Skip to content
ScriptureDepth

Judges 14

ScriptureDepth's study of Judges 14

“Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat; and he had nothing in his hand, but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done.”

Judges 14:6

Yahweh's Spirit empowers Samson to exert his strength on a lion during his journey to Timnah, which showcases his capabilities and foreshadows future confrontations.

What Judges 14 is about

Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman there. He told his parents to get her for him as a wife (vv. 1-2). His parents expressed concern about marrying a Philistine, but they did not know that it was part of Yahweh's plan (vv. 3-4). While in Timnah, a young lion attacked Samson, but he tore it apart with his strength, aided by Yahweh’s Spirit (vv. 5-6). Later, he found honey in the lion’s carcass and ate it without telling his parents (vv. 7-9). Samson held a wedding feast and proposed a riddle to thirty companions (vv. 10-12). When they could not solve it, they pressured his wife to extract the answer, which she did (vv. 14-18). Samson realized they had cheated and took his anger out on thirty men from Ashkelon, giving their clothes to the riddle-solvers (vv. 19-20).

Samson's actions lead to further conflict with the Philistines and unresolved consequences in his personal life.

Read the full chapter text ↓

Judges 14 at a glance

  1. Judges 14:1–2Samson Seeks a Philistine Wife
  2. Judges 14:3–4Parental Concern and Divine Plan
  3. Judges 14:5–6Samson's Strength Manifested
  4. Judges 14:7–9Honey in the Lion's Carcass
  5. Judges 14:10–13The Wedding Feast and Riddle
  6. Judges 14:14–18Riddle Solved Through Deception
  7. Judges 14:19–20Samson's Anger and Consequences

Key verse: Judges 14:6

One thing to notice

In verses 6 and 9, Samson kills a lion and later eats honey from its carcass. He tells his parents he has 'nothing in his hand,' omitting the truth about his violent act while sharing the honey without disclosing its source.

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

Read Judges 14 (WEB)

Samson Seeks a Philistine Wife Judges 14:1–2

Verse 1. Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Verse 2. 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 as my wife.”

Parental Concern and Divine Plan Judges 14:3–4

Verse 3. Then his father and his mother said to him, “Isn’t there a woman among your brothers’ daughters, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?” Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.” Verse 4. But his father and his mother didn’t know that it was of Yahweh; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.

Samson's Strength Manifested Judges 14:5–6

Verse 5. Then went Samson down with his father and his mother to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion roared against him. Verse 6. Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat; and he had nothing in his hand, but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done.

Honey in the Lion's Carcass Judges 14:7–9

Verse 7. He went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. Verse 8. 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. Verse 9. He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.

The Wedding Feast and Riddle Judges 14:10–13

Verse 10. His father went down to the woman; and Samson made a feast there, for the young men used to do so. Verse 11. When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. Verse 12. Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can declare it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing; Verse 13. but if you can’t declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” They said to him, “Tell us your riddle, that we may hear it.”

Riddle Solved Through Deception Judges 14:14–18

Verse 14. He said to them,“Out of the eater came out food.Out of the strong came out sweetness.”They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle.Verse 15. On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?”Verse 16. Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, “You just hate me, and don’t love me. You’ve told a riddle to the children of my people, and haven’t told it to me.”He said to her, “Behold, I haven’t told my father or my mother, so why should I tell you?”Verse 17. She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and on the seventh day, he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.Verse 18. The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?”He said to them,“If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer,you wouldn’t have found out my riddle.”

Samson's Anger and Consequences Judges 14:19–20

Verse 19. Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and struck thirty men of them, and took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house. Verse 20. But Samson’s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend.

World English Bible (public domain)

Back to the summary ↑

Go deeper

Ask the AI about Judges 14

Bring your question about the chapter, the key verse, or how this passage fits the rest of Scripture. Ask unlimited questions and keep study notes on every chapter. 7 days free, no card.

Ask the AI about Judges 14Start your free week

Main themes in Judges 14

Divine Sovereignty

In v. 4, the narrative reveals that Samson's desire for a Philistine wife was ‘of Yahweh,’ as it served to provoke the Philistines, who ruled Israel. This indicates that despite Samson's personal choices, God is orchestrating events for a greater purpose. The chapter moves forward with Samson's actions that lead to confrontation, showing divine control over the unfolding conflict with the Philistines.

