Revised Literal Translation

Judges 14

1And Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֖וֹןshim.ShonH8123went downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Timnathתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553,and sawוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200a womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802in Timnathבְּתִמְנָ֖תָהbe.tim.Na.tahH8553of the daughtersמִבְּנ֥וֹתmi.be.NotH1323of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃pe.lish.TimH6430.

2And he came upוַיַּ֗עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927,and toldוַיַּגֵּד֙vai.ya.GedH5046his fatherלְאָבִ֣יוle.'a.VivH1and his motherוּלְאִמּ֔וֹu.le.'i.MoH517,and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I have seenרָאִ֥יתִיra.'I.tiH7200a womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802in Timnathבְתִמְנָ֖תָהve.tim.Na.tahH8553of the daughtersמִבְּנ֣וֹתmi.be.NotH1323of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430:now therefore getקְחוּ־ke.chu-H3947her for me to wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

3Then his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and his motherוְאִמּ֗וֹve.'i.MoH517saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Is thereneverהַאֵין֩ha.'EinH369a womanאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802among the daughtersבִּבְנ֨וֹתbiv.NotH1323of thy brethrenאַחֶ֤יךָ'a.Chei.khaH251,or among all my peopleעַמִּי֙'a.MiH5971,that thou goestהוֹלֵךְ֙ho.leKhH1980to takeלָקַ֣חַתla.Ka.chatH3947a wifeאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802of the uncircumcisedהָעֲרֵלִ֑יםha.'a.re.LimH6189Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםmi.pe.lish.TimH6430?And Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֤וֹןshim.ShonH8123saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto his fatherאָבִיו֙'a.VivH1,Getקַֽח־kach-H3947her for me; for she pleaseth me wellיָשְׁרָ֥ה בְעֵינָֽי׃ya.she.Rah ve.'ei.NaiH5869 H3474.

4But his fatherוְאָבִ֨יוve.'a.VivH1and his motherוְאִמּ֜וֹve.'i.MoH517knewיָדְע֗וּya.de.'UH3045not that it wasof Yhwhמֵיְהוָה֙me.Yah.wehH3068,that he soughtמְבַקֵּ֖שׁme.va.KeshH1245an occasionתֹאֲנָ֥הto.'a.NahH8385against the Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםmi.pe.lish.TimH6430:for at that timeוּבָעֵ֣תu.va.'EtH6256the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםpe.lish.TimH6430had dominionמֹשְׁלִ֥יםmo.she.LimH4910over Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

5Then wentH3381Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֛וֹןshim.ShonH8123downוַיֵּ֧רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381,and his fatherוְאָבִ֥יוve.'a.VivH1and his motherוְאִמּ֖וֹve.'i.MoH517,to Timnathתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553,and cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935to the vineyardsכַּרְמֵ֣יkar.MeiH3754of Timnathתִמְנָ֔תָהtim.Na.tahH8553:and, behold, a youngכְּפִ֣ירke.FirH3715lionאֲרָי֔וֹת'a.ra.YotH738roaredשֹׁאֵ֖גsho.'EgH7580againstH7125him.

6And the Spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068came mightilyוַתִּצְלַ֨חva.titz.LachH6743upon him, and he rentוַֽיְשַׁסְּעֵ֙הוּ֙vay.sha.se.'E.huH8156him as he would have rentכְּשַׁסַּ֣עke.sha.Sa'H8156a kidהַגְּדִ֔יha.ge.DiH1423, and he hadnothingוּמְא֖וּמָהu.me.'U.mahH3972in his handבְּיָד֑וֹbe.ya.DoH3027:but he toldהִגִּיד֙hi.GidH5046not his fatherלְאָבִ֣יוle.'a.VivH1or his motherוּלְאִמּ֔וֹu.le.'i.MoH517what he had doneעָשָֽׂה׃'a.SahH6213.

7And he went downוַיֵּ֖רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381,and talkedוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696with the womanלָאִשָּׁ֑הla.'i.ShahH802;and she pleasedוַתִּישַׁ֖רva.ti.SharH3474Samsonשִׁמְשֽׁוֹן׃shim.ShonH8123wellבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869.

