Withes, Withs, Green
What Are Green Withes?
Green withes (also spelled "withs") were fresh, undried cords or bowstrings made from animal sinew, gut, or possibly plant fibers. The word "green" in this context means fresh, moist, or newly made — as opposed to dried or cured. In the story of Samson and Delilah, Samson told Delilah that if he were bound with "seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried," he would become as weak as any other man (Judges 16:7).
The Samson and Delilah Narrative
The green withes play a key role in the dramatic story of Judges 16:4-22. After Samson fell in love with Delilah, the Philistine rulers bribed her to discover the source of his supernatural strength. Delilah pressed Samson repeatedly for his secret, and he gave her a series of false answers. His first deception was that seven fresh bowstrings would render him powerless.
Delilah bound him with the green withes while Philistine soldiers hid in the room. When she cried, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" he snapped the cords as easily as a string of flax breaks when it touches fire (Judges 16:9). This dramatic scene set the pattern for two more failed attempts before Samson finally revealed the true secret — his uncut hair, the sign of his Nazirite vow.
The Hebrew Terminology
The Hebrew word yetharim refers to cords or bowstrings, while lachim means fresh, moist, or sappy. Some translations render the phrase as "new bowstrings" or "fresh sinew." The material was likely similar to what was used for making bowstrings in the ancient world — dried or semi-dried animal gut twisted into strong cords. When fresh and moist, such cords would have been flexible and difficult to break under normal circumstances.
Symbolism of Failed Binding
The green withes represent the first in an escalating series of attempts to bind Samson: fresh bowstrings, new ropes, and weaving his hair into a loom. Each failure demonstrated that Samson's strength was not natural but God-given (Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14). No physical restraint could hold a man empowered by the Spirit of the Lord. The withes snapping like burnt flax vividly illustrates the inadequacy of human power against divine strength.
The Nazirite Vow Connection
Samson's supernatural strength was connected to his Nazirite vow, described in Judges 13:5. This vow, outlined in Numbers 6:1-21, involved abstaining from wine, avoiding contact with the dead, and never cutting one's hair. While Samson violated other aspects of his vow throughout his life, his hair remained uncut until Delilah's final betrayal. The green withes episode shows Samson playing dangerously close to revealing his true vulnerability.
Lessons from the Story
The account of the green withes highlights several important themes: the danger of compromising relationships, the futility of human schemes against God's power, and the gradual erosion of resolve under persistent temptation. Samson's willingness to play games with Delilah about his strength foreshadowed his eventual downfall, when he finally told her the truth and lost everything (Judges 16:17-21).
Biblical Context
Green withes appear in Judges 16:7-9 as the first of Delilah's three failed attempts to bind Samson. The broader narrative spans Judges 13-16, covering Samson's birth, exploits, and tragic downfall. Related Hebrew terms for bowstrings appear in Psalm 11:2 and Psalm 21:12.
Theological Significance
The green withes episode illustrates that God-given strength cannot be overcome by human means. It also serves as a warning about the danger of flirting with temptation. Samson's gradual willingness to reveal more of his secret mirrors the progressive nature of spiritual compromise.
Historical Background
In the ancient Near East, bowstrings and binding cords were commonly made from twisted animal sinew or gut. Fresh (undried) sinew would have been strong and flexible. The Philistines, who dominated the coastal plain of Canaan during the period of the Judges (c. 1200-1020 BC), were known for their military sophistication and would have been familiar with various binding materials.