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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 14:8 When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion's carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/14-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/07_Jdg_14_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 14:8 - Samson's Riddle" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion's carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/judges/14-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/judges/14-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/judges/">Judges</a> > <a href="/judges/14.htm">Chapter 14</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/14-7.htm" title="Judges 14:7">◄</a> Judges 14:8 <a href="/judges/14-9.htm" title="Judges 14:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/14.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/14.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion&#8217s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, <i>there was</i> a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey <i>were</i> in the carcass of the lion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then he returned later to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />After some time, when he returned to marry her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and there was a swarm of bees with honey in the carcass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />After some time, when he returned to get her, he left the road to see the lion&#8217s carcass, and there was a swarm of bees with honey in the carcass. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And after a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Later, Samson returned to Timnah for the wedding. And when he came near the place where the lion had attacked, he left the road to see what was left of the lion. He was surprised to see that bees were living in the lion's skeleton, and that they had made some honey. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And after a while he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Later he went back to marry her. [On his way] he left the road to look at the lion he had killed. He saw a swarm of bees and some honey in the lion's dead body.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />A few days later Samson went back to marry her. On the way he left the road to look at the lion he had killed, and he was surprised to find a swarm of bees and some honey inside the dead body. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />When he came back later to marry her, he turned aside to observe the lion's carcass. Amazingly, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, complete with honey. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to see the lion's remains. He saw a swarm of bees in the lion's carcass, as well as some honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />After a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and look, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />After a while he returned to take her, and he went over to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. <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 turns back after [some] days to take her, and turns aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, a swarm of bees [are] in the body of the lion—and honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and he turneth back after some days to take her, and turneth aside to see the carcase of the lion, and lo, a company of bees are in the body of the lion -- and honey.<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 turn back after days to take her, and he will turn aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, an assembly of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And after some days returning to take her, he went aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold there was a swarm of bees in the mouth of the lion and a honeycomb. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And after some days, returning to marry her, he turned aside so that he might see the carcass of the lion. And behold, there was a swarm of bees in the mouth of the lion, with a honeycomb.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Later, when he came back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the remains of the lion, and there was a swarm of bees in the lion’s carcass, and honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />After a while he returned to marry her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the carcass of the lion, and the honey ran out on his hands as he walked.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he returned from after days to take her and departed to see the skeleton of the lion, and behold, a swarm of bees was in the corpse of the lion, and the honey ran over his hands and he was walking<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And after a while he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And after some time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees, and honey <i>were</i> in the mouth of the lion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/14-8.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=4283" 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">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: way·yā·šāḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">When Samson returned</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: mî·yā·mîm (Prep-m:: N-mp) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">later</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: lə·qaḥ·tāh (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf:: 3fs) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">to take her,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5493.htm" title="5493: way·yā·sar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To turn aside. Or suwr; a primitive root; to turn off.">he left</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: lir·’ō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">the road to see</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/738.htm" title="738: hā·’ar·yêh (Art:: N-ms) -- A lion. Or earyeh; from 'arah; a lion.">the lion’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/4658.htm" title="4658: map·pe·leṯ (N-fsc) -- Carcass, ruin, an overthrow. From naphal; fall, i.e. Decadence; concretely, a ruin; specifically a carcase.">carcass,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1472.htm" title="1472: biḡ·wî·yaṯ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- A body, corpse. Prolonged for gevah; a body, whether alive or dead.">and in it</a> <a href="/hebrew/738.htm" title="738: hā·’ar·yêh (Art:: N-ms) -- A lion. Or earyeh; from 'arah; a lion."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2009.htm" title="2009: wə·hin·nêh (Conj-w:: Interjection) -- Lo! behold! Prolongation for hen; lo!">was</a> <a href="/hebrew/5712.htm" title="5712: ‘ă·ḏaṯ (N-fsc) -- Congregation. Feminine of ed in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage.">a swarm</a> <a href="/hebrew/1682.htm" title="1682: də·ḇō·w·rîm (N-fp) -- A bee. Or dborah; from dabar; the bee.">of bees,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1706.htm" title="1706: ū·ḏə·ḇāš (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Honey. From an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey; by analogy, syrup.">along with their honey.