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So he said to them: "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/14-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/07_Jdg_14_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 14:18 - Samson's Riddle" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Before 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? 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What is stronger than a lion?&#8221 Samson said to them, &#8220If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/judges/14.htm">New Living Translation</a> So before sunset of the seventh day, the men of the town came to Samson with their answer: “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson replied, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have solved my riddle!” <a href="/esv/judges/14.htm">English Standard Version</a> And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.” <a href="/bsb/judges/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Before 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!” <a href="/kjv/judges/14.htm">King James Bible</a> And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. <a href="/nkjv/judges/14.htm">New King James Version</a> So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have solved my riddle!” <a href="/nasb_/judges/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle.” <a href="/nasb/judges/14.htm">NASB 1995</a> So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, &#8220What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?&#8221 And he said to them, &#8220If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/judges/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a> So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?”<PR>And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle.” <a href="/lsb/judges/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle.” <a href="/amp/judges/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a> So the men of the city said to Samson on the seventh day before sundown, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have solved my riddle.” <a href="/csb/judges/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> On the seventh day, before sunset, the men of the city said to him: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? So he said to them: If you hadn’t plowed with my young cow, you wouldn’t know my riddle now! <a href="/hcsb/judges/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> On the seventh day, before sunset, the men of the city said to him: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? So he said to them: If you hadn&#8217t plowed with my young cow, you wouldn&#8217t know my riddle now! <a href="/asv/judges/14.htm">American Standard Version</a> And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle. <a href="/cev/judges/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Before sunset that day, the men of the town went to Samson with this answer: A lion is the strongest--honey is the sweetest! Samson replied, This answer you have given me doubtless came from my bride-to-be. <a href="/erv/judges/14.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. <a href="/gwt/judges/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> So before sundown on the seventh day, the men of the city said to him, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" Samson replied, "If you hadn't used my cow to plow, you wouldn't know my riddle now." <a href="/gnt/judges/14.htm">Good News Translation</a> So on the seventh day, before Samson went into the bedroom, the men of the city said to him, "What could be sweeter than honey? What could be stronger than a lion?" Samson replied, "If you hadn't been plowing with my cow, You wouldn't know the answer now." <a href="/isv/judges/14.htm">International Standard Version</a> Then the men of the city answered him just before sunset on the seventh day: "What's sweeter than honey? What's stronger than lions?" Samson responded, "If you hadn't plowed with my heifer you wouldn't have solved my riddle." <a href="/msb/judges/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Before 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!? <a href="/net/judges/14.htm">NET Bible</a> On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!" <a href="/nheb/judges/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you hadn't plowed with my heifer, you wouldn't have found out my riddle." <a href="/wbt/judges/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said to them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. <a href="/web/judges/14.htm">World English Bible</a> The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” He said to them, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have found out my riddle.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/judges/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And the men of the city say to him on the seventh day, before the sun goes in: “What [is] sweeter than honey? And what [is] stronger than a lion?” And he says to them: “Unless you had plowed with my heifer, "" You had not found out my riddle.” <a href="/ylt/judges/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And the men of the city say to him on the seventh day, before the sun goeth in: -- 'What is sweeter than honey? And what stronger than a lion?' And he saith to them: 'Unless ye had ploughed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle.' <a href="/slt/judges/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the men of the city will say to him in the seventh day before the sun will go down, What is sweet above honey? and what is strong above the lion? and he will say to them, Unless ye ploughed with my heifer ye found not out my enigma.