Christian Standard Bible
Judges 14:12
12“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can explain it to me during the seven days of the feast and figure it out, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.
Judges 14:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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:
- New International Version (NIV)“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Samson said to them, "Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Samson said to them, “Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.
Context of Judges 14:12
10His father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as young men were accustomed to do. 11When the Philistines saw him, they brought thirty men to accompany him. “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can explain it to me during the seven days of the feast and figure it out, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes. 13But if you can’t explain it to me, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let’s hear it.” 14So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. After three days, they were unable to explain the riddle.
Read all of Judges 14Judges 14:12 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן אָחֽוּדָה־נָּ֥א לָכֶ֖ם חִידָ֑ה אִם־הַגֵּ֣ד תַּגִּידוּ֩ אוֹתָ֨הּ לִ֜י שִׁבְעַ֨ת יְמֵ֤י הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ וּמְצָאתֶ֔ם וְנָתַתִּ֤י לָכֶם֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים סְדִינִ֔ים וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים חֲלִפֹ֥ת בְּגָדִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןshimshôn · SamsonH8123
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto them, I will now put forthחוּדchûd · to riddleH2330
- a riddleחִידָהchîydâh · riddleH2420
- unto you: if ye can certainlyנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- it me within the sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
- daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of the feastמִשְׁתֶּהmishteh · feastH4960
- outמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- then I will giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- you thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםshelôshîym shelôshîym · thirtyH7970
- sheetsסָדִיןsâdîyn · linenH5466
- changeחֲלִיפָהchălîyphâh · changeH2487
- of garmentsבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
Cross-references for Judges 14:12
- 1 Kings 10:1The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s fame connected with the name of the Lord and came to test him with difficult questions.
- Psalms 49:4I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
- Proverbs 1:6for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.
- Ezekiel 17:2“Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.
- Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just composing parables?’”
- Matthew 13:13That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.
- Luke 14:7He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves:
- John 16:29His disciples said, “Look, now you’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language.
- 1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.
- Genesis 29:27Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me.”
- 2 Chronicles 7:8So Solomon and all Israel with him — a very great assembly, from the entrance to Hamath to the Brook of Egypt — observed the festival at that time for seven days.
- Matthew 27:28They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe.
- Mark 14:51Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him,
- Genesis 45:22He gave each of the brothers changes of clothes, but he gave Benjamin three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothes.
- 2 Kings 5:5Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.” So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
- Matthew 6:19“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
Commentaries on Judges 14:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12I will now put forth a riddle - Probably this was one part of the amusements at a marriage-feast; each in his turn proposing a riddle, to be solved by any of the rest on a particular forfeit; the proposer forfeiting, if solved, the same which the company must forfeit if they could not solve it. Thirty sheets - I have no doubt that the Arab hayk, or hake, is here meant; a dress in which the natives of the East wrap themselves, as a Scottish Highlander does…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12See the marginal references. Riddles formed one of the amusements of these protracted feasts. Sheets - Rather “linen shirts;” the “garments” which follow are the outward garments worn by the Orientals.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-20Verses 10-20 Samson's riddle literally meant no more than that he had got honey, for food and for pleasure, from the lion, which in its strength and fury was ready to devour him. But the victory of Christ over Satan, by means of his humiliation, agonies, and death, and the exaltation that followed to him, with the glory thence to the Father, and spiritual advantages to his people, seem directly alluded to. And even death, that devouring monster, being…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Riddles were common tests of skill or a form of entertainment that often used double meanings. Although there is some evidence of bees building hives in dead animals, solving the mystery required knowing what Samson knew.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1812-18. I will now put forth a riddle--Riddles are a favorite Oriental amusement at festive entertainments of this nature, and rewards are offered to those who give the solution. Samson's riddle related to honey in the lion's carcass. The prize he offered was thirty sindinim, or shirts, and thirty changes of garments, probably woolen. Three days were passed in vain attempts to unravel the enigma. The festive week was fast drawing to a close when they…Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 14:12
In the dictionaries
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
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