New American Standard Bible 2020

Judges 14

Samson’s Marriage

1Then Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֖וֹןshim.ShonH8123wentH3381downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Timnahתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553,and he 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;so nowוְעַתָּ֕הve.'a.TahH6258,getקְחוּ־ke.chu-H3947her for me as a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.”

3But his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and his motherוְאִמּ֗וֹve.'i.MoH517saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “IsH369thereH369noH369womanאִשָּׁ֔ה'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?”Yet Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֤וֹןshim.ShonH8123saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his fatherאָבִיו֙'a.VivH1, “Getקַֽח־kach-H3947her for me, becauseH3588she isH3474rightבְעֵינָֽי׃ve.'ei.NaiH3474 H5869for me.”

4However, his fatherוְאָבִ֨יוve.'a.VivH1and motherוְאִמּ֜וֹve.'i.MoH517did not knowיָדְע֗וּya.de.'UH3045thatthisH1931was of the Lordמֵיְהוָה֙me.Yah.wehH3068,for He was seekingמְבַקֵּ֖שׁme.va.KeshH1245an occasionתֹאֲנָ֥הto.'a.NahH8385againstH4480the Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםmi.pe.lish.TimH6430.And 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.

6Andthe Spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of the Lordיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068rushedוַתִּצְלַ֨חva.titz.LachH6743uponעָלָ֜יו'a.LavH5921him, so thathe toreH8156it apartוַֽיְשַׁסְּעֵ֙הוּ֙vay.sha.se.'E.huH8156as one tearsH8156apartכְּשַׁסַּ֣עke.sha.Sa'H8156a youngH1423goatH1423,though 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 H5869pleasingוַתִּישַׁ֖רva.ti.SharH3474to 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 tookH7287outH7287the honey on 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 takenH7287the honeyהַדְּבָֽשׁ׃ha.de.VashH1706outH7287of the bodyמִגְּוִיַּ֥תmi.ge.vi.YatH1472of the lionH743.

10Then his fatherאָבִ֖יהוּ'a.Vi.huH1wentH3381downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to the womanהָאִשָּׁ֑הha.'i.ShahH802;and Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹן֙shim.shOnH8123heldוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.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'H4994proposeאָחֽוּדָה־'a.chu.dah-H2330a riddleחִידָ֑הchi.DahH2420for you; ifאִם־'im-H518you actuallyהַגֵּ֣דha.GedH5046tellתַּגִּידוּ֩ta.gi.DuH5046methe answer within the sevenשִׁבְעַ֨תshiv.'AtH7651daysיְמֵ֤יye.MeiH3117of the feastהַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ha.mish.TehH4960,and solveוּמְצָאתֶ֔םu.me.tza.TemH4672it, then I will giveוְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.TiH5414you thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970linenסְדִינִ֔יםse.di.NimH5466wrapsH5466and thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.ShimH7970outfitsחֲלִפֹ֥תcha.li.FotH2487of clothesבְּגָדִֽים׃be.ga.DimH899.

13But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518you areH3201unableלֹ֣אlo'H3808 H3201to tellלְהַגִּ֣ידle.ha.GidH5046me, then you shall giveוּנְתַתֶּ֨םu.ne.ta.TemH5414me thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970linenסְדִינִ֔יםse.di.NimH5466wrapsH5466and thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.ShimH7970outfitsחֲלִיפ֣וֹתcha.li.FotH2487of clothesבְּגָדִ֑יםbe.ga.DimH899.”And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, “Proposeח֥וּדָהChu.dahH2330your riddleחִידָתְךָ֖chi.da.te.KhaH2420,so that we may hearוְנִשְׁמָעֶֽנָּה׃ve.nish.ma.'E.nahH8085it.”

14So he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “OutH3318of the eaterמֵהָֽאֹכֵל֙me.ha.'o.KhelH398cameH3318somethingH3978toH3978eatH3978,And outH3318of the strongוּמֵעַ֖זu.me.'AzH5794cameH3318somethingH4966sweetמָת֑וֹקma.TokH4966.”But they couldיָכְל֛וּya.khe.LuH3201not tellלְהַגִּ֥ידle.ha.GidH5046the answer tothe riddleהַחִידָ֖הha.chi.DahH2420in threeשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָמִֽים׃ya.MimH3117.

15Then it cameH1961aboutH1961on thefourth dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.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?”

16So Samson’sשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹןshim.ShonH8123wifeאֵ֨שֶׁת'E.shetH802weptוַתֵּבְךְּ֩va.te.veKH1058in frontעָלָ֗יו'a.LavH5921of him and saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559, “You onlyH7534hateשְׂנֵאתַ֙נִי֙se.ne.Ta.niH8130me, and you do not loveאֲהַבְתָּ֔נִי'a.hav.Ta.niH157me; you have proposedחַ֙דְתָּ֙chad.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 for 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 foundH4672outH4672my riddleחִידָתִֽי׃chi.da.TiH2420.”

19Thenthe Spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of the Lordיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068rushedוַתִּצְלַ֨חva.titz.LachH6743uponעָלָ֜יו'a.LavH5921him, and he wentH3381downוַיֵּ֨רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Ashkelonאַשְׁקְל֜וֹן'ash.ke.LonH831and killedוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970menאִ֗ישׁ'IshH376of them and tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947whatH2488they were wearingH2488and gaveוַיִּתֵּן֙vai.yi.TenH5414the outfitsH2487ofH2487clothesH2487to those who toldלְמַגִּידֵ֖יle.ma.gi.DeiH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֑הha.chi.DahH2420.And his angerאַפּ֔וֹ'a.PoH639burnedוַיִּ֣חַרvai.Yi.charH2734,and he wentH5927upH5927to 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