Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
The fact that Samson told Delilah to do something to his hair (Judges 16:13) suggests that he was giving her a clue to his strength. She did not pick this up but kept hounding him for his secret. Finally he gave in (Judges 16:17; cf. Judges 14:17).