New American Standard Bible 1995

Judges 14

Samson’s Marriage

1Then Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֖וֹןshim.ShonH8123wentH3381downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Timnahתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553and sawוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200a womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802in Timnahבְּתִמְנָ֖תָהbe.tim.Na.tahH8553, oneof the daughtersמִבְּנ֥וֹתmi.be.NotH1323of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃pe.lish.TimH6430.

2So he cameH5927backH5927and toldוַיַּגֵּד֙vai.ya.GedH5046his fatherלְאָבִ֣יוle.'a.VivH1andmotherוּלְאִמּ֔וֹu.le.'i.MoH517, “I sawרָאִ֥יתִיra.'I.tiH7200a womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802in Timnahבְתִמְנָ֖תָהve.tim.Na.tahH8553, oneof the daughtersמִבְּנ֣וֹתmi.be.NotH1323of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430;nowוְעַתָּ֕הve.'a.TahH6258therefore, getקְחוּ־ke.chu-H3947her for me as a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.”

3Then his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and his motherוְאִמּ֗וֹve.'i.MoH517saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Is thereH369noH369womanאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802among the daughtersבִּבְנ֨וֹתbiv.NotH1323of yourrelativesאַחֶ֤יךָ'a.Chei.khaH251,or among allוּבְכָל־u.ve.Khol-H3605our peopleעַמִּי֙'a.MiH5971,that you goהוֹלֵךְ֙ho.leKhH1980totakeלָקַ֣חַתla.Ka.chatH3947a wifeאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802from the uncircumcisedהָעֲרֵלִ֑יםha.'a.re.LimH6189Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםmi.pe.lish.TimH6430?”But Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֤וֹןshim.ShonH8123saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his fatherאָבִיו֙'a.VivH1, “Getקַֽח־kach-H3947her for me, for shelooksבְעֵינָֽי׃ve.'ei.NaiH3474 H5869goodH3474to me.”

4However, his fatherוְאָבִ֨יוve.'a.VivH1and motherוְאִמּ֜וֹve.'i.MoH517did not knowיָדְע֗וּya.de.'UH3045thatit was of the Lordמֵיְהוָה֙me.Yah.wehH3068,for He was seekingמְבַקֵּ֖שׁme.va.KeshH1245an occasionתֹאֲנָ֥הto.'a.NahH8385againstH4480the Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםmi.pe.lish.TimH6430.Now at that timeוּבָעֵ֣תu.va.'EtH6256the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםpe.lish.TimH6430were rulingמֹשְׁלִ֥יםmo.she.LimH4910over Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

5Then Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֛וֹןshim.ShonH8123wentH3381downוַיֵּ֧רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Timnahתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553with his fatherוְאָבִ֥יוve.'a.VivH1and motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517,and cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935as farעַד־'ad-H5704as the vineyardsכַּרְמֵ֣יkar.MeiH3754of Timnahתִמְנָ֔תָהtim.Na.tahH8553;and beholdוְהִנֵּה֙ve.hi.NehH2009,a youngכְּפִ֣ירke.FirH3715lionאֲרָי֔וֹת'a.ra.YotH738cameroaringשֹׁאֵ֖גsho.'EgH7580towardלִקְרָאתֽוֹ׃lik.ra.ToH7122him.

6The Spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of the Lordיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068cameH6743upon him mightilyH6743, so thathe toreוַֽיְשַׁסְּעֵ֙הוּ֙vay.sha.se.'E.huH8156him as one tearsכְּשַׁסַּ֣עke.sha.Sa'H8156a youngH1423goatH1423though he hadH369nothingוּמְא֖וּמָהu.me.'U.mahH3972 H369in his handבְּיָד֑וֹbe.ya.DoH3027;but he did not tellהִגִּיד֙hi.GidH5046his fatherלְאָבִ֣יוle.'a.VivH1or motherוּלְאִמּ֔וֹu.le.'i.MoH517whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he had doneעָשָֽׂה׃'a.SahH6213.

7So he wentH3381downוַיֵּ֖רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381and talkedוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696to the womanלָאִשָּׁ֑הla.'i.ShahH802; and shelookedבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH3474 H5869goodH3474to Samsonשִׁמְשֽׁוֹן׃shim.ShonH8123.

