Judges 14:20

Judges 14:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
• New International Version (NIV)And Samson’s wife was given to one of his companions who had attended him at the feast.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.

Context of Judges 14:20

18Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the town gave their answer to Samson: ‘There is nothing sweeter than honey! There is nothing stronger than a lion!’ Samson said to them, ‘You have used my young cow to do your work! Without her you would not have found the answer to my question.’ 19The Lord's Spirit took hold of Samson. He went to Ashkelon and he killed 30 Philistine men there. He took all their clothes and he gave them to the 30 men who had answered his question. He was still very angry as he went back to his family's home. Samson's wife became the wife of the man who had been his special friend at the party.

Judges 14:20 word by word

וַתְּהִ֖י אֵ֣שֶׁת שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן לְמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רֵעָ֖ה לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Samson’sשִׁמְשׁוֹןshimshôn · SamsonH8123
• wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• to his companionמֵרֵעַmêrêa‛ · companionH4828
• whom he had used as his friendרָעָהrâ‛âh · to befriendH7462

Cross-references for Judges 14:20

• Judges 15:2He said, ‘I was sure that you hated my daughter. So I have given her to your special friend to be his wife. Look at her younger sister. She is more beautiful. Take her as your wife, instead.’
• Psalms 55:12But it is not my enemies that have insulted me. That would not have hurt me. If my enemy laughs at me, I can always hide from him!
• Jeremiah 9:5They deceive each other, and they never tell the truth. They have taught their tongues to speak lies. They love to do bad things and they cannot stop themselves.
• Micah 7:5Do not believe anyone, even somebody that you know well. You cannot be sure that your friend will always be honest with you. Be careful what you say to your wife. Be careful even when you are hugging her.
• Matthew 26:49Now Judas went immediately to Jesus. He said, ‘Hello, Teacher.’ Then he kissed Jesus in a friendly way.
• John 3:29When a man marries a wife, she belongs to him. The man's special friend listens carefully. He wants to know when the man will arrive. That friend is very happy when he hears the man's voice. I am like that friend, so I am completely happy now.
• John 13:18Jesus then said, ‘I am not talking about all of you. I know the people that I have chosen. The Bible says, “Someone who ate food with me has turned against me.”

Commentaries on Judges 14:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20But Samson's wife was given to his companion - This was the same kind of person who is called the friend of the bridegroom, John 3:29. And it is very likely that she loved this person better than she loved her husband, and went to him as soon as Samson had gone to his father's house at Zorah. She might, however, have thought herself abandoned by him, and therefore took another; this appears to have been the persuasion of her father, Judges 15:2. But her…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20His companion - Perhaps one of those mentioned in Judges 14:11. The transaction denotes loose notions of the sanctity of marriage among the Philistines. It should be noted carefully that the practical lesson against ungodly marriages comes out most strongly in this case and that the providential purpose which out of this evil brought discomfiture to the Philistines, has nothing to do with the right or wrong of Samson‘s conduct.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. 20According to some ancient customs, giving the bride to the best man was forbidden, even if the marriage was not completed. The father's action seems to have been deceitful (compare Judges 15:2–3, 6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2019-20. went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them--This town was about twenty-four miles west by southwest from Timnah; and his selection of this place, which was dictated by the Divine Spirit, was probably owing to its bitter hostility to Israel. took their spoil--The custom of stripping a slain enemy was unknown in Hebrew warfare.Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 14:20

• Samson

In the dictionaries

• Change
• Plow
• Put
• Riddle
• Samson
• Swarm
• Dan (1); Dan, Tribe of
• Dark Sayings
• Israel, History of
• Judges, Book of

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