The story of Delilah enraptures readers of the Bible with its drama and complexity.

Her name alone evokes images of betrayal and temptation, but there’s much more to understand about this interesting biblical figure.

This blog takes a look at the deeper significance of Delilah her actions, motivations, and the lasting impact of her role in Samson’s downfall.

By examining both the literal narrative and its symbolic implications, readers will gain fresh insights into one of scripture’s most intriguing characters.

The name “Delilah” carries weight beyond just the person it represents themes that continue to resonate throughout human experience.

Through careful analysis of biblical text and historical context, this blog will unveil layers of meaning that might surprise even seasoned Bible scholars.

Delilah Name Origin and Etymology

The name Delilah originates from Hebrew, derived from the word “delilah” (דְּלִילָה), which carries several possible meanings.

Most scholars agree it translates to “,” “weak,” or “languishing.” However, some interpretations connect it to the Hebrew root “dalal,” meaning “to bring low” or “to deplete” an eerily prophetic meaning considering her role in Samson’s story.

Others suggest connections to the Arabic “dalilah,” meaning “guide” or “indicator,” which carries ironic significance given how she led Samson to his downfall.

The etymology perfectly encapsulates the character’s dual nature: outwardly gentle and fragile, yet ultimately becoming the instrument of depletion for Samson’s strength.

• Origin: Delilah is a name with roots in Hebrew and Arabic.
• Pronunciation: deh-lie-lah
• Gender: Delilah is most commonly used as a feminine name, though it can be chosen for a child of any gender.

The table below contains the key aspects of the name Delilah:

Delilah Meaning in Bible

The biblical narrative weaves complex characters through its ancient stories. Among these figures, few are as intriguing as Delilah.

Her presence in scripture is brief yet profoundly impactful. Her name has echoed through centuries, carrying significant meaning.

• Represents deception and betrayal as she repeatedly tries to discover Samson’s weakness and ultimately succeeds
• Symbolizes the danger of misplaced trust, illustrated when Samson reveals his secret despite her previous betrayals
• Embodies temptation and seduction, using her relationship with Samson to manipulate him
• Represents foreign influence and spiritual compromise, as a Philistine woman who leads a judge of Israel astray
• Demonstrates the power of persistence, as she wears down Samson’s resistance through continual pressure
• Illustrates opportunism and greed, working for Philistine rulers in exchange for significant payment (1,100 pieces of silver from each leader)
• Serves as a cautionary figure about emotional vulnerability, as Samson’s feelings for her cloud his judgment
• Highlights the theme of divine purpose despite human failure, as Samson’s downfall eventually leads to his greatest victory

Delilah in Bible Scriptures

Delilah appears exclusively in the Book of Judges, chapters 16:4-22. She enters the biblical narrative as a woman from the Valley of Sorek whom Samson loves.

The Philistine leaders approach her, offering a substantial sum (1,100 pieces of silver from each) to find the secret of Samson’s strength.

After three failed attempts, Delilah finally persuades Samson to reveal that his strength lies in his uncut hair.

While he sleeps on her lap, she calls a man to shave his seven locks. His strength departed, Samson is captured by the Philistines, who gouge out his eyes.

Scripture never mentions Delilah again after this betrayal.

The table below contains the mentions of Delilah in the Bible, including the testaments and the bible verses:

Popularity of the Name Delilah in Recent Years

The name Delilah has seen dramatic shifts in popularity throughout American history. Nearly forgotten in the late 19th century with just 10 babies receiving the name in 1882, it often fell outside the top 1000 names for many years.

A remarkable revival began in 2006, coinciding with the release of “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s. This triggered a 223% popularity surge between 2006-2008.

The upward trend has continued steadily, with Delilah reaching #94 in 2018 and climbing further to #58 by 2022, when 3,853 baby girls received the name.

Overall, Delilah has experienced over 615% growth since the early 2000s, demonstrating how cultural influences like music can dramatically impact naming trends.

Nicknames for the Name Delilah

Delilah carries a rich history that transcends its biblical origins.

With Hebrew roots meaning “fragile” or “languishing,” this melodic name combines soft sounds with powerful cultural resonance. Though controversial in biblical context, modern parents likes Delilah for its vintage charm and musical quality.

