Discovery BoxJudges 16:17 
Context16:17 Finally he told her his secret. 1 He said to her, “My hair has never been cut, 2 for I have been dedicated to God 3 from the time I was conceived. 4 If my head 5 were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be just like all other men.”
Judges 16:20
Context16:20 She said, “The Philistines are here, 6 Samson!” He woke up 7 and thought, 8 “I will do as I did before 9 and shake myself free.” But he did not realize that the Lord had left him.
1 tn Heb “all his heart.”
2 tn Heb “a razor has not come upon my head.”
3 tn Or “set apart to God.” Traditionally the Hebrew term נָזִיר (nazir) has been translated “Nazirite.” The word is derived from the verb נָזַר (nazar, “to dedicate; to consecrate; to set apart”).
4 tn Heb “from the womb of my mother.”
5 tn Heb “I.” The referent has been made more specific in the translation (“my head”).
6 tn Heb “are upon you.”
7 tn The Hebrew adds, “from his sleep.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
8 tn Heb “and said.”
9 tn Heb “I will go out as before.”
