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Out of the strong came something sweet.” And in three days they could not solve the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” Now for three days they could not explain the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell <i>the answer to</i> the riddle in three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So he said to them, &#8220Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.&#8221 But they could not tell the riddle in three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.”<PR>But they could not tell the riddle in three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell the riddle in three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” And they could not solve the riddle in three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. After three days, they were unable to explain the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. After three days, they were unable to explain the riddle. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Samson said: Once so strong and mighty--now so sweet and tasty! Three days went by, and the Philistine young men had not come up with the right answer. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So Samson said to them, "From the eater came something to eat. From the strong one came something sweet." For three days they couldn't solve the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He said, "Out of the eater came something to eat; Out of the strong came something sweet." Three days later they had still not figured out what the riddle meant. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So he told them: From the eater came something edible; from the strong something sweet. For three days they couldn't solve the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He said to them, "Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong one came something sweet." They could not solve the riddle for three days. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food. Out of the strong came forth sweetness." They couldn't in three days declare the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He said to them, “Out of the eater came out food. Out of the strong came out sweetness.” They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he says to them: “Out of the eater came forth something to eat, "" And out of the strong came forth [something] sweet”; and they were not able to declare the riddle [in] three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he saith to them: 'Out of the eater came forth meat, And out of the strong came forth sweetness;' and they were not able to declare the riddle in three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say to them, Out of him eating came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they were not able to announce the enigma in three days.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he said to them: Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he said to them, “Food went forth from that which eats, and sweetness went forth from that which is strong.” And they were unable to solve the proposition for three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So he said to them, “Out of the eater came food, out of the strong came sweetness.” For three days they were unable to answer the riddle,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” But for three days they could not explain the riddle.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth something to eat, and out of the bitter came forth something sweet. And for three days they could not interpret the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />He said to them: “From the eater went out food, and from the cruel went out sweetness.” And they could not interpret the riddle for three days<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he said unto them: Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he said to them, Meat came forth of the eater, and sweetness out of the strong: and they could not tell the riddle for three days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/14-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=4345" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/14.htm">Samson's Riddle</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>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.” <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">So he said</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">to them:</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: mê·hā·’ō·ḵêl (Prep-m, Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">“Out of the eater</a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: yā·ṣā (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/3978.htm" title="3978: ma·’ă·ḵāl (N-ms) -- Food. From 'akal; an eatable.">something to eat,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5794.htm" title="5794: ū·mê·‘az (Conj-w, Prep-m:: Adj-ms) -- Strong, mighty, fierce. From azaz; strong, vehement, harsh.">and out of the strong</a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: yā·ṣā (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/4966.htm" title="4966: mā·ṯō·wq (Adj-ms) -- Sweet, sweetness. Or mathuwq; from mathaq; sweet.">something sweet.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/7969.htm" title="7969: šə·lō·šeṯ (Number-msc) -- A three, triad. Or shalosh; masculine shlowshah; or shloshah; a primitive number; three; occasionally third, or Thrice.">For three</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yā·mîm (N-mp) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">days</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">they were unable</a> <a href="/hebrew/3201.htm" title="3201: yā·ḵə·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To be able, have power. Or yakowl; a primitive root; to be able, literally or morally."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5046.htm" title="5046: lə·hag·gîḏ (Prep-l:: V-Hifil-Inf) -- To be conspicuous. ">to explain</a> <a href="/hebrew/2420.htm" title="2420: ha·ḥî·ḏāh (Art:: N-fs) -- A riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or question. From chuwd; a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim.">the riddle.</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>So 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?”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/1-6.htm">Proverbs 1:6</a></span><br />by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/17-2.htm">Ezekiel 17:2</a></span><br />“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-34.htm">Matthew 13:34-35</a></span><br />Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable. / So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/2-7.htm">1 Corinthians 2:7</a></span><br />No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/49-4.htm">Psalm 49:4</a></span><br />I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-11.htm">Matthew 13:11</a></span><br />He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/13-12.htm">1 Corinthians 13:12</a></span><br />Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/25-2.htm">Proverbs 25:2</a></span><br />It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26</a></span><br />the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/8-10.htm">Luke 8:10</a></span><br />He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-18.htm">1 Corinthians 1:18</a></span><br />For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/78-2.htm">Psalm 78:2</a></span><br />I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/16-25.htm">Romans 16:25-26</a></span><br />Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past / but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/4-11.htm">Mark 4:11</a></span><br />He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/3-9.htm">Ephesians 3:9</a></span><br />and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.