8When he returnedוַיָּ֤שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725laterמִיָּמִים֙mi.ya.MimH4480 H3117to takeלְקַחְתָּ֔הּle.kach.TahH3947her, he turnedH5493asideוַיָּ֣סַרvai.Ya.sarH5493to lookלִרְא֔וֹתlir.'otH7200at the carcassמַפֶּ֣לֶתma.Pe.letH4658of the lionH743;and beholdוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009,a swarmעֲדַ֧ת'a.DatH5712of beesדְּבוֹרִ֛יםde.vo.RimH1682and honeyוּדְבָֽשׁ׃u.de.VashH1706were in the bodyבִּגְוִיַּ֥תbig.vi.YatH1472of the lionH743.

9So he scrapedוַיִּרְדֵּ֣הוּvai.yir.De.huH7287the honey into hishandsכַּפָּ֗יוka.PavH3709and wentוַיֵּ֤לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980on, eatingוְאָכֹ֔לve.'a.KholH398as he wentהָלוֹךְ֙ha.loKhH1980.When he cameוַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙vai.Ye.lekhH1980to his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and motherאִמּ֔וֹ'i.MoH517,he gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414someto them and they ateוַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּvai.yo.Khe.luH398it;but he did not tellהִגִּ֣ידhi.GidH5046them that he had scrapedרָדָ֥הra.DahH7287the honeyהַדְּבָֽשׁ׃ha.de.VashH1706out of the bodyמִגְּוִיַּ֥תmi.ge.vi.YatH1472of the lionH743.

10Then his fatherאָבִ֖יהוּ'a.Vi.huH1wentH3381downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to the womanהָאִשָּׁ֑הha.'i.ShahH802;and Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹן֙shim.shOnH8123madeוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960thereשָׁ֤םshamH8033,for the youngהַבַּחוּרִֽים׃ha.ba.chu.RimH970menH970customarily didיַעֲשׂ֖וּya.'a.SuH6213thisכֵּ֥ןkenH3651.

11When they sawכִּרְאוֹתָ֣םkir.'o.TamH7200him, they broughtוַיִּקְחוּ֙vai.yik.ChuH3947thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970companionsמֵֽרֵעִ֔יםme.re.'ImH4828to be with him.

Samson’s Riddle

12Then Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןshim.ShonH8123saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Let me nowנָּ֥אna'H4994propoundאָחֽוּדָה־'a.chu.dah-H2330a riddleחִידָ֑הchi.DahH2420to you; ifאִם־'im-H518you will indeedהַגֵּ֣דha.GedH5046tellתַּגִּידוּ֩ta.gi.DuH5046it to me within the sevenשִׁבְעַ֨תshiv.'AtH7651daysיְמֵ֤יye.MeiH3117of the feastהַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ha.mish.TehH4960,and findוּמְצָאתֶ֔םu.me.tza.TemH4672it out, then I will giveוְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.TiH5414you thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970linenסְדִינִ֔יםse.di.NimH5466wrapsH5466and thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.ShimH7970changesחֲלִפֹ֥תcha.li.FotH2487of clothesבְּגָדִֽים׃be.ga.DimH899.

13But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518you are unableלֹ֣א תוּכְלוּ֮lo' tu.khe.LuH3808 H3201to tellלְהַגִּ֣ידle.ha.GidH5046me, then you shall giveוּנְתַתֶּ֨םu.ne.ta.TemH5414me thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970linenסְדִינִ֔יםse.di.NimH5466wrapsH5466and thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.ShimH7970changesחֲלִיפ֣וֹתcha.li.FotH2487of clothesבְּגָדִ֑יםbe.ga.DimH899.”And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, “Propoundח֥וּדָהChu.dahH2330your riddleחִידָתְךָ֖chi.da.te.KhaH2420,that we may hearוְנִשְׁמָעֶֽנָּה׃ve.nish.ma.'E.nahH8085it.”

14So he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Out of the eaterמֵהָֽאֹכֵל֙me.ha.'o.KhelH398cameיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318somethingH3978to eatH3978,And out of the strongוּמֵעַ֖זu.me.'AzH5794cameיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318somethingH4966sweetמָת֑וֹקma.TokH4966.”But they couldיָכְל֛וּya.khe.LuH3201not tellלְהַגִּ֥ידle.ha.GidH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֖הha.chi.DahH2420in threeשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָמִֽים׃ya.MimH3117.

15Then it cameוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961about on thefourthהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117that they saidוַיֹּאמְר֤וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to Samson’sשִׁמְשׁוֹן֙shim.shOnH8123wifeלְאֵֽשֶׁת־le.'e.shet-H802, “Enticeפַּתִּ֣יpa.TiH6601your husbandאִישֵׁ֗ךְ'i.ShekhH376,so that he will tellוְיַגֶּד־ve.ya.ged-H5046us the riddleהַ֣חִידָ֔הha.chi.DahH2420,orפֶּן־pen-H6435we will burnנִשְׂרֹ֥ףnis.RofH8313you and your father’sאָבִ֖יךְ'a.VikhH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004with fireבָּאֵ֑שׁba.'EshH784.Have you invitedקְרָאתֶ֥םke.ra.TemH7121us to impoverishהַלְיָרְשֵׁ֕נוּhal.ya.re.She.nuH3423us? Is this not so?”

16Samson’sשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹןshim.ShonH8123wifeאֵ֨שֶׁת'E.shetH802weptוַתֵּבְךְּ֩va.te.veKH1058beforeעָלָ֗יו'a.LavH5921him and saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559, “You onlyH7534hateשְׂנֵאתַ֙נִי֙se.ne.Ta.niH8130me, and you do not loveאֲהַבְתָּ֔נִי'a.hav.Ta.niH157me; you have propoundedחַ֙דְתָּ֙chad.taH2330a riddleהַֽחִידָ֥הha.chi.DahH2420to the sonsלִבְנֵ֣יliv.NeiH1121of my peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971,and have not toldהִגַּ֑דְתָּהhi.Gad.tahH5046itto me.” And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to her, “Beholdהִנֵּ֨הhi.NehH2009,I have not toldהִגַּ֖דְתִּיhi.Gad.tiH5046itto my fatherלְאָבִ֧יle.'a.ViH1or motherוּלְאִמִּ֛יu.le.'i.MiH517;so should I tellאַגִּֽיד׃'a.GidH5046you?”

17However she weptוַתֵּ֤בְךְּva.Te.vekH1058beforeעָלָיו֙'a.LavH5921him sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תshiv.'AtH7651daysהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117whileאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834their feastהַמִּשְׁתֶּ֑הha.mish.TehH4960lastedH1961.And on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117he toldוַיַּגֶּד־vai.ya.ged-H5046her becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588she pressedH6693him so hardH6693.She then toldוַתַּגֵּ֥דva.ta.GedH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֖הha.chi.DahH2420to the sonsלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of her peopleעַמָּֽהּ׃'a.MahH5971.

18So the menH376of the cityהָעִ֜ירha.'IrH5892saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117beforeבְּטֶ֙רֶם֙be.Te.remH2962the sunהַחַ֔רְסָהha.Char.sahH2775wentיָבֹ֣אya.Vo'H935down, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100is sweeterמָּת֣וֹקma.TokH4966thanH4480honeyמִדְּבַ֔שׁmi.de.VashH1706?And whatוּמֶ֥הu.MehH4100is strongerעַ֖ז'azH5794thanH4480a lionמֵאֲרִ֑יme.'a.RiH738?”And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Ifלוּלֵא֙lu.Le'H3884you had not plowedחֲרַשְׁתֶּ֣םcha.rash.TemH2790with my heiferבְּעֶגְלָתִ֔יbe.'eg.la.TiH5697,You would not have foundמְצָאתֶ֖םme.tza.TemH4672out my riddleחִידָתִֽי׃chi.da.TiH2420.”

19Thenthe Spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of the Lordיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068cameH6743upon him mightilyH6743,and he wentH3381downוַיֵּ֨רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Ashkelonאַשְׁקְל֜וֹן'ash.ke.LonH831and killedוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970of them and tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947their spoilחֲלִ֣יצוֹתָ֔םcha.Li.tzo.TamH2488and gaveוַיִּתֵּן֙vai.yi.TenH5414the changesהַחֲלִיפ֔וֹתha.cha.li.FotH2487of clothesto those who toldלְמַגִּידֵ֖יle.ma.gi.DeiH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֑הha.chi.DahH2420.And his angerאַפּ֔וֹ'a.PoH639burnedוַיִּ֣חַרvai.Yi.charH2734,and he wentוַיַּ֖עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927up to his father’sאָבִֽיהוּ׃ פ'a.Vi.huH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

20But Samson’sשִׁמְשׁ֑וֹןshim.ShonH8123wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802was givento his companionלְמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּle.Me.re.'E.huH4828whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834had been hisfriendרֵעָ֖הre.'AhH7462.

Samson’s Marriage

Samson’s Riddle

Commentaries on Judges 14