Keraia
Judges 14

Judges 14:13

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

Modern
But 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.”
Traditional
But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
Literal
But if you are not able to explain it to me, then you shall give to me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” And they said to him, “Pose your riddle, that we may hear it.”
Latin
…sin autem non potueritis solvere, vos dabitis mihi triginta sindones, et ejusdem numeri tunicas. Qui responderunt ei: Propone problema, ut audiamus.

Original

Hebrew
English
But 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.”

Notes

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

Betting by Samson Riddle used As a Test of Wit: At Samson's Feast Samson: His Marriage Feast and the Riddle Propounded