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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 14:20 and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/14-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/07_Jdg_14_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 14:20 - Samson's Riddle" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.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/14-19.htm" title="Judges 14:19">◄</a> Judges 14:20 <a href="/judges/15-1.htm" title="Judges 15:1">►</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 />And Samson&#8217s wife was given to one of his companions who had attended him at the feast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So his wife was given in marriage to the man who had been Samson’s best man at the wedding.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But Samson's wife was <i>given</i> to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And Samson’s wife was <i>given</i> to his companion, who had been his best man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Samson’s wife was <i>given</i> to his companion who had been his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But Samson&#8217s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But Samson’s wife was <i>given</i> to his companion who had been his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But Samson’s wife was <i>given</i> to his companion who had been his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But Samson’s wife was <i>given</i> to his companion who had been his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The father of the bride made Samson's wife marry one of the 30 young men that had been at Samson's party. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Samson's wife was given to his best man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />and his wife was given to the man that had been his best man at the wedding. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />and Samson's wife went to the best man at his wedding. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Samson's bride was then given to his best man. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his friend. <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’s wife becomes his companion’s, who had attended to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Samson's wife becometh his companion's, who is his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Samson's wife will be to his companion who was friend to him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But his wife took one of his friends and bridal companions for her husband. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then his wife took as a husband one of his friends and wedding companions.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />and Samson’s wife was married to the companion who had been his best man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.<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's wife, whom he loved, was given to one of his groomsmen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the wife of Samson whom he loved was given to his Groomsman <div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had had for his friend.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the wife of Sampson was <i>given</i> to one of his friends, with whom he was on terms of friendship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/14-20.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=4442" 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">19</span>Then 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, <span class="reftext">20</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.">and his</a> <a href="/hebrew/4828.htm" title="4828: lə·mê·rê·‘ê·hū (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Friend, companion. From ra'ah in the sense of companionship; a friend."></a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’ê·šeṯ (N-fsc) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">wife</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wat·tə·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">was given</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">to one of the men who</a> <a href="/hebrew/7462.htm" title="7462: rê·‘āh (V-Piel-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. Pasture it; intransitively, to graze; generally to rule; by extension, to associate with.">had accompanied</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">him.</a> </span><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="/judges/15-2.htm">Judges 15:2</a></span><br />“I was sure that you thoroughly hated her,” said her father, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/15-6.htm">Judges 15:6</a></span><br />“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite,” they were told. “For his wife was given to his companion.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/29-25.htm">Genesis 29:25</a></span><br />When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/29-27.htm">Genesis 29:27</a></span><br />Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Genesis 38:12</a></span><br />After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/18-19.htm">1 Samuel 18:19</a></span><br />So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/25-44.htm">1 Samuel 25:44</a></span><br />But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/3-14.htm">2 Samuel 3:14-16</a></span><br />Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” / So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. / Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/11-27.htm">2 Samuel 11:27</a></span><br />And when the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/1-19.htm">Matthew 1:19</a></span><br />Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-31.htm">Matthew 5:31-32</a></span><br />It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ / But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-8.htm">Matthew 19:8-9</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning. / Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-11.htm">Mark 10:11-12</a></span><br />So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. / And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18</a></span><br />Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.</p><p class="hdg">given to</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/15-2.htm">Judges 15:2</a></b></br> And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: <i>is</i> not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.</p><p class="hdg">his friend</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/55-12.htm">Psalm 55:12,13</a></b></br> For <i>it was</i> not an enemy <i>that</i> reproached me; then I could have borne <i>it</i>: neither <i>was it</i> he that hated me <i>that</i> did magnify <i>himself</i> against me; then I would have hid myself from him: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/9-5.htm">Jeremiah 9:5</a></b></br> And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, <i>and</i> weary themselves to commit iniquity.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/micah/7-5.htm">Micah 7:5</a></b></br> Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/3-19.htm">Attended</a> <a href="/judges/10-15.htm">Best</a> <a href="/judges/7-14.htm">Companion</a> <a href="/judges/14-16.htm">Samson's</a> <a href="/judges/14-10.htm">Used</a> <a href="/revelation/19-9.htm">Wedding</a> <a href="/judges/14-16.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/16-21.htm">Attended</a> <a href="/judges/20-15.htm">Best</a> <a href="/judges/15-2.htm">Companion</a> <a href="/judges/14-15.htm">Samson's</a> <a href="/judges/16-11.htm">Used</a> <a href="/1_kings/9-16.htm">Wedding</a> <a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Wife</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>and his wife</b><br>In the context of <a href="/judges/14.htm">Judges 14</a>, "his wife" refers to the Philistine woman from Timnah whom Samson had married. This marriage was part of God's plan to create conflict between Samson and the Philistines, as seen earlier in <a href="/judges/14-4.htm">Judges 14:4</a>. The Philistines were oppressors of Israel, and this union was unusual because Israelites were generally discouraged from marrying outside their faith and community (<a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a>).