Judges 16:25
And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Judges 16:25 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse from the Book of Judges, we see Samson, a powerful judge of Israel, being used by the Philistines for their own entertainment. The Philistines had captured Samson and brought him to their temple to make fun of him. Even though Samson had been weakened and imprisoned, the Philistines still desired to see him perform feats of strength, as they had heard he was capable of. Despite his circumstances, Samson was brought out of the prison to amuse the Philistines. Little did they know, this would be the beginning of the end for them. Samson's strength was his gift from God, and in this situation, he used it to bring down the temple and ultimately defeat his enemies. This event serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of underestimating the power of the Lord and the strength He bestows upon His chosen ones.
Theological Overview
In this verse, we see the people calling for Samson to entertain them while their hearts were merry. The word "sport" in this context refers to entertainment or amusement. Samson, who had been imprisoned, was brought out to perform for the people. It is worth noting that while the people saw this as mere entertainment, Samson's actions would ultimately lead to a significant event. By placing Samson between the pillars, he would go on to bring destruction upon his enemies, pushing the pillars apart and causing the entire structure to collapse. This event underscores the theme of God using the weak to confound the strong. Despite Samson's previous failings, God was still able to use him to bring judgment upon the Philistines. This highlights the sovereignty and power of God, who can use even the most unlikely of sources to achieve His purposes.
Judges 16:25 in other translations
American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. And they set him between the pillars:
World English Bible
When their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.” They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars;
Douay-Rheims
And rejoicing in their feasts, when they had now taken their good cheer, they commanded that Samson should be called, and should play before them. And being brought out of prison, he played before them; and they made him stand between two pillars.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And when their heartes were merie, they said, Call Samson, that he may make vs pastime. So they called Samson out of the prison house, and he was a laughing stocke vnto them, and they set him betweene the pillars.