Girl Old Testament Known
Delilah
poor; small; head of hair
דְּלִילָה de.li.lah
Delilah (Hebrew: דְּלִילָה, de.li.lah) means “poor; small; head of hair”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 7 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 4,137 children in the United States, ranking 51. Use is rising. Around 66,683 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears in the same passages as Manoah.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Delilah
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 7 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Judges
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 4,137 | Rising |
| All-time total | 66,683 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 4,254 in 2024 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Judges 16:4 |
| Last appears | Judges 16:18 |
| Cross-references | 49 linked passages |
Origin & meaning
A woman living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.16.4; married to Samson (H8123)
§ Delilah = "feeble"
the Philistine mistress of Samson who betrayed the secret of his great strength, and by cutting his hair, enfeebled him and delivered him to the Philistines
Delilah was a Philistine woman who deceived Samson into revealing the secret of his strength, leading to his capture.
The biblical story
Delilah, a Philistine woman from the Valley of Sorek, is known for her role in the downfall of Samson, one of Israel's judges. Samson fell in love with Delilah, and the Philistine rulers, seeing an opportunity to defeat their enemy, offered Delilah a substantial sum of money to discover the secret of Samson's strength (Jdg.16.4-5).
Delilah repeatedly asked Samson to reveal the source of his strength, but he deceived her three times. First, he told her that if he were bound with seven fresh bowstrings, he would become weak, but when she did so, he broke them easily (Jdg.16.6-9). Next, he claimed that new ropes would render him helpless, but he snapped them as well (Jdg.16.10-12). Finally, he said that weaving his hair into a loom would take away his strength, but this too proved false (Jdg.16.13-14).
Frustrated by Samson's deception, Delilah persistently pressed him for the truth, wearing him down with her words day after day. Eventually, Samson revealed that his strength came from his uncut hair, a sign of his Nazirite vow to God (Jdg.16.15-17). Delilah lulled Samson to sleep, called for a man to shave his head, and his strength left him (Jdg.16.18-19).
The Philistines captured the weakened Samson, gouged out his eyes, and forced him to work as a grinder in prison (Jdg.16.20-21). Delilah's betrayal ultimately led to Samson's humiliation and imprisonment, though he later regained his strength and brought down the Philistine temple, killing many Philistines and himself in the process (Jdg.16.22-30).
Delilah's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of temptation, deception, and the consequences of betraying one's vows to God. It also highlights the weakness of even the strongest man when he allows himself to be swayed by the wiles of a woman.
Key verses
Delilah appears in 6 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Judges 16:4 -
And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
Judges 16:6 -
And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
Judges 16:10 -
Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
Judges 16:12 -
And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
Judges 16:13
Show all 6 references
Judges (6)
- Judges 16:4
- Judges 16:6
- Judges 16:10
- Judges 16:12
- Judges 16:13
- Judges 16:18