Are there similarities between Samson and Hercules?

In the Bible, Samson is known for his extraordinary physical strength. Likewise, in Roman mythology, Hercules (also known as Heracles in Greek mythology) is also known for his physical strength. This has led some to wonder if the myth of Hercules influenced the biblical story of Samson.

Unlike the fictional story of Hercules, the account of Samson is rooted in real history. The biblical narrative of Samson’s life includes specific locations, cultural practices, and historical figures that place Samson firmly within the historical timeline of ancient Israel.

The Bible contains multiple stories that display Samson’s strength. For example, the book of Judges tells how “the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands” (Judges 14:6). Later, he brought down an entire Philistine temple by sheer strength alone. Standing between two pillars that supported the structure, he placed “his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other.” Then he cried out, “Let me die with the Philistines!” As he pushed with all his strength, “down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it” (Judges 16:29–30).

Similarly, the story of Hercules includes scenes that reveal great strength. In one myth, he temporarily held up the sky for Atlas, a Titan in Greek mythology. While Atlas retrieved golden apples, Hercules bore the sky’s weight before tricking the Titan into resuming the burden.

The story of Hercules also includes a scene in which he kills a lion. However, the details reveal many differences with the story of Samson. Versions of Hercules’ story vary depending on the source, yet each one contains elements that are clearly fictional. For example, in one version, no mortal weapon, such as a sword or arrow, could kill the lion. In another version, the lion was the offspring of Typhon, a part-human, part-monster figure, and Echidna, a half-woman, half-serpent creature.

In contrast, the Bible presents Samson as a historical figure, and the lion he fought was an actual lion. The New Testament book of Hebrews mentions Samson alongside other real men of Israel’s history (Hebrews 11:32). The book recognizes him as one of those “who through faith conquered kingdoms” (Hebrews 11:33). None of the men mentioned—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—were mythical. Gideon and Barak were military leaders. David was a shepherd and later Israel’s king. Samuel was a prophet and the nation’s final judge.

Furthermore, the stories of Samson and Hercules came from different eras. The book of Judges was written about 300 years before Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, which contain the Hercules myths. Moreover, Samson’s story may have been passed down by word of mouth for a long time before it was written down. This means the gap between the two stories could be even larger—around 400 to 500 years.

There is no evidence that the story of Samson borrowed from Hercules, and, while it is chronologically possible that the book of Judges influenced the Greek and Roman myths, there is no historical record of a direct link.

Another difference between Samson and Hercules lies in how the two figures enter the world. In Greek and Roman mythology, characters are often born to supernatural beings, and Hercules was said to have been born of a god (Zeus) who mated with a human (Alcmene). In contrast, Samson was born to ordinary human parents (Judges 13:2–3, 20–24). His birth was a miraculous answer to prayer, not the result of mythological parentage.

Finally, the purposes of the two stories emphasize the differences between Samson and Hercules. Samson was a judge whom God called to deliver Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:5). In contrast, Hercules’ labors were acts of penance for personal guilt. In the end, the two characters only seem to be alike; their many differences highlight the contrast between myth and actual human history.