Samson's Riddle and Wedding Feast

Judges 14

Samson insists on marrying a Philistine woman from Timnah, and on the way kills a young lion with his bare hands, later finding honey in its carcass. At his wedding feast he poses a riddle based on the lion and the honey, and when his bride pressures him into revealing the answer and tells the Philistines, Samson kills thirty men of Ashkelon in anger and abandons his wife.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAND Sampson went down to Thamnatha, and saw at Thamnatha a woman of the daughters of the Philistines,

BrentonAnd Sampson went down to Thamnatha, and saw a woman in Thamnatha of the daughters of the Philistines.

GreekΚαὶ κατέβη Σαμψὼν εἰς Θαμναθὰ, καὶ εἶδε γυναῖκα ἐν Θαμναθὰ ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων τῶν ἀλλοφύλων.

KJVAnd Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

JPSAnd Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.

Thomsonand he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman at Thamnatha, of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore get her for me for a wife.

BrentonAnd he went up and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Thamnatha of the daughters of the Phylistines; and now take her to me for a wife.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέβη καὶ ἀπήγγειλε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπε, γυναῖκα ἑώρακα ἐν Θαμναθὰ ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων Φυλιστιῒμ, καὶ νῦν λάβετε αὐτήν μοι εἰς γυναῖκα.

KJVAnd he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

JPSAnd he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said: ‘I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore get her for me to wife.’

ThomsonAnd his father and his mother said to him, Are there not daughters of thy brethren, or a woman among my whole tribe, that thou shouldst go to take a wife from among the uncircumcised Philistines? But Sampson said to his father, Get this woman for me; for she is right in my eyes.

BrentonAnd his father and his mother said to him, Are there no daughters of thy brethren, and is there not a woman of all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Sampson said to his father, Take her for me, for she is right in my eyes.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ, μὴ οὐκ εἰσὶ θυγατέρες τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου, καὶ ἐκ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ μου γυνὴ, ὅτι συ πορεύῃ λαβεῖν γυναῖκα ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων; Καὶ εἶπε Σαμψὼν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ, ταύτην λάβε μοι, ὅτι αὕτη εὐθεῖα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου.

KJVThen his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.

JPSThen his father and his mother said unto him: ‘Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?’ And Samson said unto his father: ‘Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.’

ThomsonHis father and his mother did not know that it was of the Lord, that he was seeking to take vengeance on the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

BrentonAnd his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought to be revenged on the Philistines: and at that time the Philistines lorded it over Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι παρὰ Κυρίου ἐστὶν, ὅτι ἐκδίκησιν αὐτὸς ζητεῖ ἐκ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων· καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι κυριεύοντες ἐν Ἰσραήλ.

KJVBut his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

JPSBut his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.

ThomsonThen Sampson went down, with his father and his mother to Thamnatha, and when he came to the vineyard of Thamnatha, behold, a young roaring lion met him;

BrentonAnd Sampson and his father and his mother went down to Thamnatha, and he came to the vineyard of Thamnatha; and behold, a young lion roared in meeting him.

GreekΚαὶ κατέβη Σαμψὼν καὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εἰς Θαμναθά· καὶ ἦλθεν ἕως τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος Θαμναθὰ, καὶ ἰδοὺ σκύμνος λέοντος ὠρυόμενος εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῦ.

KJVThen went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.

JPSThen went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah; and, behold, a young lion roared against him.

Thomsonand the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he crushed him as one would a kid; though he had nothing in his hands. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

BrentonAnd the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he crushed him as he would have crushed a kid of the goats, and there was nothing in his hands: and he told not his father and his mother what he had done.

GreekΚαὶ ἥλατο ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα Κυρίου, καὶ συνέτριψεν αὐτὸν ὡσεὶ συντρίψει ἔριφον αἰγῶν, καὶ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ ὃ ἐποίησε.

KJVAnd the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

JPSAnd the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as one would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand; but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

ThomsonSo they went down, and spoke to the woman, and the matter was settled to Sampson’s satisfaction.

BrentonAnd they went down and spoke to the woman, and she was pleasing in the eyes of Sampson.

GreekΚαὶ κατέβησαν καὶ ἐλάλησαν τῇ γυναικὶ, καὶ ηὐθύνθη ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαμψών.

KJVAnd he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

JPSAnd he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

ThomsonAnd when he returned, the year after, to take his wife, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold there was a swarm of bees, and honey in the lion’s mouth.

