The phrase "as Samson was when shorn of his locks" refers to the biblical story of Samson, a Nazirite who was granted extraordinary strength by God as long as he kept his hair uncut. His strength was symbolized and linked to his long hair. Delilah, a woman who betrayed him by cutting his seven locks of hair while he slept, caused Samson to lose his supernatural strength. After his hair was cut off, Samson became weak like other men and was captured by the Philistines. This event marked the loss of his divine strength until his hair grew back later, when he regained his power to bring down the Philistine temple, sacrificing himself in the process.
