What Does Judges 16:22 Mean in the King James?

Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.

Judges 16:22 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The word for “grow” is ⁨צָמַח⁩ (tsamach): the same root that names a sprout or branch, life beginning to emerge where it was cut down.

THE MEANING

You can see the first sign of return before you see restoration itself: the hair begins to sprout again after it is cut away. The verse holds the moment of beginning, when what was removed has not yet fully returned.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Being cut down does not always mean that growth is finished.

THE ROOT

צמח

tsamach

GROWS FROM

צמח

To sprout, grow, or put forth.

The word translated “grow” shares its root with the noun for a sprout or branch: the verb and the emerging shoot carry the same seed. The verse describes the first movement of regrowth after shaving, not the instant return of what was lost.

ALSO GROWS

tsamach: To sprout or grow.

צָמַח

This is the verb behind the hair beginning to grow; it names regrowth as an emerging process.

tsemach: A sprout, shoot, or branch.

צֶמַח

Zechariah uses this same-root word for “the Branch,” making the image of a new shoot part of the word’s wider scriptural reach.

THE PATTERN

Growth can begin beneath notice before its fullness is visible.

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:9 · KJVThe same root ⁨צמח⁩ describes trees growing from the ground, showing life emerging through growth.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

Isaiah 55:10 · KJVThe rain brings the earth to sprout, and the verse uses ⁨צמח⁩ for that emerging growth.

And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

Mark 4:27 · KJVThe seed grows through an unseen process, even before its full development can be understood.

THE THREAD

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

Zechariah 6:12 · KJV

“The BRANCH” is ⁨צֶמַח⁩ (tsemach), from the same root as the verb for Samson’s hair beginning to grow. In both verses the language holds a sprout and its growing together: what emerges is already named by the root of growth.

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