Samson's Hebrew name means "little sun," yet this passage uniquely portrays him descending twice to Timnah, inverting his solar symbolism through moral darkness.
Judges 14
Samson's Marriage and Riddle
1Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.
2He came up, and told his father and his mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore get her for me as my wife.”
3Then his father and his mother said to him, “Isn’t there a woman among your brothers’ daughters, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?” Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”
4But his father and his mother didn’t know that it was of the LORD; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
5Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and his mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion roared at him.
6The LORD’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat with his bare hands, but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done.
7He went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.
8After a while he returned to take her, and he went over to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
9He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.
10His father went down to the woman; and Samson made a feast there, for the young men used to do so.
11When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.
12Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing;
13but if you can’t tell me the answer, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” They said to him, “Tell us your riddle, that we may hear it.”
14He said to them, “Out of the eater came out food. Out of the strong came out sweetness.” They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle.
15On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?”
16Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, “You just hate me, and don’t love me. You’ve told a riddle to the children of my people, and haven’t told it to me.” He said to her, “Behold, I haven’t told my father or my mother, so why should I tell you?”
17She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and on the seventh day, he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
18The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” He said to them, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have found out my riddle.”
19The LORD’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck thirty men of them. He took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.
20But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his friend.
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Theme
Samson defies his parents' wishes by choosing to marry a Philistine woman from Timnah, though God uses this disobedience to create conflict with Israel's oppressors. During his journey, Samson kills a lion with supernatural strength and later discovers honey in its carcass, which becomes the basis for a riddle he poses at his wedding feast. When the Philistine groomsmen threaten his bride to extract the answer, she pressures Samson until he reveals it, leading to their betrayal and setting the stage for escalating conflict.
Context
This chapter begins Samson's adult conflicts with the Philistines following his calling as judge in chapter 13, setting up the escalating confrontations that will dominate the remaining Samson narratives.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Samson's Choice of a Philistine Bride Samson demands his parents arrange marriage to a Philistine woman despite their objections, unknowingly fulfilling God's plan.
- 5-7 The Lion Encounter Empowered by God's Spirit, Samson kills a lion with his bare hands but keeps this feat secret from his parents.
- 8-10 Discovery of Honey Samson finds honey in the lion's carcass and shares it with his parents without revealing its source.
- 11-14 The Wedding Riddle At his wedding feast, Samson poses a riddle based on his lion encounter, wagering expensive garments with thirty Philistine companions.
- 15-18 Betrayal and Solution The Philistines threaten Samson's wife, who pressures him until he reveals the answer, leading to their betrayal of the riddle's solution.
Samson's Marriage and Riddle
14:1–14:20 narrative narration contemplative
Samson desires to marry a Philistine woman against his parents' wishes, kills a lion with divine strength, and poses a riddle at his wedding feast. His wife betrays the riddle's answer, leading to conflict and violence.
person_contrast
Samson's Hebrew name means "little sun," yet this passage uniquely portrays him descending twice to Timnah, inverting his solar symbolism through moral darkness.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Judges 14:1 2 references
Judges 14:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Amos 3:4 Lexical
Will a lion roar in the thicket, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?
Jeremiah 51:38 Lexical
They will roar together like young lions. They will growl as lions’ cubs.
Ezekiel 19:2 Lexical
and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness. She couched among lions, in the middle of the young lions she nourished her c…
Isaiah 31:4 Lexical
For the LORD says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called t…
1 Kings 21:18 Lexical
“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he ha…
Judges 14:12 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Kings 5:22 Lexical
He said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have c…
Ezekiel 17:2 Lexical
“Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;
Judges 16:13 Lexical
Delilah said to Samson, “Until now, you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me with what you might be bound.” He said…
Judges 16:10 Lexical
Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies. Now please tell me how you might be bound.”
Judges 16:6 Lexical
Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and what you might be bound to afflict you.”
Judges 14:13 1 reference
Judges 14:15 2 references
Judges 14:16 1 reference
Judges 14:19 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Samuel 11:6 Lexical
God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot.
Deuteronomy 31:17 Lexical
Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and…
1 Samuel 17:28 Lexical
Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David, and he said, “Why have…
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v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
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