The name experienced a dramatic revival in the early 2000s, particularly after the hit song “Hey There Delilah.”

Its three musical syllables flow effortlessly, offering an appealing balance between uniqueness and familiarity. Delilah continues to captivate parents seeking a name with both substance and style.

Here are few nicknames for the name delilah to bring out the playfullness.

• Deli
• Lila
• Lilah
• Dee
• Della
• Del
• Lili
• Didi
• Elle
• Elah
• Dolly
• Delly
• Lulu
• Lai
• Lia

Similar Names to Delilah with Biblical Significance

1. Deborah

• Meaning: “Bee” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Deborah was a prophetess and judge of Israel who led the Israelites to victory against the Canaanites (Judges 4-5). She is known for her wisdom, leadership, and poetic song of triumph.
• Gender: Female

2. Dinah

• Meaning: “Judged” or “Vindicated” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Dinah was the daughter of Jacob and Leah. Her story is recorded in Genesis 34, where she is involved in a tragic encounter with Shechem, leading to her brothers’ revenge.
• Gender: Female

3. Esther

• Meaning: “Star” (Persian) or “Hidden” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Esther was a Jewish queen of Persia who saved her people from extermination through bravery and strategic intervention (Book of Esther). Her story is commemorated in the Jewish festival of Purim.
• Gender: Female

4. Hannah

• Meaning: “Grace” or “Favor” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel. She prayed fervently for a child, and God granted her request (1 Samuel 1-2). She is known for her faith and dedication.
• Gender: Female

5. Jael

• Meaning: “Mountain Goat” or “Ibex” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Jael was a heroine in the Bible who killed the Canaanite general Sisera by driving a tent peg through his head (Judges 4:17-22). She is remembered for her courage and decisive action.
• Gender: Female

6. Judith

• Meaning: “Jewish woman” or “Praised” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Judith is mentioned in the apocryphal Book of Judith, where she is a heroic widow who beheaded the Assyrian general Holofernes to save Israel. The name also appears in Genesis as one of Esau’s wives.
• Gender: Female

7. Leah

• Meaning: “Weary” or “fragile” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Leah was the first wife of Jacob and the mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 29-30). Though initially unloved compared to her sister Rachel, she was blessed with many children and is an important matriarch in biblical history.
• Gender: Female

8. Martha

• Meaning: “Lady” or “Mistress” (Aramaic)
• Biblical Significance: Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. She is known for her hospitality to Jesus and her deep faith, as she was present when Jesus resurrected her brother (Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44).
• Gender: Female

9. Miriam

• Meaning: “Wished-for child” or “Bitter” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron. She played a key role in watching over baby Moses and later led the Israelite women in song and dance after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 2, 15:20-21). She was also a prophetess.
• Gender: Female

10. Naomi

• Meaning: “Pleasantness” or “Sweetness” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Naomi was the mother-in-law of Ruth. After experiencing great loss, she returned to Bethlehem with Ruth, who later married Boaz. Her story is central to the Book of Ruth, highlighting themes of loyalty and redemption.
• Gender: Female

11. Rachel

• Meaning: “Ewe” (Female Sheep) (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Rachel was the beloved wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She is known for her deep love story with Jacob and her struggle with infertility before giving birth to two important figures in Israel’s history (Genesis 29-35).
• Gender: Female

12. Rebekah

• Meaning: “To tie” or “To bind” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Rebekah was the wife of Isaac and the mother of Esau and Jacob. She played a key role in ensuring that Jacob received the blessing meant for the firstborn (Genesis 24-27).
• Gender: Female

13. Ruth

• Meaning: “Friend” or “Companion” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Ruth was a Moabite woman who showed great loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi. She later married Boaz and became an ancestor of King David and Jesus (Book of Ruth).
• Gender: Female

14. Sarah

• Meaning: “Princess” or “Noblewoman” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Sarah was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. She gave birth to Isaac in her old age, fulfilling God’s promise of a great nation through Abraham (Genesis 17-21).
• Gender: Female

15. Susanna

• Meaning: “Lily” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Susanna appears in the apocryphal Book of Susanna, where she is falsely accused of adultery but is proven innocent by the prophet Daniel’s wisdom. She represents purity and virtue.
• Gender: Female