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/judges/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And they on the seventh day before the sun went down said to him: What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said to them: If you had not ploughed with my heifer, you had not found out my riddle. <a href="/cpdv/judges/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And they, on the seventh day, before the sun declined, said to him: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have uncovered my proposition.” <a href="/nabre/judges/14.htm">New American Bible</a> On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him, “What is sweeter than honey, what is stronger than a lion?” He replied to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.” <a href="/nrsvce/judges/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> The men of the town said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/judges/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the banquet, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And Samson said to them, If you had not enticed my heifer, you would not have interpreted my riddle. <a href="/hpbt/judges/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And the men of the city were saying on the seventh day, before he would enter the banquet: “What is sweeter than honey, or what is that stronger than a lion?” Samson said to them, “If you had not allured my heifer, you would not have interpreted my riddle”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/judges/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down: What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle. <a href="/sep/judges/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day, before sunrise, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? and Sampson said to them, If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye would not have known my riddle. <a href="/parallel/judges/14-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=4406" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/judges/14.htm">Samson's Riddle</a> …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. 18<a href="/hebrew/2962.htm" title="2962: bə·ṭe·rem (Prep-b:: Adv) -- From an unused root apparently meaning to interrupt or suspend; properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before.">Before</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: yā·ḇō (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">sunset</a> <a href="/hebrew/2775.htm" title="2775: ha·ḥar·sāh (Art:: N-ms:: 3fs) -- The itch, the sun. Or charcah (perhaps from the mediating idea of charcuwth) the sun."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7637.htm" title="7637: haš·šə·ḇî·‘î (Art:: Number-oms) -- Seventh (an ord. number). Or shbi iy; ordinal from shib'iym. seventh.">on the seventh</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bay·yō·wm (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day,</a> <a href="/hebrew/582.htm" title="582: ’an·šê (N-mpc) -- Man, mankind. From 'anash; properly, a mortal; hence, a man in general.">the men</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: hā·‘îr (Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">of the city</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">to Samson:</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: mah- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“What</a> <a href="/hebrew/4966.htm" title="4966: mā·ṯō·wq (Adj-ms) -- Sweet, sweetness. Or mathuwq; from mathaq; sweet.">is sweeter</a> <a href="/hebrew/1706.htm" title="1706: mid·də·ḇaš (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- Honey. From an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey; by analogy, syrup.">than honey?</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: ū·meh (Conj-w:: Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">And what is</a> <a href="/hebrew/5794.htm" title="5794: ‘az (Adj-ms) -- Strong, mighty, fierce. From azaz; strong, vehement, harsh.">stronger</a> <a href="/hebrew/738.htm" title="738: mê·’ă·rî (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- A lion. Or earyeh; from 'arah; a lion.">than a lion?”</a> <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/3884.htm" title="3884: lū·lê (Conj) -- If not, unless. Or luwley; from luw' and lo'; if not.">“If you had not</a> <a href="/hebrew/2790.htm" title="2790: ḥă·raš·tem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To cut in, engrave, plow, devise.">plowed</a> <a href="/hebrew/5697.htm" title="5697: bə·‘eḡ·lā·ṯî (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 1cs) -- A heifer. Feminine of egel; a calf, especially one nearly grown.">with my heifer,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">you would not</a> <a href="/hebrew/4672.htm" title="4672: mə·ṣā·ṯem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To attain to, find. ">have solved</a> <a href="/hebrew/2420.htm" title="2420: ḥî·ḏā·ṯî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- A riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or question. From chuwd; a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim.">my riddle!”</a> 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,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/proverbs/1-17.htm">Proverbs 1:17</a> How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it! <a href="/proverbs/6-26.htm">Proverbs 6:26</a> For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. <a href="/proverbs/7-10.htm">Proverbs 7:10-21</a> Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. / She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home. / Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. ... <a href="/proverbs/9-13.htm">Proverbs 9:13-18</a> The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. / She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city, / calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight. ... <a href="/proverbs/11-22.htm">Proverbs 11:22</a> Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. <a href="/proverbs/30-18.htm">Proverbs 30:18-19</a> There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand: / the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden. <a href="/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20</a> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. <a href="/isaiah/29-15.htm">Isaiah 29:15</a> Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?” <a href="/jeremiah/4-22.htm">Jeremiah 4:22</a> “For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.” <a href="/jeremiah/9-23.htm">Jeremiah 