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.…<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="/1_samuel/17-34.htm">1 Samuel 17:34-37</a></span><br />David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. / Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/13-24.htm">1 Kings 13:24-28</a></span><br />As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. / And there were men passing by who saw the body lying in the road with the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported this in the city where the old prophet lived. / When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard this, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, and it has mauled him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to him.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/25-16.htm">Proverbs 25:16</a></span><br />If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/19-10.htm">Psalm 19:10</a></span><br />They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/119-103.htm">Psalm 119:103</a></span><br />How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/3-4.htm">Matthew 3:4</a></span><br />John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-39.htm">Matthew 12:39-40</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. / For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-29.htm">Luke 11:29-30</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/1-6.htm">Mark 1:6</a></span><br />John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/10-9.htm">Revelation 10:9-10</a></span><br />And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” / So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-14.htm">2 Corinthians 11:14</a></span><br />And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/5-8.htm">1 Peter 5:8</a></span><br />Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/49-9.htm">Genesis 49:9</a></span><br />Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/6-6.htm">Numbers 6:6-7</a></span><br />Throughout the days of his separation to the LORD, he must not go near a dead body. / Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the symbol of consecration to his God is upon his head.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-25.htm">Deuteronomy 7:25-26</a></span><br />You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God. / And you must not bring any detestable thing into your house, or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. You are to utterly detest and abhor it, because it is set apart for destruction.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion.</p><p class="hdg">to take her</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/29-21.htm">Genesis 29:21</a></b></br> And Jacob said unto Laban, Give <i>me</i> my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/1-20.htm">Matthew 1:20</a></b></br> But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.</p><p class="hdg">a swarm.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/1-44.htm">Bees</a> <a href="/judges/12-12.htm">Body</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-26.htm">Carcase</a> <a href="/joshua/8-29.htm">Carcass</a> <a href="/judges/9-44.htm">Company</a> <a href="/judges/9-55.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-13.htm">Honey</a> <a href="/judges/14-6.htm">Lion</a> <a href="/joshua/23-12.htm">Marry</a> <a href="/judges/9-25.htm">Road</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-19.htm">Swarm</a> <a href="/judges/14-4.htm">Time</a> <a href="/judges/11-8.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/judges/11-39.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/judges/11-8.htm">Turning</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/14-25.htm">Bees</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Body</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-22.htm">Carcase</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Carcass</a> <a href="/judges/18-23.htm">Company</a> <a href="/judges/15-15.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Honey</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Lion</a> <a href="/isaiah/62-5.htm">Marry</a> <a href="/judges/18-3.htm">Road</a> <a href="/psalms/105-31.htm">Swarm</a> <a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Time</a> <a href="/judges/15-4.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/judges/15-4.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/judges/18-15.htm">Turning</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>When Samson returned later to take her</b><br>This phrase indicates a passage of time since Samson's initial encounter with the Philistine woman in Timnah. The act of "taking her" refers to the marriage customs of the time, where a man would formally take a woman as his wife. This reflects the cultural practice of arranged marriages and the importance of family alliances. Samson's return signifies his commitment to the marriage, despite the potential conflict with his Nazirite vow and Israelite identity.<p><b>he left the road to see the lion’s carcass</b><br>Samson's diversion from the road to view the lion's carcass is significant. The lion, which he had previously killed with his bare hands, represents his extraordinary strength given by God. The act of leaving the road can symbolize a departure from the path of righteousness or divine instruction, as touching a dead body would defile a Nazirite according to <a href="/numbers/6-6.htm">Numbers 6:6-7</a>. This moment foreshadows Samson's struggles with temptation and his eventual downfall.<p><b>and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey</b><br>The presence of bees and honey in the carcass is unusual, as bees typically avoid dead bodies. This miraculous occurrence highlights God's sovereignty and the theme of bringing sweetness from death, which can be seen as a type of Christ, who brings life from death. Honey, often associated with abundance and blessing in the Bible (e.g., <a href="/exodus/3-8.htm">Exodus 3:8</a>), contrasts with the uncleanliness of the carcass, symbolizing the tension between divine provision and human impurity. This event sets the stage for Samson's riddle at the wedding feast, which becomes a pivotal moment in his conflict with the Philistines.<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 extraordinary strength, which was a gift from God. He was a Nazirite from birth, dedicated to God, and his life is a series of victories and failures.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/l/lion.htm">Lion</a></b><br>The animal that Samson encounters and kills with his bare hands. Later, he finds a swarm of bees and honey in its carcass, which is unusual and significant in the account.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/timnah.htm">Timnah</a></b><br>A Philistine town where Samson went to find a wife. This location is significant as it represents the tension between the Israelites and the Philistines.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/bees_and_honey.htm">Bees and Honey</a></b><br>Found in the carcass of the lion, this event is symbolic and later becomes the basis for Samson's riddle at his wedding feast.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a></b><br>The ruling people over Israel at the time, representing the oppression and challenges faced by the Israelites.