Judges 15:4

Judges 15:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
• New International Version (NIV)So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails,
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches. And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails.

Context of Judges 15:4

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!” 3Samson said to him, “This time I won’t be guilty when I get even with the Philistines, even though I’m going to do something terrible to them.” So Samson caught 300 foxes. He tied them together in pairs by their tails. Then he fastened a torch between their tails. 5He set the torches on fire and released the foxes in the Philistines’ grain fields. So he set fire to all their grain, whether it was stacked or in the fields. Their olive orchards also caught on fire. 6Some Philistines asked, “Who did this?” They were told, “Samson! He’s the son-in-law of the man at Timnah. Samson did it because the man at Timnah took Samson’s wife and gave her to his best man.” So the Philistines burned Samson’s wife and her father to death.

Judges 15:4 word by word

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת שׁוּעָלִ֑ים וַיִּקַּ֣ח לַפִּדִ֗ים וַיֶּ֤פֶן זָנָב֙ אֶל־זָנָ֔ב וַיָּ֨שֶׂם לַפִּ֥יד אֶחָ֛ד בֵּין־שְׁנֵ֥י הַזְּנָב֖וֹת בַּתָּֽוֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןshimshôn · SamsonH8123
• wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• and caughtלָכַדlâkad · to captureH3920
• threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• foxesשׁוּעָלshû‛âl shû‛âl · foxH7776
• and tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• firebrandsלַפִּידlappîyd lappid · torchH3940
• and turnedפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
• tailזָנָבzânâb · tailH2180
• and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• aאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• in the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• between twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147

Cross-references for Judges 15:4

• Judges 20:10We’ll take one-tenth of all the men from the tribes of Israel to get supplies for the troops. When the troops go to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin they can punish the citizens of Gibeah for the godless thing they did in Israel.”
• Ezekiel 13:9I will use my power against the prophets who see false visions and predict things that don’t come true. They will not help my people make decisions or be recorded in the records of the nation of Israel. They won’t even enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
• Ruth 2:15When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his servants, “Let her gather grain even among the bundles. Don’t give her any problems.
• Psalms 63:10They will be cut down by swords. Their dead bodies will be left as food for jackals.
• Lamentations 5:18Foxes roam around on Mount Zion, which lies in ruins.

Commentaries on Judges 15:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Went and caught three hundred foxes - There has been much controversy concerning the meaning of the term שועלים shualim, some supposing it to mean foxes or jackals, and others handfuls or sheaves of corn. Much of the force of the objections against the common version will be diminished by the following considerations: - Foxes, or jackals, are common and gregarious in that country. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone; he might have employed…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Foxes - Rather, “jackals,” which are still very common in Palestine, especially about Joppa and Gaza. 1 Samuel 13:17 and Joshua 15:28; Joshua 19:3, are indications of the abundance of foxes or jackals giving names to places, especially in the country of the Phililstines. It belongs to Samson‘s character, and agrees with the incident about the lion, that he should be an expert hunter. Ovid relates a very curious custom at Rome of letting loose foxes with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5In revenge, Samson destroyed the grain harvest, vineyards, and olive groves.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. went and caught three hundred foxes--rather, "jackals"; an animal between a wolf and a fox, which, unlike our fox, a solitary creature, prowls in large packs or herds and abounds in the mountains of Palestine. The collection of so great a number would require both time and assistance. took firebrands--torches or matches which would burn slowly, retaining the fire, and blaze fiercely when blown by the wind. He put two jackals together, tail by tail…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 15:4

• Arson
• Firebrand
• Fox
• Samson

In the dictionaries

• Samson
• Displeasure
• Fast
• Firebrand
• Fox
• Hip
• Visit
• Brand
• Israel, History of
• Judges, Book of

Commentaries on Judges 15

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings