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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 14:1 One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/14-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/07_Jdg_14_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 14:1 - Samson's Marriage" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.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/13-25.htm" title="Judges 13:25">◄</a> Judges 14:1 <a href="/judges/14-2.htm" title="Judges 14:2">►</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 />Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Samson went down to Timnah, and he saw a woman in Timnah, <i>one</i> of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, <i>one</i> of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, <i>one</i> of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Samson went down to Timnah and at Timnah he saw a woman, one of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />One day, Samson went to Timnah, where he saw a Philistine woman. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When Samson went to Timnah, he saw a young Philistine woman.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he noticed a certain young Philistine woman. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A while later, Samson went down to Timnah and observed a woman in Timnah who was of Philistine origin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Samson went down to Timnah, where a Philistine girl caught his eye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines, and she was right in his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Samson goes down to Timnath, and sees a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Samson goeth down to Timnath, and seeth a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath from the daughters of Philisteim.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Then Samson went down to Thamnatlia, and seeing there a woman of the daughters of the Philistines, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then Samson descended to Timnah. And seeing there a woman from the daughters of the Philistines,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Samson went down to Timnah where he saw one of the Philistine women.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Once Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw a Philistine woman.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />AND Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Samson came down to Tamnath and he saw a woman in Tamnath of the daughters of the Philistines<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Sampson went down to Thamnatha, and saw a woman in Thamnatha of the daughters of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/14-1.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=4205" 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 Marriage</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8123.htm" title="8123: šim·šō·wn (N-proper-ms) -- A deliverer of Isr. From shemesh; sunlight; Shimshon, an Israelite.">One day Samson</a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: way·yê·reḏ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come or go down, descend. ">went down</a> <a href="/hebrew/8553.htm" title="8553: tim·nā·ṯāh (N-proper-fs:: 3fs) -- Territory, two cities in Judah. From manah; a portion assigned; Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine.">to Timnah,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: way·yar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">where he saw</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6430.htm" title="6430: pə·liš·tîm (N-proper-mp) -- Inhab. of Philistia. Patrial from Plesheth; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth.">a young Philistine</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: mib·bə·nō·wṯ (Prep-m:: N-fpc) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">woman.</a> <a href="/hebrew/8553.htm" title="8553: bə·ṯim·nā·ṯāh (Prep-b:: N-proper-fs:: 3fs) -- Territory, two cities in Judah. From manah; a portion assigned; Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine."></a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”…<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="/genesis/24-3.htm">Genesis 24:3-4</a></span><br />and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, / but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a></span><br />Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12-13</a></span><br />For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-2</a></span><br />King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25-27</a></span><br />I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! / Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. / Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-15</a></span><br />Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a></span><br />A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/6-2.htm">Genesis 6:2</a></span><br />the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/34-16.htm">Exodus 34:16</a></span><br />And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/9-1.htm">Ezra 9:1-2</a></span><br />After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. / Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/8-5.htm">1 Samuel 8:5</a></span><br />“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/21-25.htm">1 Kings 21:25</a></span><br />(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/31-3.htm">Proverbs 31:3</a></span><br />Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-28.htm">Matthew 5:28</a></span><br />But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2-3</a></span><br />For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.</p><p class="hdg">Timnath</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Genesis 38:12,13</a></b></br> And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/15-10.htm">Joshua 15:10</a></b></br> And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which <i>is</i> Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/19-43.htm">Joshua 19:43</a></b></br> And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,</p><p class="hdg">saw</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/6-2.htm">Genesis 6:2</a></b></br> That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they <i>were</i> fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/34-1.htm">Genesis 34:1,2</a></b></br> And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/11-2.htm">2 Samuel 11:2</a></b></br> And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman <i>was</i> very beautiful to look upon.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/12-9.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-19.htm">Philistine</a> <a href="/judges/13-5.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/judges/13-24.htm">Samson</a> <a href="/joshua/19-43.htm">Timnah</a> <a href="/judges/2-9.htm">Timnath</a> <a href="/judges/13-19.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/14-2.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/judges/14-2.htm">Philistine</a> <a href="/judges/14-2.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/judges/14-3.htm">Samson</a> <a href="/judges/14-2.htm">Timnah</a> <a href="/judges/14-2.htm">Timnath</a> <a href="/judges/14-5.htm">Young</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'; 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This geographical setting is significant as it highlights the tension between the Israelites and the Philistines, who were often in conflict. The phrase "went down" not only indicates a physical descent but can also symbolize a spiritual decline, as Samson's actions in Timnah lead to a series of events that reflect his personal weaknesses and struggles with temptation. Timnah's location is strategic, serving as a crossroads between the two cultures, which often led to interactions that were both politically and personally complex.