The name Samson
consists of the Hebrew word for sun
(shemesh), with the diminutive ending (-on); hence, Shimshon, little sun.
It is possible that his mother gave it to reflect the promise that Samson would begin to save his people: he brings a little sunshine, the first rays of the dawn. But this is hardly a name you would have expected after a double appearance of the Lord to his mother! You would rather expect a name starting or ending with the divine name. Like Joshua,
the Lord will save
; or Micah,
who is like the Lord?
1 In fact, the name Samson
sounds somewhat pagan. The sun is a Canaanite god. And very close to Zorah is the town of Beth-Shemesh, The House of the Rising Sun,
where there was sun worship.2
24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the LORD blessed him.