BrentonAnd 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 were in the mouth of the lion.

GreekΚαὶ ὑπέστρεψε μεθʼ ἡμέρας λαβεῖν αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐξέκλινεν ἰδεῖν τὸ πτῶμα τοῦ λέοντος, καὶ ἰδοὺ συναγωγὴ μελισσῶν ἐν τῷ στόματι τοῦ λέοντος καὶ μέλι.

KJVAnd after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonSo he took out some of the combs in his hand, and went on eating; and when he came to his father and his mother, he gave them, and they ate thereof. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s mouth.

BrentonAnd he took it into his hands, and went on eating, and he went to his father and his mother, and gave to them, and they did eat; but he told them not that he took the honey out of the mouth of the lion.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξεῖλεν αὐτὸ εἰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπορεύετο πορευόμενος καὶ ἐσθίων· καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πρὸς τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἔφαγον, καὶ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ἀπὸ στόματος τοῦ λέοντος ἐξεῖλε τὸ μέλι.

KJVAnd he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

JPSAnd he scraped it out into his hands, and went on, eating as he went, and he came to his father and mother, and gave unto them, and they did eat; but he told them not that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion.

ThomsonAnd when his father went down to the woman, Sampson made an entertainment there seven days; for so young men usually do.

BrentonAnd his father went down to the woman, and Sampson made there a banquet for seven days, for so the young men are used to do.

GreekΚαὶ κατέβη ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἐκεῖ Σαμψὼν πότον ἡμέρας ἑπτὰ, ὅτι οὕτως ποιοῦσιν οἱ νεανίσκοι.

KJVSo his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

JPSAnd his father went down unto the woman; and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

ThomsonNow when they saw him, they made choice of thirty men to be with him.

BrentonAnd it came to pass when they saw him, that they took thirty guests, and they were with him.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε εἶδον αὐτὸν, καὶ ἔλαβον τριάκοντα κλητοὺς, καὶ ἦσαν μετʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

JPSAnd it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

ThomsonAnd Sampson said to them, I will propound to you a riddle; if you explain it during the seven days of the entertainment, or find out the meaning of it, I will give you thirty fine linens, and thirty suits of apparel:

BrentonAnd Sampson said to them, I propound you a riddle: if ye will indeed tell it me, and discover it within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty sheets and thirty changes of raiment.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψὼν, πρόβλημα ὑμῖν προβάλλομαι, ἐὰν ἀπαγγέλλοντες ἀπαγγείλητε αὐτὸ ἐν ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἡμέραις τοῦ πότου καὶ εὕρητε, δώσω ὑμῖν τριάκοντα σινδόνας καὶ τριάκοντα στολὰς ἱματίων.

KJVAnd Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

JPSAnd Samson said unto them: ‘Let me now put forth a riddle unto you; if ye can declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment;

Thomsonbut if you cannot tell me, you shall give me thirty fine linens and thirty changes of apparel. And they said, Propound thy riddle that we may hear it.

BrentonAnd if ye cannot tell it me, ye shall give me thirty napkins and thirty changes of apparel: and they said to him, Propound thy riddle, and we will hear it.

GreekΚαὶ ἐὰν μὴ δύνησθε ἀπαγγεῖλαί μοι, δώσετε ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ τριάκοντα ὀθόνια καὶ τριάκοντα ἀλλασσομένας στολὰς ἱματίων· καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, προβάλου τὸ πρόβλημά σου, καὶ ἀκουσόμεθα αὐτό.

KJVBut if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.

JPSbut if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment.’ And they said unto him: ‘Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.’

ThomsonThen he said to them, What eatable came from the eater; and, from the fierce, what that is sweet?

BrentonAnd he said to them, Meat came forth of the eater, and sweetness out of the strong: and they could not tell the riddle for three days.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, τὶ βρωτὸν ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ βιβρώσκοντος, καὶ ἀπὸ ἰσχυροῦ γλυκύ· καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο ἀπαγγεῖλαι τὸ πρόβλημα ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας.

KJVAnd he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

JPSAnd he said unto them: Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.

ThomsonAnd when in the course of three days they could not explain the riddle, they on the fourth day said to Sampson’s wife, Ask we pray thee thy husband, and get him to explain the riddle to thee, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire. Have you invited us to do us an injury?

