Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text doesn't suggest Samson went to Gaza with sinful intent; rather, he "saw" the woman, implying an accidental encounter. This highlights how easily a casual glance, especially when unchecked, can become the first step into serious sin, trapping even strong individuals.
Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a period of judging Israel, Samson travels into Gaza, a major Philistine city, where he encounters a prostitute and goes in to her. This act marks the beginning of a dangerous entanglement with a woman named Delilah, who will ultimately betray him and lead to his capture by the Philistines.
Samson, the mighty judge, boldly walks into Gaza, a major Philistine city. What drove this incredible risk, and how did it set the stage for his downfall?
Samson's journey to Gaza isn't just a location change; it's a descent. While the text doesn't explicitly state his mission, scholars suggest he might have been on a punitive raid or seeking to assert dominance over the Philistines, a people he consistently defied.
A City of Danger
Gaza was a strategic stronghold, a symbol of Philistine power. For Samson to enter it, especially after previous victories against them, demonstrates a remarkable, perhaps even reckless, confidence. This confidence, however, wasn't rooted in the Lord's immediate guidance but in his past triumphs and God-given strength.
The Trap of Familiarity
His encounter with a prostitute highlights a dangerous pattern. The text implies he sought out a place of public entertainment, and there, he saw her. This isn't necessarily a planned encounter but rather a result of being in a place where temptation was prevalent. He didn't just see her; he was drawn in, allowing lustful looks to lead to a full surrender.
Samson sought refreshment in Gaza, but found himself ensnared. How can ordinary places become dangerous traps for our spiritual well-being?
The narrative subtly reveals a spiritual danger lurking behind the mundane act of seeking entertainment. Samson entered a "house of publick entertainment" – a place where one might expect comfort and respite.
The Deceptive Nature of Sin
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Commentaries suggest this establishment may have been an inn or a similar venue. While not inherently sinful, such places can easily become gateways to temptation. The word translated "harlot" can also refer to a woman who keeps an inn, implying that the danger wasn't just the woman herself but the environment she represented.
A Choice of Location, A Choice of Heart
Samson's choice to enter this particular place, and his subsequent surrender to lustful desire, reveal a heart that was beginning to stray. He wasn't necessarily seeking to sin, but by placing himself in a compromising position, he became vulnerable. The ease with which he succumbed shows how quickly spiritual safeguards can erode when we allow ourselves to be drawn into places and situations that appeal to our baser instincts.
Understand the original words
Shimshon · Hebrew Proper Noun
An individual set apart or chosen by God for a specific task, often endowed with extraordinary strength or spiritual capacity for the deliverance of Israel.
zonah · Hebrew Noun
A woman who engages in sexual relations for money, often used in Scripture to represent moral laxity or unfaithfulness to God’s covenant.
Azzah · Hebrew Proper Noun
A prominent city of the Philistines; symbolically, it often represents an enemy stronghold or a place of worldly influence.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Samson's Judgeship Begins
Samson's period as a judge of Israel begins, marked by his ongoing conflict with the Philistines.
Unknown date during Judgeship— this verse
Samson Visits Gaza
Samson travels to Gaza, a major Philistine city, where he encounters a prostitute and enters into an illicit relationship with her.
Unknown date after visiting Gaza
Delilah's Treachery
Samson falls in love with Delilah, who is bribed by the Philistines to discover the secret of his strength.
Unknown date after Delilah's success
Samson's Capture and Blinding
After being betrayed by Delilah, Samson is captured by the Philistines, his eyes are gouged out, and he is imprisoned in Gaza.
Unknown date, near end of Judgeship
Samson's Final Act of Vengeance
Brought out to entertain the Philistines, Samson prays for strength and brings down the temple pillars, killing himself and thousands of Philistines.
Unknown date, post-Samson
Philistine Dominance Continues
Despite Samson's exploits, the Philistines remain a dominant force in the region for some time after his death.
This passage shows the ancient pattern of being ensnared by lust, where Eve saw that the fruit was good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, leading to her sin.
Proverbs 5:8This proverb warns against going near the door of a loose woman, highlighting the danger of straying into immoral situations where one can easily fall into sin and ruin.
Romans 13:13-14Paul calls believers to live righteously, urging them to abandon sensuality and immorality, and instead 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ' and make no provision for the flesh.
1 Corinthians 10:12This verse serves as a stark warning that those who think they are standing firm should be careful, for pride and overconfidence can lead to a fall, just as Samson's confidence in his own strength likely contributed to his lapse.
Hebrews 11:32This passage includes Samson among the heroes of faith, reminding us that even great spiritual leaders can struggle with sin, and God can use flawed individuals despite their failings.
pooleJudges 16:1: "Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her."
Samson goeth in to a harlot; is hemmed in; riseth at midnight; taketh the city gates, posts, and bars on his shoulders, and carrieth them up into a mountain, Judges 16:1-3 . Is in love with Delilah; she enticeth him to discover wherein his strength lay; is thrice deceived; at last she overcomes him, Judges 16:4-20 . They put out his eyes, and cast him into prison, Judges 16:21 . His hair grows again, Judges…
henryJudges 16:1-3: "Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her."
16:1-3 Hitherto Samson's character has appeared glorious, though uncommon. In this chapter we find him behaving in so wicked a manner, that many question whether or not he were a godly man. But the apostle has determined this, Heb 11:32. By adverting to the doctrines and examples of Scripture, the artifices of Satan, the deceitfulness of the human heart, and the methods in which the Lord frequently deals w…
The text doesn't suggest Samson went to Gaza with sinful intent; rather, he "saw" the woman, implying an accidental encounter. This highlights how easily a casual glance, especially when unchecked, can become the first step into serious sin, trapping even strong individuals.
After a period of judging Israel, Samson travels into Gaza, a major Philistine city, where he encounters a prostitute and goes in to her. This act marks the beginning of a dangerous entanglement with a woman named Delilah, who will ultimately betray him and lead to his capture by the Philistines.
After a period of judging Israel, Samson travels into Gaza, a major Philistine city, where he encounters a prostitute and goes in to her. This act marks the beginning of a dangerous entanglement with a woman named Delilah, who will ultimately betray him and lead to his capture by the Philistines.
"Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her." — The text doesn't suggest Samson went to Gaza with sinful intent; rather, he "saw" the woman, implying an accidental encounter. This highlights how easily a casual glance, especially when unchecked, c…
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Last reviewed October 2026