16. Abigail

• Meaning: “My father’s joy” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Abigail was a wise and courageous woman who prevented King David from committing unnecessary bloodshed. She later became one of his wives (1 Samuel 25).
• Gender: Female

17. Adah

• Meaning: “Adornment” or “Beauty” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Adah is mentioned twice in Genesis: as the wife of Lamech and as a wife of Esau. She is one of the earliest women named in the Bible (Genesis 4:19, 36:2).
• Gender: Female

18. Anna

• Meaning: “Grace” or “Favor” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Anna was a prophetess in the New Testament who recognized Jesus as the Messiah when He was presented at the temple. She was devoted to prayer and fasting (Luke 2:36-38).
• Gender: Female

19. Bathsheba

• Meaning: “Daughter of an oath” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Bathsheba was the wife of King David and the mother of King Solomon. Her story is marked by David’s sin but also by her later role as a wise and influential queen (2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Kings 1-2).
• Gender: Female

20. Bernice

• Meaning: “Bringer of victory” (Greek)
• Biblical Significance: Bernice was the sister of King Agrippa II. She was present when Paul defended himself before Agrippa and the Roman governor Festus (Acts 25-26).
• Gender: Female

21. Chloe

• Meaning: “Blooming” or “Green shoot” (Greek)
• Biblical Significance: Chloe is briefly mentioned in the New Testament as a Christian whose household reported divisions in the Corinthian church to Paul (1 Corinthians 1:11).
• Gender: Female

22. Drusilla

• Meaning: “Dewy-eyed” or “Strong” (Greek/Latin)
• Biblical Significance: Drusilla was the wife of the Roman governor Felix. She was present when Paul spoke about righteousness and judgment before Felix (Acts 24:24).
• Gender: Female

23. Elisabeth

• Meaning: “God is my oath” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Elisabeth was the mother of John the Baptist and the wife of Zechariah. She was known for her faith and was visited by Mary, the mother of Jesus, during her pregnancy (Luke 1:5-80).
• Gender: Female

24. Eve

• Meaning: “Life” or “Living” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Eve was the first woman, created by God as Adam’s companion. She played a central role in the fall of humanity by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3).
• Gender: Female

25. Hagar

• Meaning: “Flight” or “Stranger” (Hebrew/Egyptian)
• Biblical Significance: Hagar was Sarah’s Egyptian servant and the mother of Ishmael. She was sent away but was cared for by God, who promised that her son would become a great nation (Genesis 16, 21).
• Gender: Female

26. Jemima

• Meaning: “Dove” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Jemima was one of the three beautiful daughters of Job, born to him after his suffering. She is mentioned as a sign of God’s restoration and blessing (Job 42:14).
• Gender: Female

27. Joanna

• Meaning: “God is gracious” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Joanna was a follower of Jesus and the wife of Chuza, a steward of King Herod. She helped support Jesus’ ministry and was among the women who discovered the empty tomb (Luke 8:3, 24:10).
• Gender: Female

28. Keziah

• Meaning: “Cassia” (a fragrant spice) (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Keziah was another daughter of Job, symbolizing the blessings he received after his trials. Her name suggests beauty and fragrance (Job 42:14).
• Gender: Female

29. Magdalene

• Meaning: “From Magdala” (Aramaic)
• Biblical Significance: Mary Magdalene was a devoted follower of Jesus. She was delivered from demons by Him and was the first to witness His resurrection (Luke 8:2, John 20:1-18).
• Gender: Female

30. Michal

• Meaning: “Who is like God?” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Michal was the daughter of King Saul and the wife of David. She helped David escape from Saul but later had a strained relationship with him (1 Samuel 18-19, 2 Samuel 6:16-23).
• Gender: Female

31. Noa

• Meaning: “Motion” or “Rest” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Noa was one of the five daughters of Zelophehad who successfully petitioned for the right to inherit their father’s land, setting a legal precedent in Israel (Numbers 27:1-11).
• Gender: Female

32. Peninnah

• Meaning: “Pearl” or “Precious stone” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Peninnah was one of Elkanah’s wives and a rival to Hannah. She had children, while Hannah was initially barren, leading to tension between them (1 Samuel 1:1-7).
• Gender: Female