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_strength_in_us.htm">God's Strength in Us</a></b><br>Just as Samson was empowered by God to defeat the lion, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome challenges in their lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unexpected_blessings.htm">Unexpected Blessings</a></b><br>The honey in the lion's carcass symbolizes how God can bring unexpected blessings and sweetness out of difficult situations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_choices.htm">Consequences of Choices</a></b><br>Samson's journey to Timnah and his interactions with the Philistines highlight the importance of making choices that align with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_the_lion.htm">Symbolism of the Lion</a></b><br>The lion can represent the challenges and adversaries we face, and the victory over it symbolizes triumph through God's power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_to_vows.htm">Faithfulness to Vows</a></b><br>Samson's life is a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to our commitments to God, as his Nazirite vow was central to his identity and strength.<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/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><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_deut._32_13's_'honey_from_rock'_credible.htm">How credible is Deuteronomy 32:13’s claim of extracting “honey from the rock” without any supporting archaeological or geological evidence? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_'honeycomb'_imagery_outdated.htm">Proverbs 27:7 – Does the imagery of a “honeycomb” rely on outdated scientific knowledge about dietary needs or sweetness? </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>(8) <span class= "bld">After a time.</span>--There is nothing to show how long this time was. A betrothal might last a year. In <a href="/judges/11-4.htm" title="And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.">Judges 11:4</a> the same phrase ("after days ") is used of many years.<p><span class= "bld">To take her.</span>--To lead her to his own home after the bridal feast.<p><span class= "bld">A swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.</span>--This incident has been questioned, because it is truly said that bees hate all putrescence and decomposition, and that the notion of bees being generated in the rotting bodies of oxen (which we find in Virgil, <span class= "ital">Georgic </span>4, &c.) is a vulgar error. But it is overlooked that the word "carcase" here means (as the Syriac renders it) "skeleton." The fierce sun of the East dries up all the animal moisture of a dead body, and reduces it to a skeleton with extreme rapidity, and bees have no dislike to dried bones as a place in which to swarm. Thus Herodotus tells us (v. 114) that when the Amathusians cut off the head of Onesilus, because he besieged them, and hung it over their gates, a swarm of bees filled the skull with their combs and honey. Rosenmller also quotes the authority of the physician Aldrovand for the story that swarms of bees built their combs between the skeletons of two sisters who were buried in the Church of Santa Croce, at Verona, in 1566. (Comp. Plin. <span class= "ital">H. N., xi.</span> 24; Varro, R<span class= "ital">. R., </span>3:16.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He returned to take her</span>. All the preliminaries being settled between the parents, he returned to Timnath to take his bride by the same road which he and his parents had travelled by before, and, remembering his feat in killing the lion, very naturally turned aside to see what had become of the carcase. <span class="cmt_word">And, behold, there was a swarm of bees</span>, etc. This has been objected to as improbable, because bees are very dainty, and would not approach a putrefying body. But as a considerable time had elapsed, it is very possible that either the mere skeleton was left, or that the heat of the sun had dried up the body and reduced it to the state of a mummy without decomposition, as is said to happen often in the desert of Arabia. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/14-8.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">When [Samson] returned</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּ֤שָׁב</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·šāḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">later</span><br /><span class="heb">מִיָּמִים֙</span> <span class="translit">(mî·yā·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | 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">to take her,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְקַחְתָּ֔הּ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·qaḥ·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he left</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּ֣סַר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·sar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5493.htm">Strong's 5493: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn aside</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the road to see</span><br /><span class="heb">לִרְא֔וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(lir·’ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the lion’s</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאַרְיֵ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ar·yêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_738.htm">Strong's 738: </a> </span><span class="str2">A lion</span><br /><br /><span class="word">carcass,</span><br /><span class="heb">מַפֶּ֣לֶת</span> <span class="translit">(map·pe·leṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4658.htm">Strong's 4658: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fall, decadence, a ruin, a carcase</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and in [it]</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּגְוִיַּ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(biḡ·wî·yaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1472.htm">Strong's 1472: </a> </span><span class="str2">A body, corpse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהִנֵּ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hin·nêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2009.htm">Strong's 2009: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a swarm</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲדַ֧ת</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·ḏaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5712.htm">Strong's 5712: </a> </span><span class="str2">A stated assemblage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of bees,</span><br /><span class="heb">דְּבוֹרִ֛ים</span> <span class="translit">(də·ḇō·w·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1682.htm">Strong's 1682: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bee</span><br /><br /><span class="word">along with their honey.</span><br /><span class="heb">וּדְבָֽשׁ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḏə·ḇāš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1706.htm">Strong's 1706: </a> </span><span class="str2">Honey, syrup</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/14-8.htm">Judges 14:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/14-8.htm">OT History: Judges 14:8 After a while he returned to take (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/14-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 14:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 14:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/14-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 14:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 14:9" /></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>