8And after a timeמִיָּמִים֙mi.ya.MimH3117he returnedוַיָּ֤שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725to takeלְקַחְתָּ֔הּle.kach.TahH3947her, and he turned asideוַיָּ֣סַרvai.Ya.sarH5493to seeלִרְא֔וֹתlir.'otH7200the carcaseמַפֶּ֣לֶתma.Pe.letH4658of the lionהָאַרְיֵ֑הha.'ar.YehH738: and, behold, there wasa swarmעֲדַ֧ת'a.DatH5712of beesדְּבוֹרִ֛יםde.vo.RimH1682and honeyוּדְבָֽשׁ׃u.de.VashH1706in the carcaseבִּגְוִיַּ֥תbig.vi.YatH1472of the lionהָאַרְיֵ֖הha.'ar.YehH738.

9And he tookוַיִּרְדֵּ֣הוּvai.yir.De.huH7287thereof in his handsכַּפָּ֗יוka.PavH3709,and went onH3212eatingוְאָכֹ֔לve.'a.KholH398,and cameH1980to his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and motherאִמּ֔וֹ'i.MoH517,and he gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414them, and they did eatוַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּvai.yo.Khe.luH398:but he toldהִגִּ֣ידhi.GidH5046not them that he had takenרָדָ֥הra.DahH7287the honeyהַדְּבָֽשׁ׃ha.de.VashH1706out of the carcaseמִגְּוִיַּ֥תmi.ge.vi.YatH1472of the lionהָאַרְיֵ֖הha.'ar.YehH738.

10So his fatherאָבִ֖יהוּ'a.Vi.huH1went downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381unto the womanהָאִשָּׁ֑הha.'i.ShahH802:and Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹן֙shim.shOnH8123madeוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213there a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960;for so used the young menהַבַּחוּרִֽים׃ha.ba.chu.RimH970to doיַעֲשׂ֖וּya.'a.SuH6213.

11And it came to pass, when they sawכִּרְאוֹתָ֣םkir.'o.TamH7200him, that they broughtוַיִּקְחוּ֙vai.yik.ChuH3947thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970companionsמֵֽרֵעִ֔יםme.re.'ImH4828to be with him.

12And Samsonשִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןshim.ShonH8123saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, I will now put forthאָחֽוּדָה־'a.chu.dah-H2330a riddleחִידָ֑הchi.DahH2420unto you: if ye can certainlyהַגֵּ֣דha.GedH5046declareתַּגִּידוּ֩ta.gi.DuH5046it me within the sevenשִׁבְעַ֨תshiv.'AtH7651daysיְמֵ֤יye.MeiH3117of the feastהַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ha.mish.TehH4960, and find itoutוּמְצָאתֶ֔םu.me.tza.TemH4672,then I will giveוְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.TiH5414you thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970sheetsסְדִינִ֔יםse.di.NimH5466and thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.ShimH7970changeחֲלִפֹ֥תcha.li.FotH2487of garmentsבְּגָדִֽים׃be.ga.DimH899:

13But if ye cannotתוּכְלוּ֮tu.khe.LuH3201declareלְהַגִּ֣ידle.ha.GidH5046itme, then shall ye giveוּנְתַתֶּ֨םu.ne.ta.TemH5414me thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970sheetsסְדִינִ֔יםse.di.NimH5466and thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.ShimH7970changeחֲלִיפ֣וֹתcha.li.FotH2487of garmentsבְּגָדִ֑יםbe.ga.DimH899.And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559unto him, Put forthח֥וּדָהChu.dahH2330thy riddleחִידָתְךָ֖chi.da.te.KhaH2420,that we may hearוְנִשְׁמָעֶֽנָּה׃ve.nish.ma.'E.nahH8085it.

14And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Out of the eaterמֵהָֽאֹכֵל֙me.ha.'o.KhelH398came forthיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318meatמַאֲכָ֔לma.'a.KhalH3978,and out of the strongוּמֵעַ֖זu.me.'AzH5794came forthיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318sweetnessמָת֑וֹקma.TokH4966.And they couldיָכְל֛וּya.khe.LuH3201not in threeשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָמִֽים׃ya.MimH3117expoundלְהַגִּ֥ידle.ha.GidH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֖הha.chi.DahH2420.

