New English Translation
Judges 14:19
19The Lord’s spirit empowered him. He went down to Ashkelon and murdered thirty men. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who had solved the riddle. He was furious as he went back home.
Judges 14:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.
- New International Version (NIV)Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he returned to his father’s home.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father’s house.
Context of Judges 14:19
17She cried on his shoulder until the party was almost over. Finally, on the seventh day, he told her because she had nagged him so much. Then she told the young men the solution to the riddle. 18On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” He said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!” The Lord’s spirit empowered him. He went down to Ashkelon and murdered thirty men. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who had solved the riddle. He was furious as he went back home. 20Samson’s bride was then given to his best man.
Read all of Judges 14Judges 14:19 word by word
וַתִּצְלַ֨ח עָלָ֜יו ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֗ה וַיֵּ֨רֶד אַשְׁקְל֜וֹן וַיַּ֥ךְ מֵהֶ֣ם׀ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־חֲלִ֣יצוֹתָ֔ם וַיִּתֵּן֙ הַחֲלִיפ֔וֹת לְמַגִּידֵ֖י הַחִידָ֑ה וַיִּ֣חַר אַפּ֔וֹ וַיַּ֖עַל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיהוּ׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- cameצָלַחtsâlach tsâlêach · to rushH6743
- upon him, and he went downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- to Ashkelonאַשְׁקְלוֹן'ashqelôn · AshkelonH831
- and slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםshelôshîym shelôshîym · thirtyH7970
- menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- of them, and tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- their spoilחֲלִיצָהchălîytsâh · spoilH2488
- and gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- changeחֲלִיפָהchălîyphâh · changeH2487
- of garments unto them which expoundedנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- the riddleחִידָהchîydâh · riddleH2420
- And his angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
- was kindledחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
- and he went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- to his father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
- houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
Cross-references for Judges 14:19
- Judges 14:6The Lord’s spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
- Judges 3:10The Lord’s spirit empowered him and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him.
- Judges 13:25The Lord’s spirit began to control him in Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
- Judges 15:14When he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the Lord’s spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands.
- 1 Samuel 11:6The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry.
Commentaries on Judges 14:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19The Spirit of the Lord came upon him - "The spirit of fortitude from before the Lord." - Targum. He was inspired with unusual courage, and he felt strength proportioned to his wishes. He - slew thirty men - and took their spoils - He took their hayks, their kumjas, and caftans, and gave them to the thirty persons who, by unfair means, had solved his riddle; thus they had what our version calls thirty sheets, and thirty changes of raiment. See the note on…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. 19Samson kept his part of the agreement (compare 1 Samuel 18:20–27). He went home without completing his marriage, which usually happened after the seven-day feast.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 14:19
In the dictionaries
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
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