<p><b>where he saw a young Philistine woman</b><br>The mention of a "young Philistine woman" introduces a key element in Samson's narrative: his attraction to foreign women, which is a recurring theme in his life. The Philistines were one of Israel's primary adversaries, and intermarriage with them was discouraged due to the potential for idolatry and cultural assimilation. This encounter foreshadows the challenges Samson will face due to his relationships with Philistine women, ultimately leading to his downfall. Theologically, this reflects the broader biblical theme of Israel's struggle to remain distinct and faithful amidst surrounding pagan influences. Samson's desire for the Philistine woman can be seen as a type of Israel's own infatuation with foreign gods and practices, which often led them away from their covenant with Yahweh.<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 with specific vows, including abstaining from cutting his hair.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/timnah.htm">Timnah</a></b><br>A town in the territory of the Philistines, located in the Shephelah region of Judah. It was a place of cultural and religious tension between the Israelites and the Philistines.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/p/philistine_woman.htm">Philistine Woman</a></b><br>An unnamed woman from Timnah who caught Samson's eye. Her identity as a Philistine is significant, as the Philistines were oppressors of Israel during this period.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_unequally_yoked_relationships.htm">The Danger of Unequally Yoked Relationships</a></b><br>Samson's attraction to a Philistine woman highlights the potential spiritual dangers of forming close relationships with those who do not share the same faith. This serves as a cautionary tale about the influence of such relationships on one's spiritual walk.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">The Importance of Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>Samson's actions can be seen as a departure from the commands given to the Israelites regarding intermarriage. This underscores the importance of adhering to God's instructions to maintain spiritual integrity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_sight_in_decision-making.htm">The Role of Sight in Decision-Making</a></b><br>Samson's decision was based on what he saw, rather than seeking God's guidance. This teaches us to prioritize spiritual discernment over physical appearances or desires.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_human_choices.htm">God's Sovereignty in Human Choices</a></b><br>Despite Samson's flawed decision, God used it to fulfill His purposes against the Philistines. This illustrates how God can work through human weaknesses to achieve His divine plans.<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/evidence_for_judges_14_10-12_customs.htm">Is there any archaeological evidence supporting the wedding feast customs described in Judges 14:10–12? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_arranged_marriages.htm">What does the Bible say about arranged marriages?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_samson's_marriage_align_with_deut._7.htm">How does Samson’s marriage to a Philistine (Judges 14:1–3) align with the prohibition on intermarriage in Deuteronomy 7:3–4?</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><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(1) <span class= "bld">To Timnath.</span>--This town, of which the site still retains the name Tibneh, is perhaps the same as that in <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm" title="And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.">Genesis 38:12</a>, unless that be a town in the mountains of Judah, as Judah is there said to have "gone <span class= "ital">up" </span>not as here, "down" to it. In <a href="/joshua/15-10.htm" title="And the border compassed from Baalah westward to mount Seir, and passed along to the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:">Joshua 15:10</a> it is assigned to Judah, but appears to have been afterwards ceded to Dan (<a href="/joshua/19-45.htm" title="And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,">Joshua 19:45</a>). The name means "a portion," and is found also in Timnath-serah, where Joshua was buried (<a href="/joshua/24-30.htm" title="And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.">Joshua 24:30</a>).<p><span class= "bld">Of the daughters of the Philistines.</span>--This was against the spirit of the law, which forbad intermarriages with Canaanites (<a href="/exodus/34-16.htm" title="And you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make your sons go a whoring after their gods.">Exodus 34:16</a>; <a href="/context/deuteronomy/7-3.htm" title="Neither shall you make marriages with them; your daughter you shall not give to his son, nor his daughter shall you take to your son.">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a>). The sequel showed the wisdom of the law (<a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm" title="Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?">2Corinthians 6:14</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Timnath</span>, or, more correctly, <span class="accented">Thimnathah</span>, as in <a href="/joshua/19-43.htm">Joshua 19:43</a>, a town in the tribe of Dan, the name of which survives in the modern <span class="accented">Tibneh</span>, about three miles south-west of Zorah (<a href="/judges/13-2.htm">Judges 13:2</a>, note). It may or may not be identical with Timnath in <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Genesis 38:12-14</a>, and with <span class="accented">Timnah</span> in <a href="/joshua/15-10.htm">Joshua 15:10</a>. It appears to have been in the possession of the Philistines at this time. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/14-1.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">One day Samson</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁמְשׁ֖וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(šim·šō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8123.htm">Strong's 8123: </a> </span><span class="str2">Samson -- a deliverer of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">went down</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֵּ֥רֶד</span> <span class="translit">(way·yê·reḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Timnah,</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּמְנָ֑תָה</span> <span class="translit">(tim·nā·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8553.htm">Strong's 8553: </a> </span><span class="str2">Timnah -- 'territory', two cities in Judah</span><br /><br /><span class="word">where he saw</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֥רְא</span> <span class="translit">(way·yar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<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">a young Philistine</span><br /><span class="heb">פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(pə·liš·tîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> </span><span class="str2">Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia</span><br /><br /><span class="word">woman.</span><br /><span class="heb">מִבְּנ֥וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(mib·bə·nō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/14-1.htm">Judges 14:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/14-1.htm">OT History: Judges 14:1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/13-25.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 13:25"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 13:25" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/14-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 14:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 14:2" /></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>