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Judges 14

Samson wants to marry a Philistine woman from Timnah against his parents' wishes; the text says this was from the LORD, seeking an occasion against the Philistines. On the way he tears apart a young lion with his bare hands, and later finds honey in its carcass. At the wedding feast he sets a riddle; his bride, under threat, gets the answer from him and tells her people, and Samson pays the wager by killing thirty men at Ashkelon.

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Key verses

  • Verse 4The marriage was from the LORD, seeking an occasion against the Philistines.
  • Verse 6Samson tears a lion apart with his bare hands.
  • Verse 14The riddle: out of the eater came forth meat.
  • Verse 18"If you had not ploughed with my heifer..."

And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.SelectedJudges 14:1Ask

And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.SelectedJudges 14:2Ask

Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.SelectedJudges 14:3Ask

But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.SelectedJudges 14:4Ask

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.SelectedJudges 14:5Ask

And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.SelectedJudges 14:6Ask

And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.SelectedJudges 14:7Ask

And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.SelectedJudges 14:8Ask

And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.SelectedJudges 14:9Ask

So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.SelectedJudges 14:10Ask

And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.SelectedJudges 14:11Ask

And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:SelectedJudges 14:12Ask

But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.SelectedJudges 14:13Ask

And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.SelectedJudges 14:14Ask

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?SelectedJudges 14:15Ask

And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?SelectedJudges 14:16Ask

And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.SelectedJudges 14:17Ask

And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.SelectedJudges 14:18Ask

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.SelectedJudges 14:19Ask

But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.SelectedJudges 14:20Ask

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All 21 chapters of Judges
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21