Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageSamson led Israel as judge for twenty years — all throughout the era of Philistine domination.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GHe judged Yisra'el in the days of the Pelishtim for twenty years.
KJV
King James VersionAnd he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleAnd Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.
Footnotes
The closing summary formula mirrors other judges (cf. 12:7–15; 16:31) but carries a quiet, devastating irony: Samson judged for twenty years, yet never led an army, united the tribes, or delivered Israel from Philistine domination. His was a personal, episodic, chaotic judgeship — a lone wolf whose violence pressured rather than expelled the oppressor. The full twenty years is confirmed only in 16:31, making this a proleptic summary. The repetition of "in the days of the Pelishtim" frames the entire Samson cycle: Israel remained under Philistine dominion throughout. FOG Message adds "all throughout the era of Philistine domination" to surface this irony for the reader.