Judges 14:8

Judges 14:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey.
• English Standard Version (ESV)After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
• New King James Version (NKJV)After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion.

Context of Judges 14:8

6and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. 7Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes. When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey. 9So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass. 10Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.

Judges 14:8 word by word

וַיָּ֤שָׁב מִיָּמִים֙ לְקַחְתָּ֔הּ וַיָּ֣סַר לִרְא֔וֹת אֵ֖ת מַפֶּ֣לֶת הָאַרְיֵ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה עֲדַ֧ת דְּבוֹרִ֛ים בִּגְוִיַּ֥ת הָאַרְיֵ֖ה וּדְבָֽשׁ׃Read the interlinear

• When Samson returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• laterיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• to take herלָקַחlâqach · to take: marryH3947
• he leftסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• the road to seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• the lion’sאַרְיֵה'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
• carcassמַפֶּ֫לֶתmappeleth · carcassH4658
• and inגְּוִיָּהgevîyâh · bodyH1472
• wasהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• a swarmעֵדָה‛êdâh · congregationH5712
• of beesדְּבוֹרָהdebôrâh debôrâh · beeH1682
• along with their honeyדְּבַשׁdebash · honeyH1706

Cross-references for Judges 14:8

• Genesis 29:21Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
• Matthew 1:20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Commentaries on Judges 14:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8After a time - Probably about one year; as this was the time that generally elapsed between espousing and wedding. A swarm of bees and honey in the carcass - By length of time the flesh had been entirely consumed off the bones, and a swarm of bees had formed their combs within the region of the thorax, nor was it an improper place; nor was the thing unfrequent, if we may credit ancient writers; the carcasses of slain beasts becoming a receptacle for wild…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The formal dowry and gifts having been given by Samson‘s father, an interval, varying according to the Oriental custom, from a few days to a full year, elapsed between the betrothal and the wedding, during which the bride lived with her friends. Then came the essential part of the marriage ceremony, namely, the removal of the bride from her father‘s house to that of the bridegroom or his father. The carcase of the lion - The lion, slain by him a year or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 5-9 By enabling him to kill a lion, God let Samson know what he could do in the strength of the Spirit of the Lord, that he might never be afraid to look the greatest difficulties in the face. He was alone in the vineyards, whither he had rambled. Young people consider not how they exposed themselves to the roaring lion that seeks to devour, when they wander from their prudent, pious parents. Nor do men consider what lions lurk in the vineyards…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-20Samson, who gets more attention in the book of Judges than any other judge, is more mysterious than Jephthah. Samson shows great inspiration as a leader. He also represents the unstoppable move toward chaos, which shows the need for a more organized society under a godly ruler.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-95-9. a young lion--Hebrew, a lion in the pride of his youthful prime. The wild mountain passes of Judah were the lairs of savage beasts; and most or all the "lions" of Scripture occur in that wild country. His rending and killing the shaggy monster, without any weapon in his hand, were accomplished by that superhuman courage and strength which the occasional influences of the Spirit enabled him to put forth, and by the exertion of which, in such private…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 14:8

• Bee
• Lion
• Samson

In the dictionaries

• Bee
• Betroth
• Change
• Honey
• Plow
• Put
• Riddle
• Samson
• Swarm
• Timnath

Commentaries on Judges 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings