What Does Judges 16:28 Mean?
And Samson called out to the LORD, and said, O Lord, the LORD, remember me, I pray you, and strengthen me, I pray you, only this once, O God, that I may take one vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.THE KEY
The Hebrew repeats the root for vengeance as both verb and noun, making the purpose of Samson’s requested strength unmistakable.
THE MEANING
This verse holds dependence and vengeance together: Samson asks the LORD to remember and strengthen him, then names retribution for his two eyes as the purpose. The violence stays visible in the prayer itself; the request does not disguise what he wants.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the assumption that a request for divine strength necessarily seeks rescue or healing: Samson names vengeance for his two eyes as the end he wants.
THE ROOT
וְאִנָּקְמָה נְקַם
we'innāqəmāh neqam
GROWS FROM
נקם
To avenge, take vengeance, or exact recompense.
“take one vengeance on” in this verse is we'innāqəmāh neqam. The Hebrew places a form meaning “be avenged” beside the noun “vengeance” from the same root. That repeated seed makes the purpose of the strength explicit: vengeance for the two eyes.
ALSO GROWS
nāqam: To avenge or take vengeance.
נָקַם
This verbal form carries the plea to be avenged.
neqāmāh: Vengeance or retribution.
נְקָמָה
This noun shows the same root naming the outcome Samson seeks.
וְחַזְּקֵנִי
vechazqeni
GROWS FROM
חזק
To be strong or firm, to strengthen, and in some forms to take hold.
“strengthen” in this verse is vechazqeni. Samson asks to be made strong for one final act. The root’s sense of firmness and taking hold meets the stated aim of vengeance in this verse: the requested strength has a clear target.
ALSO GROWS
chazaq: To be strong, grow firm, or prevail.
חָזַק
This form shows strength as a state of firmness, the quality Samson asks to receive.
chizzeq: To strengthen or make firm.
חִזֵּק
This form names the action requested in “strengthen me.”
זָכְרֵנִי
zokhreni
GROWS FROM
זכר
To remember, call to mind, or mention.
“remember” in this verse is zokhreni. The plea is for more than God to retain information: Samson asks to be held in God’s regard. In this verse, that appeal for remembrance stands beside a direct request for strength.
ALSO GROWS
zikkaron: Memorial or remembrance.
זִכָּרוֹן
A memorial makes remembrance enduring and present, adding depth to Samson’s plea to be remembered.
zeker: Remembrance, mention, or memorial name.
זֵכֶר
This branch links remembering with speaking or keeping someone’s name in regard.
THE PATTERN
In scripture, asking God to remember is an appeal for active regard, not mere recall.
And God heard and responded to their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.Remember me, O LORD, with the favor you bear toward your people. Visit me with your deliverance.He has taken hold of Israel his servant, to remember his faithful love.THE THREAD
And God heard and responded to their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.Both verses use זכר (zakar, “remember”): Samson asks, “remember me,” and Exodus says God “remembered” the covenant after hearing groaning. The shared root opens remembrance as an appeal for active regard, while Samson’s stated purpose, vengeance, remains fully visible.
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