BrentonAnd it came to pass on the fourth day, that they said to the wife of Sampson, Deceive now thy husband, and let him tell thee the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: did ye invite us to do us violence?

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τετάρτῃ, καὶ εἶπαν τῇ γυναικὶ Σαμψὼν, ἀπάτησον δὴ τὸν ἄνδρα σου, καὶ ἀπαγγειλάτω σοι τὸ πρόβλημα, μή ποτε κατακαύσωμέν σε καὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός σου ἐν πυρί· ἢ ἐκβιᾶσαι ἡμᾶς κεκλήκατε;

KJVAnd it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?

JPSAnd it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife: ‘Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire; have ye called us hither to impoverish us?’

ThomsonSo Sampson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and hast not loved me; for thou hast not told me the riddle which thou hast propounded to the children of my people. And Sampson said to her, If I have not told it to my father and my mother, should I tell thee?

BrentonAnd Sampson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not; for the riddle which thou hast propounded to the children of my people, thou hast not told me: and Sampson said to her, If I have not told it to my father and my mother, shall I tell it to thee?

GreekΚαὶ ἔκλαυσεν ἡ γυνὴ Σαμψὼν πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ εἶπε, πλὴν μεμίσηκάς με καὶ οὐκ ἠγάπησάς με, ὅτι τὸ πρόβλημα ὃ προεβάλου τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ λαοῦ μου, οὐκ ἀπήγγειλάς μοι αὐτό· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Σαμψὼν, εἰ τῷ πατρί μου καὶ τῇ μητρί μου οὐκ ἀπήγγελκα, σοὶ ἀπαγγείλω;

KJVAnd Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?

JPSAnd Samson’s wife wept before him, and said: ‘Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not; thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and wilt thou not tell it me?’ And he said unto her: ‘Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell thee?’

ThomsonBut as she continued to weep before him, during the seven days, while the feast lasted, he at length on the seventh day told her, because she importuned him; and she told the children of her people.

BrentonAnd she wept before him the seven days, during which their banquet lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she troubled him; and she told it to the children of her people.

GreekΚαὶ ἔκλαυσε πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας, ἃς ἦν αὐτοῖς ὁ πότος· καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ, καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῇ, ὅτι παρηνόχλησεν αὐτῷ· καὶ αὐτὴ ἀπήγγειλε τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς.

KJVAnd she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

JPSAnd she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him sore; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

ThomsonSo the men of the city said to him on the seventh day, before the sun was set, What is sweeter than honey, and what fiercer than a lion? Upon which Sampson said to them, If you had not ploughed with my heifer, you would not have known my riddle.

BrentonAnd the men of the city said to him on the seventh day, before sunrise, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? and Sampson said to them, If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye would not have known my riddle.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ πρὸ τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι τὸν ἥλιον, τί γλυκύτερον μέλιτος, καὶ τί ἰσχυρότερον λέοντος; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψὼν, εἰ μὴ ἠροτριάσατε ἐν τῇ δαμάλει μου, οὐκ ἂν ἔγνωτε τὸ πρόβλημά μου.

KJVAnd the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

JPSAnd the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down: What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle.

ThomsonThen the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Askalon, and slew of them thirty men, and took their garments, and gave the suits to them who had expounded the riddle. And Sampson was filled with wrath, and went up to his father’s house,

BrentonAnd the Spirit of the Lord came upon him powerfully, and he went down to Ascalon, and destroyed of the inhabitants thirty men, and took their garments, and gave the changes of raiment to them that told the riddle; and Sampson was very angry, and went up to the house of his father.

GreekΚαὶ ἥλατο ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα Κυρίου, καὶ κατέβη εἰς Ἀσκάλωνα, καὶ ἐπάταξεν ἐξ αὐτῶν τριάκοντα ἄνδρας, καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔδωκε τὰς στολὰς τοῖς ἀπαγγείλασι τὸ πρόβλημα· Καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ Σαμψὼν, καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

JPSAnd the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and smote thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave the changes of raiment unto them that declared the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

Thomsonand Sampson’s wife was married to one of those friends of his, with whom he had contracted friendship.

BrentonAnd the wife of Sampson was given to one of his friends, with whom he was on terms of friendship.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἡ γυνὴ Σαμψὼν ἑνὶ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ, ὧν ἐφιλίασε.

KJVBut Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

JPSBut Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had had for his friend.