jawbone, with which he single-handedly defeated a thousand Philistines.
This passage directly speaks to God's promise that one Israelite could chase a thousand, and connects to Samson's feat as a fulfillment of this divine assurance, highlighting God's power working through Samson.
Joshua 23:10Echoing the promise in Leviticus, this verse reinforces the idea that 'one of you shall chase a thousand,' underscoring the supernatural element of Samson's victory as God fighting for His people.
1 Samuel 17:48-50This passage parallels Samson's victory with David's defeat of Goliath, showing how God can use seemingly weak or ordinary means, like a stone or a jawbone, to bring about extraordinary victories against overwhelming odds.
1 Corinthians 1:27Paul's teaching that God chooses the weak and foolish things to shame the wise and strong finds a powerful illustration in Samson's use of a donkey's jawbone to defeat a thousand Philistines, demonstrating God's power over human strength and strategy.
Judges 3:31Shamgar's feat of killing six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad provides a similar narrative of an Israelite using an unexpected and humble tool to achieve a great victory, highlighting a recurring theme in the book of Judges.
clarkeJudges 15:15: "And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith."
He found a new jaw-bone of an ass - I rather think that the word טריה teriyah, which we translate new, and the margin moist, should be understood as signifying the tabia or putrid state of the ass from which this jawbone was taken. He found there a dead ass in a state of putrefaction; on which account he could the more easily separate the jaw from its integuments; this…
bensonJudges 15:15: "And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith."
Jdg 15:15 . He found a new jaw-bone of an ass — New, and therefore more tough and strong; and slew a thousand men therewith — Some, to account partly for this wonderful achievement, have observed that these Philistines were, probably, unarmed, and that they were struck with a great panic, thinking that the three thousand men of Judah would aid Samson. But doubtless it is…
What's striking here is the focus on the "fresh" or "moist" jawbone, not just as a readily available weapon, but as a sign of God's providence. This detail suggests the bone was still pliable, making it a more effective, less brittle tool for Samson, and subtly points to the miraculous nature of the event being ordained.
Samson has just been handed over to the Philistines by his own tribe, the men of Judah, who feared retaliation and tied him up with ropes. After God's Spirit empowers him, Samson breaks free and finds a fresh donkey's jawbone. He then uses this unlikely weapon to strike down a thousand Philistines, leading him to compose a song of triumph and then seek water from God in his exhaustion.
Samson has just been handed over to the Philistines by his own tribe, the men of Judah, who feared retaliation and tied him up with ropes. After God's Spirit empowers him, Samson breaks free and finds a fresh donkey's jawbone. He then uses this unlikely weapon to strike down a thousand Philistines, leading him to compose a song of triumph and then seek water from God in his exhaustion.
"And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men." — What's striking here is the focus on the "fresh" or "moist" jawbone, not just as a readily available weapon, but as a sign of God's providence. This detail suggests the bone was still pliable, making…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026