Berean Standard Bible

Judges 14

1One day Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֖וֹןshim.ShonH8123went downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Timnahתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553,where he sawוַיַּ֥רְא אִשָּׁ֛הvai.Yar' 'i.ShahH7200 H802a young Philistineפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃pe.lish.TimH6430womanבְּתִמְנָ֖תָה מִבְּנ֥וֹתbe.tim.Na.tah mi.be.NotH1323 H8553.

2So he returnedוַיַּ֗עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927and toldוַיַּגֵּד֙vai.ya.GedH5046his fatherלְאָבִ֣יוle.'a.VivH1and motherוּלְאִמּ֔וֹu.le.'i.MoH517וַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559אִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802, “I have seenרָאִ֥יתִיra.'I.tiH7200a daughterמִבְּנ֣וֹתmi.be.NotH1323of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430in Timnahבְתִמְנָ֖תָהve.tim.Na.tahH8553.Nowוְעַתָּ֕הve.'a.TahH6258getקְחוּ־ke.chu-H3947herאוֹתָ֥הּ'o.TahH853for meas a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.”

3But his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and motherוְאִמּ֗וֹve.'i.MoH517repliedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Can’t youהַאֵין֩ha.'EinH369finda young womanבִּבְנ֨וֹתbiv.NotH1323among your relativesאַחֶ֤יךָ'a.Chei.khaH251or among anyוּבְכָל־u.ve.Khol-H3605of our peopleעַמִּי֙'a.MiH5971אִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802כִּֽי־ki-H3588?Must youאַתָּ֤ה'a.TahH859goהוֹלֵךְ֙ho.leKhH1980to the uncircumcisedהָעֲרֵלִ֑יםha.'a.re.LimH6189Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםmi.pe.lish.TimH6430to getלָקַ֣חַתla.Ka.chatH3947a wifeאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802?”But Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֤וֹן אֶל־shim.Shon 'el-H8123 H413toldוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559his fatherאָבִיו֙'a.VivH1, “Getקַֽח־kach-H3947herאוֹתָ֣הּ'o.TahH853for me,forכִּֽי־ki-H3588sheהִ֖יאhi'H1931is pleasingיָשְׁרָ֥הya.she.RahH3474to my eyesבְעֵינָֽי׃ve.'ei.NaiH5869.”

4(Now his fatherוְאָבִ֨יוve.'a.VivH1and motherוְאִמּ֜וֹve.'i.MoH517did notלֹ֣אlo'H3808knowיָדְע֗וּ כִּ֤יya.de.'U kiH3045 H3588thisהִ֔יאHi'H1931was fromכִּי־ki-H3588the LORDמֵיְהוָה֙me.Yah.wehH3068,whoהֽוּא־hu'-H1931was seekingמְבַקֵּ֖שׁme.va.KeshH1245an occasion to moveתֹאֲנָ֥הto.'a.NahH8385against the Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםmi.pe.lish.TimH6430;for at thatהַהִ֔יאha.Hi'H1931timeוּבָעֵ֣תu.va.'EtH6256the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםpe.lish.TimH6430were rulingמֹשְׁלִ֥יםmo.she.LimH4910over Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.)

5Then Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֛וֹןshim.ShonH8123went downוַיֵּ֧רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Timnahתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553with his fatherוְאָבִ֥יוve.'a.VivH1and motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517and cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935toעַד־'ad-H5704the vineyardsכַּרְמֵ֣יkar.MeiH3754of Timnahתִמְנָ֔תָהtim.Na.tahH8553.Suddenlyוְהִנֵּה֙ve.hi.NehH2009a young lionכְּפִ֣יר אֲרָי֔וֹתke.Fir 'a.ra.YotH3715 H738came roaringשֹׁאֵ֖גsho.'EgH7580at himלִקְרָאתֽוֹ׃lik.ra.ToH7122,

6and the Spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068came powerfullyוַתִּצְלַ֨חva.titz.LachH6743upon himעָלָ֜יו'a.LavH5921,and he tore the lion apartוַֽיְשַׁסְּעֵ֙הוּ֙vay.sha.se.'E.huH8156with his bareוּמְא֖וּמָה אֵ֣יןu.me.'U.mah 'einH3972 H369handsבְּיָד֑וֹbe.ya.DoH3027as one would tearכְּשַׁסַּ֣עke.sha.Sa'H8156a young goatהַגְּדִ֔יha.ge.DiH1423.But he did notוְלֹ֤אve.Lo'H3808tellהִגִּיד֙hi.GidH5046his fatherלְאָבִ֣יוle.'a.VivH1or motherוּלְאִמּ֔וֹu.le.'i.MoH517אֵ֖ת'etH853whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he had doneעָשָֽׂה׃'a.SahH6213.

7Then Samson continued on his way downוַיֵּ֖רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381and spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696to the womanלָאִשָּׁ֑הla.'i.ShahH802,becauseשִׁמְשֽׁוֹן׃shim.ShonH8123she was pleasingוַתִּישַׁ֖רva.ti.SharH3474to his eyesבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869.

