Samson is the strongman and judge whose story appears in Judges 13 through 16. The narrative links his extraordinary strength to divine favor and a Nazirite dedication announced before his birth. His uncut hair is the visible condition of that dedication, not an independent magical object.
Birth and calling
An angel tells Samson’s unnamed mother that her son will begin to deliver Israel from Philistine rule. He is to avoid cutting his hair, wine, and ritual impurity. As an adult, Samson repeatedly acts through private conflict and sudden feats rather than leading a standing army.
Riddles, violence, and Delilah
The stories include a lion, a wedding riddle, burning fields, and the use of a donkey’s jawbone. Philistine rulers pay Delilah to discover the basis of Samson’s strength. After his hair is cut, he is captured, blinded, and imprisoned.
Death in the temple
Samson’s hair grows again, and he prays for strength while displayed at a Philistine gathering. He pulls down the supporting pillars, killing himself and many others. Archaeology can illuminate Philistine cities and architecture, but it has not verified Samson’s feats or identified the temple in the story.