Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669

Samson and Delilah

oil on panel (61 × 50 cm) — 1630 Gemäldegalerie der Staatlichen Museen, Berlin

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn biography

This work is linked to Judges 16:19

Samson is asleep in the lap of his beloved Delilah. He had just disclosed to her the secret of his gigantic strength: his uncut hair. He doesn't know that she works for his enemy, the Philistines.

Behind them a Philistine holds a pair of scissors. He looks scared: he is afraid to approach the sleeping enemy. But eventually he will cut Samson's hair, removing his phenomenal strength.

Rembrandt also made a painting that shows what happened next: the blinding of Samson.

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