Samson’s Riddle

8When Samson returnedוַיָּ֤שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725laterמִיָּמִים֙mi.ya.MimH3117to take herלְקַחְתָּ֔הּle.kach.TahH3947,he leftוַיָּ֣סַרvai.Ya.sarH5493the road to seeלִרְא֔וֹתlir.'otH7200אֵ֖ת'etH853the lion’sהָאַרְיֵ֑הha.'ar.YehH738carcassמַפֶּ֣לֶתma.Pe.letH4658,and inבִּגְוִיַּ֥ת הָאַרְיֵ֖הbig.vi.Yat ha.'ar.YehH1472 H738itwasוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009a swarmעֲדַ֧ת'a.DatH5712of beesדְּבוֹרִ֛יםde.vo.RimH1682,along with their honeyוּדְבָֽשׁ׃u.de.VashH1706.

9So he scoopedוַיִּרְדֵּ֣הוּvai.yir.De.huH7287some honey intoאֶל־'el-H413his handsכַּפָּ֗יוka.PavH3709and ate itוְאָכֹ֔לve.'a.KholH398as he went alongH1980.And when he returnedH1980toאֶל־'el-H413his fatherאָבִ֣יו וְאֶל־'a.Viv ve.'el-H1 H413and motherאִמּ֔וֹ'i.MoH517,he gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414some to themand they ate itוַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּvai.yo.Khe.luH398.But he did notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808tellהִגִּ֣ידhi.GidH5046themthatכִּ֛יkiH3588he had takenרָדָ֥הra.DahH7287the honeyהַדְּבָֽשׁ׃ha.de.VashH1706from the lion’sהָאַרְיֵ֖הha.'ar.YehH738carcassמִגְּוִיַּ֥תmi.ge.vi.YatH1472.

10Then his fatherאָבִ֖יהוּ'a.Vi.huH1wentוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381toאֶל־'el-H413visit the womanהָאִשָּׁ֑הha.'i.ShahH802,and Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹן֙shim.shOnH8123preparedוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960thereשָׁ֤םshamH8033,asכִּ֛י כֵּ֥ןki kenH3588 H3651was customaryיַעֲשׂ֖וּya.'a.SuH6213for the bridegroomהַבַּחוּרִֽים׃ha.ba.chu.RimH970.

11And whenוַיְהִ֖יvay.HiH1961the Philistinessaw himכִּרְאוֹתָ֣םkir.'o.TamH7200,אוֹת֑וֹ'o.ToH853they selectedוַיִּקְחוּ֙vai.yik.ChuH3947thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970men to accompany himמֵֽרֵעִ֔ים וַיִּהְי֖וּ אִתּֽוֹ׃me.re.'Im vai.yih.Yu 'i.ToH4828 H1961 H854.

12“Let me tellאָחֽוּדָה־ נָּ֥א'a.chu.dah- na'H2330 H4994youa riddleחִידָ֑הchi.DahH2420,”Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןshim.ShonH8123saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them. “Ifאִם־'im-H518you can solveH5046itאוֹתָ֨הּ'o.TahH853for me within thesevenשִׁבְעַ֨תshiv.'AtH7651daysיְמֵ֤יye.MeiH3117of the feastהַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ha.mish.TehH4960וּמְצָאתֶ֔םu.me.tza.TemH4672,I will giveוְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.TiH5414youthirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970linen garmentsסְדִינִ֔יםse.di.NimH5466and thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.ShimH7970setsחֲלִפֹ֥תcha.li.FotH2487of clothesבְּגָדִֽים׃be.ga.DimH899.

13But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518you cannotלֹ֣א תוּכְלוּ֮lo' tu.khe.LuH3808 H3201solve itלְהַגִּ֣ידle.ha.GidH5046,youאַתֶּ֥ם'a.TemH859must giveוּנְתַתֶּ֨םu.ne.ta.TemH5414methirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970linen garmentsסְדִינִ֔יםse.di.NimH5466and thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.ShimH7970setsחֲלִיפ֣וֹתcha.li.FotH2487of clothesבְּגָדִ֑יםbe.ga.DimH899.” “Tell usח֥וּדָהChu.dahH2330your riddleחִידָתְךָ֖chi.da.te.KhaH2420,”they repliedוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559. “Let us hear itוְנִשְׁמָעֶֽנָּה׃ve.nish.ma.'E.nahH8085.”

14So he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them: “Out of the eaterמֵהָֽאֹכֵל֙me.ha.'o.KhelH398cameיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318something to eatמַאֲכָ֔לma.'a.KhalH3978,and out of the strongוּמֵעַ֖זu.me.'AzH5794cameיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318something sweetמָת֑וֹקma.TokH4966.”For threeשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָמִֽים׃ya.MimH3117they were unableוְלֹ֥א יָכְל֛וּve.Lo' ya.khe.LuH3808 H3201to explainלְהַגִּ֥ידle.ha.GidH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֖הha.chi.DahH2420.

15Soוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961on the fourthהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117they saidוַיֹּאמְר֤וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to Samson’sשִׁמְשׁוֹן֙shim.shOnH8123wifeלְאֵֽשֶׁת־le.'e.shet-H802, “Enticeפַּתִּ֣יpa.TiH6601אֶת־'et-H853your husbandאִישֵׁ֗ךְ'i.ShekhH376to explainוְיַגֶּד־ve.ya.ged-H5046the riddleהַ֣חִידָ֔הha.chi.DahH2420to usאֶת־'et-H853,orפֶּן־pen-H6435we will burnנִשְׂרֹ֥ףnis.RofH8313youאוֹתָ֛ךְ'o.TakhH853וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and your father’sאָבִ֖יךְ'a.VikhH1householdבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004to deathבָּאֵ֑שׁba.'EshH784.Did you invite usקְרָאתֶ֥םke.ra.TemH7121hereהֲלֹֽא׃ha.Lo'H3808to rob usהַלְיָרְשֵׁ֕נוּhal.ya.re.She.nuH3423?”

16Then Samson’sשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹןshim.ShonH8123wifeאֵ֨שֶׁת'E.shetH802came to himעָלָ֗יו'a.LavH5921,weepingוַתֵּבְךְּ֩va.te.veKH1058,and saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ רַק־va.To.mer rak-H559 H7535, “You hate meשְׂנֵאתַ֙נִי֙se.ne.Ta.niH8130!You do not reallyוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808love meאֲהַבְתָּ֔נִי'a.hav.Ta.niH157!You have posedחַ֙דְתָּ֙chad.taH2330to my peopleלִבְנֵ֣י עַמִּ֔יliv.Nei 'a.MiH1121 H5971a riddleהַֽחִידָ֥הha.chi.DahH2420,but have notלֹ֣אlo'H3808explained it to meהִגַּ֑דְתָּהhi.Gad.tahH5046.” “Lookהִנֵּ֨הhi.NehH2009,”he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I have notלֹ֥אlo'H3808even explainedהִגַּ֖דְתִּיhi.Gad.tiH5046it to my fatherלְאָבִ֧יle.'a.ViH1or motherוּלְאִמִּ֛יu.le.'i.MiH517,so why should I explain itאַגִּֽיד׃'a.GidH5046to you?”

17She weptוַתֵּ֤בְךְּ עָלָיו֙va.Te.vek 'a.LavH1058 H5921the whole sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תshiv.'AtH7651daysהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834הָיָ֥הha.YahH1961of the feastהַמִּשְׁתֶּ֑הha.mish.TehH4960,and finallyוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588she had pressed him so muchהֱצִיקַ֔תְהוּhe.tzi.Kat.huH6693,he toldוַיַּגֶּד־vai.ya.ged-H5046her the answer.And in turn she explainedוַתַּגֵּ֥דva.ta.GedH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֖הha.chi.DahH2420to her peopleלִבְנֵ֥י עַמָּֽהּ׃liv.Nei 'a.MahH1121 H5971.

18Beforeבְּטֶ֙רֶם֙be.Te.remH2962sunsetיָבֹ֣א הַחַ֔רְסָהya.Vo' ha.Char.sahH935 H2775on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,the menאַנְשֵׁ֨י'an.SheiH582of the cityהָעִ֜ירha.'IrH5892saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to Samson: “Whatמַה־mah-H4100is sweeterמָּת֣וֹקma.TokH4966than honeyמִדְּבַ֔שׁmi.de.VashH1706?And whatוּמֶ֥הu.MehH4100isstrongerעַ֖ז'azH5794than a lionמֵאֲרִ֑יme.'a.RiH738?”So he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them: “If you had notלוּלֵא֙lu.Le'H3884plowedחֲרַשְׁתֶּ֣םcha.rash.TemH2790with my heiferבְּעֶגְלָתִ֔יbe.'eg.la.TiH5697,you would notלֹ֥אlo'H3808have solvedמְצָאתֶ֖םme.tza.TemH4672my riddleחִידָתִֽי׃chi.da.TiH2420!”

19Then the Spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068came mightilyוַתִּצְלַ֨חva.titz.LachH6743upon himעָלָ֜יו'a.LavH5921,and he went downוַיֵּ֨רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Ashkelonאַשְׁקְל֜וֹן'ash.ke.LonH831,killedוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970of their menאִ֗ישׁ'IshH376,tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947אֶת־'et-H853their apparelחֲלִ֣יצוֹתָ֔םcha.Li.tzo.TamH2488,and gaveוַיִּתֵּן֙vai.yi.TenH5414their clothesהַחֲלִיפ֔וֹתha.cha.li.FotH2487to those who had solvedלְמַגִּידֵ֖יle.ma.gi.DeiH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֑הha.chi.DahH2420.And burningוַיִּ֣חַרvai.Yi.charH2734with angerאַפּ֔וֹ'a.PoH639,Samson returnedוַיַּ֖עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927to his father’sאָבִֽיהוּ׃ פ'a.Vi.huH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004,

20and hisשִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן לְמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּshim.Shon le.Me.re.'E.huH8123 H4828wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802was givenוַתְּהִ֖יva.te.HiH1961to one of the men whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834had accompaniedרֵעָ֖הre.'AhH7462him.

Samson’s Riddle

Commentaries on Judges 14