Judges 14:12

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

10Then Samson's father went to Timnah for Samson's marriage. Samson prepared a party for the people there. All the young men did this when they married. 11When the Philistines saw what Samson was doing, they sent 30 young men to be his friends. Samson said to them, ‘Listen to this clever question. Try to give me an answer before my party finishes in seven days. If you answer the question, I will give you 30 linen shirts and 30 sets of clothes. 13But if you cannot tell me the answer, you will give me 30 linen shirts and 30 sets of clothes.’ The young men said, ‘Tell us your question.’ 14Samson said to them: ‘Out of the one who eats came something to eat. Out of the strong one came something sweet.’ After three days, the Philistine men could not find the answer.

Judges 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 news that Solomon was a great king who served the Lord. So she came to ask Solomon some difficult questions to see how wise he was.
• Psalms 49:4I have studied proverbs. I explain what they mean as I make music on my harp.
• Proverbs 1:6People will learn to understand what proverbs and picture stories mean. They will understand the teaching and clever messages of wise people.
• Ezekiel 17:2‘Son of man, I want you to tell a story to Israel's people. It tells about them.
• Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, ‘Almighty Lord, “The people are already saying that my stories make them confused.” ’
• Matthew 13:13The reason I use stories to talk to other people is this: These people look. But they do not really see clearly. They hear the words. But they do not really understand.
• Luke 14:7Jesus watched how people chose the best places to sit at the meal. So he told this story to those who were sitting there:
• John 16:29Jesus' disciples said to him, ‘Now you are speaking clearly. You are not speaking with words that are like pictures!
• 1 Corinthians 13:12At this time, we see things as if we were looking at them in a mirror. What we see now is not clear. But the time will come when we do not need a mirror. We will see everything clearly. Now we know only a part of what is true. But then we will know everything completely. We will understand completely, just as God understands us completely.
• Genesis 29:27So finish this week of Leah's marriage. Then we will give you Rachel to marry too. But you must work for another seven years.’
• 2 Chronicles 7:8At that time, Solomon and the big crowd of Israelites who were with him had a festival for seven days. There were people from everywhere in Israel, from Hamath in the north to the Stream of Egypt in the south.
• Matthew 27:28They removed Jesus' clothes from him. They put a dark red coat on him.
• Mark 14:51A certain young man was following Jesus. He was wearing only one piece of linen cloth to cover himself. The men tried to take hold of this young man.
• Genesis 45:22Joseph gave new clothes to each of his brothers. But he gave 300 silver coins and five sets of clothes to Benjamin.
• 2 Kings 5:5The king of Syria replied, ‘Go to meet this prophet! I will send a letter to the king of Israel.’ So Naaman went to Israel. He took with him 30,000 pieces of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, and 10 sets of clothes.
• Matthew 6:19Do not want to have many valuable things here in the world. Insects or water can destroy those kinds of things. Or people may come into your house and they can rob you of those things.

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

• Betting
• Feasts
• Marriage
• Riddle
• Samson

In the dictionaries

• Samson
• Change
• Changes of raiment
• Dress
• Linen
• Plow
• Put
• Riddle
• 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