Judges 14:4

Judges 14:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
• New International Version (NIV)(His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)
• English Standard Version (ESV)His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

Context of Judges 14:4

2When he got home, he told his father and mother, “A Philistine girl in Timnah has caught my eye. Now get her for my wife.” 3But his father and mother said to him, “Certainly you can find a wife among your relatives or among all our people! You should not have to go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines.” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, because she is the right one for me.” Now his father and mother did not realize this was the Lord’s doing, because he was looking for an opportunity to stir up trouble with the Philistines (for at that time the Philistines were ruling Israel). 5Samson went down to Timnah. When he approached the vineyards of Timnah, he saw a roaring young lion attacking him. 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 14:4 word by word

וְאָבִ֨יו וְאִמּ֜וֹ לֹ֣א יָדְע֗וּ כִּ֤י מֵיְהוָה֙ הִ֔יא כִּי־תֹאֲנָ֥ה הֽוּא־מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ מִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּבָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים מֹשְׁלִ֥ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• and his motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
• knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• that he soughtבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• an occasionתֹּאֲנָהta'ănâh tô'ănâh · opportunityH8385
• against the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• for at that timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• had dominionמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• over Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Judges 14:4

• Joshua 11:20for the Lord determined to make them obstinate so they would attack Israel. He wanted Israel to annihilate them without mercy, as he had instructed Moses.
• 1 Kings 12:15The king refused to listen to the people, because the Lord was instigating this turn of events so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
• 2 Kings 6:33He was still talking to them when the messenger approached and said, “Look, the Lord is responsible for this disaster! Why should I continue to wait for the Lord to help?”
• 2 Chronicles 10:15The king refused to listen to the people, because God was instigating this turn of events so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
• 2 Chronicles 22:7God brought about Ahaziah’s downfall through his visit to Joram. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had commissioned to wipe out Ahab’s family.
• 2 Chronicles 25:20But Amaziah did not heed the warning, for God wanted to hand them over to Joash because they followed the gods of Edom.
• Psalms 115:3Our God is in heaven! He does whatever he pleases!
• Judges 13:1The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines for forty years.
• Judges 15:11Three thousand men of Judah went down to the cave in the cliff of Etam and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? Why have you done this to us?” He said to them, “I have only done to them what they have done to me.”
• Deuteronomy 28:48instead in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and poverty you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you. They will place an iron yoke on your neck until they have destroyed you.

Commentaries on Judges 14:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4His father and mother very properly opposed Samson‘s marriage with a Pagan woman, the daughter of the oppressors of his race. But they could not prevail, because it was the secret purpose of God by these means to “seek occasion” against the Philistines; i. e. to make the misconduct of the father of Samson‘s wife, which He foresaw, the occasion of destruction to the Philistines. Compare the marginal references for similar statements.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-20Samson, who gets more attention in the book of Judges than any other judge, is more mysterious than Jephthah. Samson shows great inspiration as a leader. He also represents the unstoppable move toward chaos, which shows the need for a more organized society under a godly ruler.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren--that is, "of thine own tribe"--a Danite woman. Samson said ... Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well--literally, "she is right in mine eyes"; not by her beautiful countenance or handsome figure, but right or fit for his purpose. And this throws light on the historian's remark in reference to the resistance of his parents: they "knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 14:4

• Predestination
• Samson

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Philistines
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Change
• Manoah
• Plow
• Put
• Riddle
• Samson

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