9:23-24</a> This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. <a href="/matthew/12-39.htm">Matthew 12:39</a> Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. <a href="/matthew/16-1.htm">Matthew 16:1-4</a> Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. / But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ / and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times. ... <a href="/mark/8-11.htm">Mark 8:11-12</a> Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven. / Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” <a href="/luke/11-29.htm">Luke 11:29-32</a> As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. / For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. / The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here. ... <a href="/1_corinthians/1-18.htm">1 Corinthians 1:18-25</a> 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. / For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” / Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? and he said to them, If you had not plowed with my heifer, you had not found out my riddle.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Bride's</a> <a href="/judges/12-7.htm">City</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">Cow</a> <a href="/genesis/43-10.htm">Hadn't</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">Heifer</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Honey</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Lion</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-10.htm">Ploughing</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Plowed</a> <a href="/judges/14-17.htm">Riddle</a> <a href="/judges/9-46.htm">Room</a> <a href="/judges/14-12.htm">Samson</a> <a href="/judges/14-17.htm">Seventh</a> <a href="/judges/4-24.htm">Stronger</a> <a href="/judges/9-33.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-15.htm">Sunset</a> <a href="/psalms/119-103.htm">Sweeter</a> <a href="/judges/13-23.htm">Wouldn't</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Bride's</a> <a href="/judges/16-2.htm">City</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-2.htm">Cow</a> <a href="/1_samuel/3-3.htm">Hadn't</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-2.htm">Heifer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-25.htm">Honey</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-34.htm">Lion</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-12.htm">Ploughing</a> <a href="/psalms/129-3.htm">Plowed</a> <a href="/judges/14-19.htm">Riddle</a> <a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Room</a> <a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Samson</a> <a href="/2_samuel/12-18.htm">Seventh</a> <a href="/judges/18-26.htm">Stronger</a> <a href="/judges/19-14.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-36.htm">Sunset</a> <a href="/psalms/19-10.htm">Sweeter</a> <a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Wouldn't</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 14</div>1. <a href="/judges/14-1.htm">Samson desires a wife of the Philistines.</a> 6. <a href="/judges/14-6.htm">In his journey he kills a lion</a> 8. <a href="/judges/14-8.htm">In a second journey he finds honey in the carcass</a> 10. <a href="/judges/14-10.htm">Samson's marriage feast</a> 12. <a href="/judges/14-12.htm">His riddle by his wife is made known</a> 19. <a href="/judges/14-19.htm">He strikes down thirty Philistines</a> 20. <a href="/judges/14-20.htm">His wife is married to another.</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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>Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: The timing here is significant, as the seventh day marks the completion of a week, often symbolizing completion or perfection in biblical terms. The men of the city, the Philistines, were under pressure to solve Samson's riddle to avoid the consequences of their wager. This reflects the cultural practice of riddles and challenges in ancient times, often used to demonstrate wisdom or cunning. The urgency before sunset indicates their desperation and the importance of the deadline.“What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” The riddle's answer is directly tied to Samson's earlier encounter with a lion, where he killed it and later found bees and honey in its carcass. Honey, often a symbol of abundance and pleasure in the Bible, contrasts with the strength and ferocity of a lion, a common symbol of power. This phrase highlights the Philistines' cunning in extracting the answer from Samson's wife, reflecting the theme of betrayal and deceit.So he said to them: Samson's response is immediate and accusatory, indicating his awareness of their deceit. This interaction underscores the tension between Samson and the Philistines, setting the stage for further conflict. It also reflects the personal nature of the betrayal, as it involves his wife.“If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!” The metaphor of "plowing with my heifer" is a vivid expression of betrayal, suggesting that the Philistines used his wife to manipulate and deceive him. In ancient agricultural societies, a heifer was a valuable asset, and the metaphor implies misuse of something precious to Samson. This phrase also foreshadows the ongoing conflict between Samson and the Philistines, as it reveals the personal and communal tensions that drive the narrative. The use of agricultural imagery connects to the agrarian context of the time, where such metaphors would be readily understood.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/samson.htm">Samson</a> A judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength, which was a gift from God. He was a Nazirite from birth, dedicated to God, and his life was marked by a series of conflicts with the Philistines. 2. <a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a> A group of people who were enemies of Israel during the time of the Judges. They were known for their advanced weaponry and frequent conflicts with the Israelites. 3. <a href="/topical/t/timnah.htm">Timnah</a> A Philistine town where Samson went to find a wife, which led to a series of events including the riddle he posed to the Philistines. 