1. Judges 16:22 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What ray of hope comes from the detail of Samson’s hair beginning to grow back?

Judges 16:22 (ESV)

22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

Israel is without a deliverer. But in the midst of the hopeless situation, there was a ray of hope. The author gives a simple but profound statement: the hair on Samson’s hair began to grow again. That word began is important. In Judges 13:5 the angel told Samson's mother that he would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. In Judges 13:25, the Spirit of the Lord began to stir Samson. But in Judges 16:19, Delilah’s tormenting of Samson was the beginning of his demise. Now here, in the darkest pit of despair, something is beginning again: the symbol of Samson’s strength began to grow again. Could this be a new start? Can Samson come back? Could it be that Samson has repented and had a change of heart? The Bible does not say. But it does seem as though God is not yet finished with Samson. And so with this one statement, the ominous skies give way to the promise of brilliant sunshine; all is not lost, for hair grows back.1