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Judges 14

Judges 14 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Judges 14 shows Samson acting on his own desires while God still works through the situation. The chapter moves from a marriage request to a lion encounter, then to a wedding riddle that becomes a source of betrayal and violence. It highlights Samson's strength, weakness, and the growing conflict with the Philistines.

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What happens in Judges 14?

Samson travels to Timnah and becomes determined to marry a Philistine woman, despite his parents' objections. On the way, the Spirit of the LORD empowers him to tear apart a lion. Later, he finds honey in the lion's carcass and uses it to create a riddle for the wedding feast. The Philistines pressure Samson's wife to get the answer, and she eventually gives in. When Samson learns how the riddle was solved, he goes to Ashkelon, kills thirty men, and pays the wager with their garments. The chapter ends with anger, separation, and Samson's wife given to another man.

This chapter comes early in the Samson account in Judges. It follows the announcement of Samson's birth in chapter 13 and begins the first major clash between him and the Philistines. The events also set up the tension that continues into chapter 15, where the conflict escalates further.

Themes to notice

  • God's purposeEven when people act with mixed motives, the LORD is still advancing his plan against the Philistines.
  • Strength and weaknessSamson shows great physical power, but his choices reveal poor judgment and lack of restraint.
  • Conflict and betrayalA wedding celebration becomes a test of loyalty, pressure, and violent retaliation.

Questions for Judges 14

  • What does this chapter show about the difference between Samson's desires and God's purposes?
  • Why do you think the riddle becomes such a serious turning point in the story?
  • How do Samson's strength and his weaknesses appear together in this chapter?

Read the full text of Judges 14 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Judges 14

Samson’s Marriage

1One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.2So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”

3But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”

4(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)

5Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,6and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.7Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.

Samson’s Riddle

8When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.9So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.10Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.11And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him.

12“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.13But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”

14So he said to them:

“Out of the eater came something to eat,

and out of the strong came something sweet.”

For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.

15So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”

16Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”

17She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people.

18Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson:

“What is sweeter than honey?

And what is stronger than a lion?”

So he said to them:

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,

you would not have solved my riddle!”

19Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,20and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.

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