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Judges 14

Judges 14:2

Samson’s Marriage · Judges 14:1–7
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Translations

Modern
So 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.”
Traditional
And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
Literal
And he went up and declared to his father and mother and said, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. And now, get her for me as a wife.”
Latin
…ascendit, et nuntiavit patri suo et matri suæ, dicens: Vidi mulierem in Thamnatha de filiabus Philisthinorum: quam quæso ut mihi accipiatis uxorem.

Original

Hebrew
English
So 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.”

Notes

Judges 14:2

Samson chose his bride based solely on her looks. Marrying outside the covenant was a major sign of unfaithfulness (Joshua 23:12–13), but God can still work through human mistakes.

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.

Places

Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan Timnah: Canaanite city associated with Judah and Dan

Glossary

Judges, Book of Philistia, Philistines Riddle Samson Timnah (Place) Timnath Tribe of Dan

Topics

Marriage: Parents Contract for Their Children: Samson Asks his Parents to Procure Him a Wife Marriage: should be with Consent of Parents Samson: Desires a Philistine Woman for his Wife; Kills a Lion Timnath: Home of Samson's Wife