15And it came to pass on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,that they saidוַיֹּאמְר֤וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto Samson’sשִׁמְשׁוֹן֙shim.shOnH8123wifeלְאֵֽשֶׁת־le.'e.shet-H802,Enticeפַּתִּ֣יpa.TiH6601thy husbandאִישֵׁ֗ךְ'i.ShekhH376,that he may declareוְיַגֶּד־ve.ya.ged-H5046unto us the riddleהַ֣חִידָ֔הha.chi.DahH2420,lest we burnנִשְׂרֹ֥ףnis.RofH8313thee and thy father’sאָבִ֖יךְ'a.VikhH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004with fireבָּאֵ֑שׁba.'EshH784:have ye calledקְרָאתֶ֥םke.ra.TemH7121us to take that we haveהַלְיָרְשֵׁ֕נוּhal.ya.re.She.nuH3423? is it not so?

16And Samson’sשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹןshim.ShonH8123wifeאֵ֨שֶׁת'E.shetH802weptוַתֵּבְךְּ֩va.te.veKH1058before him, and saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559,Thou dost but hateשְׂנֵאתַ֙נִי֙se.ne.Ta.niH8130me, and lovestאֲהַבְתָּ֔נִי'a.hav.Ta.niH157me not: thou hast put forthחַ֙דְתָּ֙chad.taH2330a riddleהַֽחִידָ֥הha.chi.DahH2420unto the childrenלִבְנֵ֣יliv.NeiH1121of my peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971,and hast not toldהִגַּ֑דְתָּהhi.Gad.tahH5046itme. And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto her, Behold, I have not toldהִגַּ֖דְתִּיhi.Gad.tiH5046itmy fatherלְאָבִ֧יle.'a.ViH1nor my motherוּלְאִמִּ֛יu.le.'i.MiH517,and shall I tellאַגִּֽיד׃'a.GidH5046it thee?

17And she weptוַתֵּ֤בְךְּva.Te.vekH1058before him the sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תshiv.'AtH7651daysהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117,while their feastהַמִּשְׁתֶּ֑הha.mish.TehH4960lastedH1961:and it came to pass on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,that he toldוַיַּגֶּד־vai.ya.ged-H5046her, because she lay soreהֱצִיקַ֔תְהוּhe.tzi.Kat.huH6693upon him: and she toldוַתַּגֵּ֥דva.ta.GedH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֖הha.chi.DahH2420to the childrenלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of her peopleעַמָּֽהּ׃'a.MahH5971.

18And the menאַנְשֵׁ֨י'an.SheiH582of the cityהָעִ֜ירha.'IrH5892saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559unto him on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֗יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117before the sunהַחַ֔רְסָהha.Char.sahH2775went downיָבֹ֣אya.Vo'H935, What issweeterמָּת֣וֹקma.TokH4966than honeyמִדְּבַ֔שׁmi.de.VashH1706? and what isstrongerעַ֖ז'azH5794than a lionמֵאֲרִ֑יme.'a.RiH738?And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Ifלוּלֵא֙lu.Le'H3884ye had not plowedחֲרַשְׁתֶּ֣םcha.rash.TemH2790with my heiferבְּעֶגְלָתִ֔יbe.'eg.la.TiH5697,ye had not found outמְצָאתֶ֖םme.tza.TemH4672my riddleחִידָתִֽי׃chi.da.TiH2420.

19And the Spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068cameוַתִּצְלַ֨חva.titz.LachH6743upon him, and he went downוַיֵּ֨רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381to Ashkelonאַשְׁקְל֜וֹן'ash.ke.LonH831,and slewוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970menאִ֗ישׁ'IshH376of them, and tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947their spoilחֲלִ֣יצוֹתָ֔םcha.Li.tzo.TamH2488,and gaveוַיִּתֵּן֙vai.yi.TenH5414changeהַחֲלִיפ֔וֹתha.cha.li.FotH2487of garments unto them which expoundedלְמַגִּידֵ֖יle.ma.gi.DeiH5046the riddleהַחִידָ֑הha.chi.DahH2420.And his angerאַפּ֔וֹ'a.PoH639was kindledוַיִּ֣חַרvai.Yi.charH2734,and he went upוַיַּ֖עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927to his father’sאָבִֽיהוּ׃ פ'a.Vi.huH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

20But Samson’sשִׁמְשׁ֑וֹןshim.ShonH8123wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802was givento his companionלְמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּle.Me.re.'E.huH4828,whom he had used as his friendרֵעָ֖הre.'AhH7462.

Commentaries on Judges 14