<p><b>was given</b><br>The phrase "was given" indicates a transfer of possession or responsibility, which was common in ancient Near Eastern cultures. Marriages were often arranged and controlled by families or communities, and women were sometimes treated as property. This act of giving Samson's wife to another man highlights the lack of agency women had in these situations and reflects the patriarchal society of the time.<p><b>to one of the men</b><br>This refers to one of the companions or friends who had been with Samson during the wedding feast. These men were likely Philistines, as they were part of the wedding celebration in Timnah. The presence of these men underscores the cultural and social interactions between the Israelites and the Philistines, despite their enmity.<p><b>who had accompanied him</b><br>The men who accompanied Samson were part of the wedding party, possibly serving as groomsmen or companions. In <a href="/judges/14-11.htm">Judges 14:11</a>, it is mentioned that thirty companions were brought to be with him, which was a customary practice to honor the groom. This detail emphasizes the betrayal and the broken trust, as one of these companions was given Samson's wife, further fueling the conflict between Samson and the Philistines.<br><br>This event sets the stage for the subsequent actions of Samson, leading to his vengeance against the Philistines, which is a recurring theme in his narrative. The personal betrayal Samson experiences here is a catalyst for his later exploits and serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between personal relationships and divine purposes in the biblical narrative.<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. His life is marked by personal weaknesses and failures, yet he is used by God to deliver Israel from the Philistines.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/samson's_wife.htm">Samson's Wife</a></b><br>A Philistine woman from Timnah whom Samson marries. Her relationship with Samson is fraught with betrayal and manipulation, ultimately leading to her being given to another man.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_companion.htm">The Companion</a></b><br>One of the men who had accompanied Samson, likely one of the thirty companions assigned to him during his wedding feast. This man is given Samson's wife after Samson leaves in anger.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/timnah.htm">Timnah</a></b><br>A Philistine town where Samson's wife is from. It serves as the backdrop for much of the conflict between Samson and the Philistines.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_philistines.htm">The Philistines</a></b><br>A group of people who were enemies of Israel during the time of the Judges. They play a significant role in the account of Samson's life.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_unequally_yoked_relationships.htm">The Consequences of Unequally Yoked Relationships</a></b><br>Samson's marriage to a Philistine woman, against his parents' wishes and God's law, leads to personal and communal strife. Believers are reminded of the importance of aligning their relationships with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_dangers_of_anger_and_impulsivity.htm">The Dangers of Anger and Impulsivity</a></b><br>Samson's impulsive actions and anger lead to unintended consequences. Christians are encouraged to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in managing emotions and making decisions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_amidst_human_failure.htm">God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Failure</a></b><br>Despite Samson's personal failures, God uses his life to fulfill His purposes. This teaches that God can work through our weaknesses and mistakes to accomplish His plans.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_faithfulness_in_relationships.htm">The Importance of Faithfulness in Relationships</a></b><br>The betrayal in Samson's marriage highlights the need for faithfulness and integrity in relationships. Believers are called to uphold these values in their own lives.<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/did_herod_want_john_the_baptist_dead.htm">Did Herod want to kill John the Baptist? Yes (Matthew 14:5) No. It was Herodias, the wife of Herod who wanted to kill him. But Herod knew that he was a righteous man and kept him safe (Mark 6:20)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_a_jawbone_defeat_1,000_men.htm">In Judges 15:15, how can using a donkey's jawbone account for a victory over 1,000 armed men without breaking or becoming ineffective?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/psalm_20_7_vs._god's_battle_commands.htm">Psalm 20:7 - Does this portrayal of military reliance contradict biblical accounts where God commands battle preparations?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_christians_celebrate_christmas.htm">Can Christians celebrate Christmas?</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>(20) <span class= "bld">To his companion, whom he had used as his friend</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>to the chief of the paranyraphs (the bride-conductor, LXX.); "the friend of the bride-groom" (<a href="/john/3-29.htm" title="He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.">John 3:29</a>). Hence, even if the suspicion as to the meaning of Samson's words in <a href="/judges/14-18.htm" title="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.">Judges 14:18</a> be unfounded, it is clear that there was treachery and secret hostility at work. Bunsen renders the phrase, "to his companion, whose friend (<span class= "ital">amica</span>) she was."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">His companion</span> - no doubt his "best man," the "friend of the bridegroom." The parents of the Thimnathite, having no doubt obtained Samson's dower, and supposing him to have finally broken with his treacherous wife, proceeded to give her in marriage to the Philistine young man who had been Samson's friend - perhaps the man to whom she had told the riddle. The sad end of this unhappy alliance fully justified the opposition of Samson's parents to it in ver. 3. <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/14-20.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">and his</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן</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">wife</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֣שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was given</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתְּהִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tə·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to one of the men who</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had accompanied</span><br /><span class="heb">רֵעָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(rê·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7462.htm">Strong's 7462: </a> </span><span class="str2">To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with</span><br /><br /><span class="word">him.</span><br /><span class="heb">לֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(lōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/14-20.htm">Judges 14:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/14-20.htm">OT History: Judges 14:20 But Samson's wife was given to his (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/14-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 14:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 14:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/15-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 15:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 15:1" /></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>