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

18So before sundown on the seventh day, the men of the city said to him, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson replied, “If you hadn’t used my cow to plow, you wouldn’t know my riddle now.” 19When the Lord’s Spirit came over him, he went to Ashkelon and killed 30 men there. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who solved the riddle. He was angry, and he went to his father’s house. Samson’s wife was given to his best man.

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 15:2Her father said, “I thought you hated her. So I gave her to your best man. Isn’t her younger sister better looking? Marry her instead!”
• Psalms 55:12If an enemy had insulted me, then I could bear it. If someone who hated me had attacked me, then I could hide from him.
• Jeremiah 9:5Everyone cheats his neighbor. No one speaks the truth. My people train their tongues to speak lies. They wear themselves out doing wrong.
• Micah 7:5Don’t trust your neighbors. Don’t have confidence in ⌞your⌟ friends. Keep your mouth shut even when a woman is lying in your arms.
• Matthew 26:49Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
• John 3:29“The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel.
• John 13:18“I’m not talking about all of you. I know the people I’ve chosen ⌞to be apostles⌟. However, I’ve made my choice so that Scripture will come true. It says, ‘The one who eats my bread 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