</p><p class="hdg">out of the eater</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/3-15.htm">Genesis 3:15</a></b></br> And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/8-15.htm">Deuteronomy 8:15,16</a></b></br> Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, <i>wherein were</i> fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where <i>there was</i> no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/17-6.htm">1 Kings 17:6</a></b></br> And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.</p><p class="hdg">they could</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/24-7.htm">Proverbs 24:7</a></b></br> Wisdom <i>is</i> too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/13-11.htm">Matthew 13:11</a></b></br> He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31</a></b></br> And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/14-13.htm">Able</a> <a href="/judges/12-6.htm">Couldn't</a> <a href="/judges/14-13.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-29.htm">Eater</a> <a href="/judges/11-39.htm">End</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-5.htm">Expound</a> <a href="/judges/13-23.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/judges/14-13.htm">Riddle</a> <a href="/judges/3-19.htm">Something</a> <a href="/judges/13-14.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/judges/9-11.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/judges/9-11.htm">Sweetness</a> <a href="/joshua/21-38.htm">Taker</a> <a href="/judges/11-26.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/20-16.htm">Able</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-10.htm">Couldn't</a> <a href="/judges/14-15.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/judges/19-4.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/isaiah/55-10.htm">Eater</a> <a href="/judges/15-7.htm">End</a> <a href="/psalms/49-4.htm">Expound</a> <a href="/ruth/3-7.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/judges/14-15.htm">Riddle</a> <a href="/judges/18-9.htm">Something</a> <a href="/judges/18-26.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/ruth/3-3.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-1.htm">Sweetness</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-31.htm">Taker</a> <a href="/judges/15-4.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 14</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/14-1.htm">Samson desires a wife of the Philistines.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/14-6.htm">In his journey he kills a lion</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/14-8.htm">In a second journey he finds honey in the carcass</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/14-10.htm">Samson's marriage feast</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/14-12.htm">His riddle by his wife is made known</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/14-19.htm">He strikes down thirty Philistines</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/14-20.htm">His wife is married to another.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/14.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/14.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>So he said to them:</b><br>Samson, the judge of Israel, is speaking to the Philistines at his wedding feast. This setting is significant as it highlights the tension between the Israelites and the Philistines, who were oppressors of Israel during this period. Samson's role as a judge is unique, as he often acts independently rather than leading Israel in battle.<p><b>Out of the eater came something to eat,</b><br>This phrase refers to the lion that Samson killed earlier in the chapter. The lion, a symbol of strength and ferocity, is the "eater." The honey found in the carcass represents something unexpected and nourishing coming from a source of danger. This riddle is a metaphor for God's ability to bring good out of evil situations, a theme seen throughout the Bible, such as in Joseph's story (<a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Genesis 50:20</a>).<p><b>and out of the strong came something sweet.</b><br>The "strong" again refers to the lion, and the "sweet" is the honey. This imagery can be seen as a type of Christ, who is both the Lion of Judah (<a href="/revelation/5-5.htm">Revelation 5:5</a>) and the source of spiritual sweetness and sustenance. The paradox of strength producing sweetness can also be seen in the life of Christ, who through His suffering and death brought salvation and grace.<p><b>For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.</b><br>The three days the Philistines struggled with the riddle can be seen as symbolic, as the number three often represents completeness or divine intervention in the Bible. This period of confusion foreshadows the resurrection of Christ, who rose on the third day, bringing clarity and victory over sin and death. The inability of the Philistines to solve the riddle without external help highlights human limitations and the need for divine revelation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/samson.htm">Samson</a></b><br>A judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength, given by God. He is the central figure in this passage, posing a riddle to the Philistines.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a></b><br>The people who were oppressing Israel at the time. Samson's riddle was directed at them during a wedding feast.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/timnah.htm">Timnah</a></b><br>The location where Samson's wedding feast took place. It was a Philistine city, indicating the tension between Samson's Israelite identity and his interactions with the Philistines.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/l/lion.htm">Lion</a></b><br>The "eater" in Samson's riddle, which he had previously killed. Bees had made a hive in its carcass, producing honey, which is the "something sweet."<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/r/riddle.htm">Riddle</a></b><br>A form of ancient entertainment and a test of wit. Samson's riddle was a challenge to the Philistines, with a deeper spiritual significance.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_unlikely_circumstances.htm">God's Sovereignty in Unlikely Circumstances</a></b><br>Samson's encounter with the lion and the subsequent riddle demonstrate how God can use unexpected events to fulfill His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_words_and_wisdom.htm">The Power of Words and Wisdom</a></b><br>Samson's riddle shows the importance of wisdom and understanding. Believers are encouraged to seek God's wisdom in all situations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_insight_vs._worldly_understanding.htm">Spiritual Insight vs. Worldly Understanding</a></b><br>The Philistines' inability to solve the riddle highlights the difference between spiritual insight and worldly wisdom. Christians are called to rely on God's insight.