Keraia
Judges 14

Judges 14:11

Samson’s Riddle · Judges 14:8–20
Read Judges 14

Translations

Modern
And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him.
Traditional
And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
Literal
And it came to pass in their seeing him, that they took thirty companions, and they were with him.
Latin
Cum ergo cives loci illius vidissent eum, dederunt ei sodales triginta ut essent cum eo.

Original

Hebrew
English
And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him.

Notes

Judges 14:11

The reason for thirty companions is unclear (compare 2 Samuel 23:13). Men, a word that usually means “friends,” might add irony here (Judges 14:12–20).

Judges 14:1–15:20

Samson's decision to marry a Philistine woman was the Lord's way (Judges 14:4) of starting to address the Philistine threat (see 13:5). One event led to another, marked by three times when the Spirit came strongly upon him (Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14). During these events, Samson was a strong but imperfect hero.

Judges 13:1–16:31

Samson, 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.

Theme notes and profiles

Samson The Philistines

Glossary

Judges, Book of Marriage, Marriage Customs Philistia, Philistines Riddle Tribe of Dan

Topics

Bridegroom: Companions of Marriage: The Bridegroom: Attended by Many Friends Samson: His Marriage Feast and the Riddle Propounded