Obedience and Disobedience

Samson pursues a Philistine woman despite his parents' concerns in verses 3-4. His parents express disapproval, indicating a clash between their expectations and his desires. This disobedience not only foreshadows future conflicts but also sets in motion events that will define Samson's interactions with the Philistines, ultimately shaping his fate.

Conflict with Enemies

The chapter illustrates conflict with the Philistines through Samson's actions and the challenges he faces. In v. 19, after losing the riddle bet, Samson's anger drives him to Ashkelon, where he attacks and kills thirty men. This conflict is central to the narrative, portraying Samson as a figure of strife against the Philistines, who oppress Israel at this time.

Transformation and Redemption

Samson's encounter with the lion in v. 6 showcases a moment of transformation, where the ‘Spirit came mightily on him,’ enabling him to exhibit extraordinary strength. This act sets a foundation for his role as a judge and deliverer of Israel. The chapter also hints at redemption through his complex relationships and struggles, especially as he navigates his marriage and the ensuing conflict.

Chapter outline

How Judges 14 unfolds

  1. Judges 14:1–2 Samson Seeks a Philistine Wife

    Samson travels to Timnah, where he sees a Philistine woman and demands his parents to arrange the marriage, expressing his desire in 'I have seen a woman' (v. 2).

  2. Judges 14:3–4 Parental Concern and Divine Plan

    His parents express concern over his choice of an uncircumcised Philistine wife, but they are unaware that 'it was of Yahweh' as Samson's actions serve a divine purpose (v. 4).

  3. Judges 14:5–6 Samson's Strength Manifested

    Samson, accompanied by his parents, encounters a young lion in the vineyards of Timnah, and with 'Yahweh’s Spirit' empowering him, he tears the lion apart (v. 6).

  4. Judges 14:7–9 Honey in the Lion's Carcass

    Returning later, Samson finds bees and honey in the lion's carcass and, without telling his parents, shares the honey with them, having taken it from an unclean source (v. 9).

  5. Judges 14:10–13 The Wedding Feast and Riddle

    Samson's father goes to the woman, and Samson organizes a traditional wedding feast, proposing a riddle with a wager of thirty garments to those who can solve it (vv. 12-13).

  6. Judges 14:14–18 Riddle Solved Through Deception

    On the seventh day of the feast, the Philistine men coerce Samson's wife to extract the riddle's answer, successfully solving it through her deception after much weeping (vv. 16-17).

  7. Judges 14:19–20 Samson's Anger and Consequences

    In anger, Samson slays thirty men in Ashkelon to settle his bet, returning home while his wife is given to another man, marking the unraveling of his marriage (v. 20).

Key verses

  • Judges 14:6Yahweh's Spirit empowers Samson to exert his strength on a lion during his journey to Timnah, which showcases his capabilities and foreshadows future confrontations.

Get a short devotional by email, one passage and one question a day.

One short email each morning, with the free study guide. Unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. We use your address only to send this email.

Study questions

Questions for studying Judges 14

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v2, what does Samson say to his father and mother about the woman he saw?
  2. observeIn v19, what action does Samson take against the thirty men of Ashkelon?
  3. interpretSamson's riddle in vv. 14-15: what does he mean by 'Out of the eater came out food'?
  4. interpretIn v20, why is Samson's wife given to his companion instead of him?
  5. applyWhen have you pursued something that others warned you against, like Samson's choice of a Philistine wife?

For Bible groups

Study Judges 14 with your group

A free one-page handout with the overview, key verse, outline and discussion questions, ready to print for everyone at the table.

Print the group handout

Cross-references

Passages that echo Judges 14

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with Judges 14

Elsewhere on ScriptureDepth

Where to go from here

Judges 14: frequently asked questions

What is Judges 14 about?+
Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman there. He told his parents to get her for him as a wife (vv.
What is the key verse in Judges 14?+
Judges 14:6: “Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat; and he had nothing in his hand, but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done.”
What are the main themes of Judges 14?+
The main themes of Judges 14 are Divine Sovereignty, Obedience and Disobedience, Conflict with Enemies, Transformation and Redemption.

Studying Judges with a print Bible beside you? See our study Bible guides.

Study Notes