4. <a href="/topical/r/riddle.htm">Riddle</a> Samson posed a riddle to the Philistines during his wedding feast, which they could not solve without coercing his wife to extract the answer from him. 5. <a href="/topical/s/samson's_wife.htm">Samson's Wife</a> A Philistine woman who was coerced by her people to betray Samson by revealing the answer to his riddle.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_pride.htm">The Danger of Pride</a> Samson's riddle was a display of his pride and overconfidence. Pride can lead to our downfall if we are not careful to remain humble before God. <a href="/topical/t/the_influence_of_relationships.htm">The Influence of Relationships</a> Samson's choice to marry a Philistine woman led to his betrayal. Our relationships can greatly influence our spiritual walk, and we must choose them wisely. <a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a> Samson's life shows the consequences of not fully adhering to God's commands. Disobedience can lead to personal and communal strife. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_amidst_human_failure.htm">God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Failure</a> Despite Samson's failures, God used his actions to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines. God's plans can prevail even through human weakness. <a href="/topical/g/guarding_our_hearts.htm">Guarding Our Hearts</a> Like Samson, we must be vigilant in guarding our hearts against influences that can lead us away from God's path.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 14</a> <a href="/q/who_was_pelagius.htm">What riddles are found in the Bible?</a> <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> <a href="/q/why_does_samson_touch_the_lion's_remains.htm">Why does Samson, who is under a Nazirite vow, freely handle the lion's remains (Judges 14:8-9)?</a> <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><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) What is sweeter than honey?--Their answer is given in the same rhythmical form as the riddle itself.If ye had not plowed with my heifer.--Many commentators, following Rabbi Levi Ben Gershom, read in this proverbial phrase an implication that Samson suspected his wife of adultery; but there is no sufficient reason for this view.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 18. - The men of the city - the same as were spoken of in ver. 11 as Samson's companions. Before the sun went down - just in time, therefore, to save the wager, as defined in ver. 12. This is the uncommon word for the sun used also in <a href="/judges/8-13.htm">Judges 8:13</a>, where see note. What is sweeter, etc. They put their answer in a form to make it seem as if they had guessed the riddle; but Samson instantly perceived his wife's treachery, and showed that he did so by quoting the proverb of plowing with another person s heifer. They had not used their own wit to find out the riddle, but had learnt the secret at Samson's cost, through his wife. He insinuates that had they acted fairly he would have won the wager. <a href="/commentaries/judges/14-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Before בְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ (bə·ṭe·rem) Preposition-b | Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2962.htm">Strong's 2962: </a> Non-occurrence, not yet, before sunset יָבֹ֣א (yā·ḇō) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go on the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (haš·šə·ḇî·‘î) Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7637.htm">Strong's 7637: </a> Seventh (an ordinal number) day, בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> A day the men אַנְשֵׁ֨י (’an·šê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person of the city הָעִ֜יר (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> Excitement said וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say to [Samson]: לוֹ֩ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> “What מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what is sweeter מָּת֣וֹק (mā·ṯō·wq) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4966.htm">Strong's 4966: </a> Sweet, sweetness than honey? מִדְּבַ֔שׁ (mid·də·ḇaš) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1706.htm">Strong's 1706: </a> Honey, syrup And what [is] וּמֶ֥ה (ū·meh) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what stronger עַ֖ז (‘az) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5794.htm">Strong's 5794: </a> Strong, vehement, harsh than a lion?” מֵאֲרִ֑י (mê·’ă·rî) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_738.htm">Strong's 738: </a> A lion So he said to them: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “If you had not לוּלֵא֙ (lū·lê) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3884.htm">Strong's 3884: </a> If not, unless plowed חֲרַשְׁתֶּ֣ם (ḥă·raš·tem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2790.htm">Strong's 2790: </a> To cut in, engrave, plow, devise with my heifer, בְּעֶגְלָתִ֔י (bə·‘eḡ·lā·ṯî) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5697.htm">Strong's 5697: </a> A, calf, one nearly grown you would not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no have solved מְצָאתֶ֖ם (mə·ṣā·ṯem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4672.htm">Strong's 4672: </a> To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present my riddle!” חִידָתִֽי׃ (ḥî·ḏā·ṯî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2420.htm">Strong's 2420: </a> A riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or question <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/judges/14-18.htm">Judges 14:18 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/judges/14-18.htm">OT History: Judges 14:18 The men of the city said (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/14-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 14:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 14:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/14-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 14:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 14:19" /></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>