33. Priscilla

• Meaning: “Ancient” or “Venerable” (Latin)
• Biblical Significance: Priscilla was a prominent early Christian who, along with her husband Aquila, helped spread the gospel and mentored Apollos. She is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament (Acts 18:2-26, Romans 16:3).
• Gender: Female

34. Salome

• Meaning: “Peace” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Salome is believed to have been one of the women who followed Jesus and witnessed His resurrection. Another Salome was the daughter of Herodias, who requested John the Baptist’s head (Mark 6:22-28, 16:1).
• Gender: Female

35. Sapphira

• Meaning: “Sapphire” or “Beautiful” (Aramaic/Greek)
• Biblical Significance: Sapphira, along with her husband Ananias, lied about their donation to the church and was struck dead as a consequence of their deceit (Acts 5:1-11).
• Gender: Female

36. Serah

• Meaning: “Abundance” or “Princess” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Serah was the daughter of Asher and is unique in that she is mentioned in both genealogies and Jewish traditions as someone who may have lived an exceptionally long life (Genesis 46:17, Numbers 26:46).
• Gender: Female

37. Tamar

• Meaning: “Palm tree” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: There are two notable women named Tamar in the Bible: Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, who secured justice for herself by disguising as a prostitute and bearing twins (Genesis 38). And Tamar, the daughter of King David, who was tragically assaulted by her half-brother Amnon (2 Samuel 13).
• Gender: Female

38. Zipporah

• Meaning: “Bird” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Zipporah was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. She is known for circumcising her son to appease God when Moses had neglected to do so (Exodus 2:21, 4:24-26).
• Gender: Female

39. Atarah

• Meaning: “Crown” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Atarah is mentioned in the Bible as the wife of Jerahmeel and the mother of Onam (1 Chronicles 2:26). Her name symbolizes honor and dignity.
• Gender: Female

40. Basemath

• Meaning: “Sweet-smelling” or “Fragrant” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Basemath appears as the name of multiple women in the Bible, including a wife of Esau and a daughter of Solomon. The name is associated with beauty and pleasantness (Genesis 26:34, 1 Kings 4:15).
• Gender: Female

41. Bithiah

• Meaning: “Daughter of Yahweh” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Bithiah was an Egyptian princess and the daughter of Pharaoh. She is notable for being the wife of Mered and for embracing the God of Israel (1 Chronicles 4:17-18).
• Gender: Female

42. Candace

• Meaning: “Queen mother” (Ethiopian)
• Biblical Significance: Candace was the title of Ethiopian queens, rather than a personal name. In the New Testament, the Ethiopian eunuch whom Philip baptized served under a queen with this title (Acts 8:27).
• Gender: Female

43. Keren-Happuch

• Meaning: “Horn of eye-paint” or “Radiance” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Keren-Happuch was one of Job’s three daughters, born to him after his restoration. Her name suggests beauty and wealth (Job 42:14).
• Gender: Female

44. Mahalath

• Meaning: “Lyre” or “Sickness” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: There are two mentions of Mahalath in the Bible—one as a wife of Esau (Genesis 28:9) and another in the title of certain Psalms, possibly referring to a musical term (Psalm 53, 88).
• Gender: Female

45. Milcah

• Meaning: “Queen” or “Counsel” (Hebrew)
• Biblical Significance: Milcah was the wife of Nahor (Abraham’s brother) and the grandmother of Rebekah. She played a role in the genealogy of the Israelite patriarchs (Genesis 11:29, 22:20-23).
• Gender: Female

The Bottom Line

Delilah remains one of the Bible’s most enigmatic figures a woman whose name has transcended scripture to become synonymous with both allure and betrayal.

Her story serves as a powerful reminder of how personal weaknesses can be exploited when we reveal them to those who don’t have our best interests at heart.

Though her appearance in scripture is brief, her impact reverberates through generations, cautioning readers about misplaced trust and the consequences of compromise.

Yet beyond the cautionary tale, Delilah’s narrative invites us to consider the complex motivations behind human actions and the redemptive possibilities that exist even after devastating betrayal.

As with many biblical characters, her story continues to offer fresh insights to those willing to look beyond simplistic interpretations.