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_pride_and_deception.htm">The Consequences of Pride and Deception</a></b><br>The Philistines' eventual deceit to solve the riddle foreshadows the destructive nature of pride and dishonesty.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_purpose_in_personal_struggles.htm">God's Purpose in Personal Struggles</a></b><br>Just as Samson's personal challenges were part of God's larger plan, believers can trust that their struggles have a purpose in God's kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 14</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_bees_make_honey_in_a_lion's_carcass.htm">Is it scientifically plausible for bees to produce honey in the carcass of a recently slain lion (Judges 14:8–9)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_riddles_are_found_in_the_bible.htm">What riddles are found in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_a_man_kill_a_lion_barehanded.htm">How could one man realistically kill a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-6)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_not_judge_others_in_romans_14_10.htm">Romans 14:10 - Why emphasize not judging others when other passages in the New Testament do pronounce judgment on certain behaviors?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">Out of the strong came forth sweetness.</span>--The antithesis is not perfect, but we cannot strain the word "strong" to mean "bitter," as the LXX. and Syriac do. Josephus gives the riddle in the form,"the all-devouring having generated sweet food from itself, though itself far from sweet" (<span class= "ital">Antt. v.</span> 8, ? 6). The whole of Samson's life has been described by Ewald as "a charming poetic picture, in which the interspersed verses gleam forth like the brightest pearls in a circlet." It must be confessed that the riddle was hardly a fair one, for the event to which it alluded was most unusual, and no one could have guessed such a riddle without some clue; for--<p>" 'Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb<p>In the dead carrion."<p>Shakespeare: <span class= "ital">Henry V., </span>ii. 4.<p>Cassel quotes a curious parallel from the legends of North Germany. The judges offer a woman her husband's life if she can make a riddle which they cannot guess. On her way to the court she had found the carcase of a horse in which a bird had built its nest and hatched six young ones, which she took away. Her riddle was (I venture rudely to translate the rude old lines):--<p>"As hitherwards on my way I sped,<p>I took the living out of the dead,<p>Six were thus of the seventh made quit:--<p>To rede my riddle, my lords, 'tis fit."<p>The judges failed, and the husband was spared (Mullen-hof, <span class= "ital">Sagen, </span>p. 506).<p><span class= "bld">In three days.</span>--It is hard to see why this is mentioned if it was only on the <span class= "ital">seventh </span>day (<a href="/judges/14-15.htm" title="And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to Samson's wife, Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire: have you called us to take that we have? is it not so?">Judges 14:15</a>) that they tried the unfair means of inducing Samson's wife to reveal the secret. Bishop Hervey conjectures, with much probability, that we should read <span class= "ital">shesheth </span>"six," for <span class= "ital">shelsheth, </span>"four." The LXX. and Syriac read "on the fourth day," and <span class= "greekheb"></span> (7) may easily have been confused with <span class= "greekheb"></span> (4). . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/14-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So he said to them:</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Out of the eater</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵהָֽאֹכֵל֙</span> <span class="translit">(mê·hā·’ō·ḵêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="heb">יָצָ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ṣā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, bring, out, direct and proxim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">something to eat,</span><br /><span class="heb">מַאֲכָ֔ל</span> <span class="translit">(ma·’ă·ḵāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3978.htm">Strong's 3978: </a> </span><span class="str2">An eatable</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and out of the strong</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמֵעַ֖ז</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mê·‘az)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5794.htm">Strong's 5794: </a> </span><span class="str2">Strong, vehement, harsh</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="heb">יָצָ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ṣā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, bring, out, direct and proxim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">something sweet.”</span><br /><span class="heb">מָת֑וֹק</span> <span class="translit">(mā·ṯō·wq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4966.htm">Strong's 4966: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sweet, sweetness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">For three</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(šə·lō·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7969.htm">Strong's 7969: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three, third, thrice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">days</span><br /><span class="heb">יָמִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(yā·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they were unable</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to explain</span><br /><span class="heb">לְהַגִּ֥יד</span> <span class="translit">(lə·hag·gîḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5046.htm">Strong's 5046: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be conspicuous</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the riddle.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַחִידָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ha·ḥî·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2420.htm">Strong's 2420: </a> </span><span class="str2">A riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or question</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/14-14.htm">Judges 14:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/14-14.htm">OT History: Judges 14:14 He said to them Out (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/14-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 14:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 14:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/14-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 14:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 14:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>