Though very brief, this verse signals an important turning point in the narrative. The narrator is sharing information with his audience that the actors in the stories do not know. Thus suspense is high.

But renders well the Hebrew waw conjunction here, since it introduces a surprising development. Everyone, especially the Philistines, think the story is “over,” but it is not. Translators should try to convey the suspense here, perhaps by drawing out the transition by saying, for example, “But in the meantime” or “But as he was there.”

The hair of his head began to grow again: This reference to Samson’s hair growing back hints that Samson’s strength is going to return. If his strength returns, then readers can expect Samson’s fate to change. Since the hair of his head will be redundant in many languages, it may be rendered simply “his hair” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version; compare verse 16.13). Began to grow again is literally “began to sprout.” Translators should use a natural expression in their language, for example, “started growing back” (Good News Translation).

After it had been shaved is literally “since it had been shaved,” which repeats information that is already known. Thus Good News Translation and some other versions think this clause is redundant, so they omit it. However, some languages may prefer to keep it and place it before the previous clause (see second model below).

This verse provides crucial information for the story that follows, so translators need to express the surprise here, perhaps through the use of an exclamation point. Possible translation models for this verse are:

• But in the meantime, Samson’s hair began to grow again!

• But, though Samson’s head had been shaved, his hair began to grow back again!

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .