Judges 14 14

Judges 14:14 kjv

And 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.

Judges 14:14 nkjv

So he said to them: "Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet." Now for three days they could not explain the riddle.

Judges 14:14 niv

He replied, "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet." For three days they could not give the answer.

Judges 14:14 esv

And he said to them, "Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet." And in three days they could not solve the riddle.

Judges 14:14 nlt

So he said: "Out of the one who eats came something to eat;
out of the strong came something sweet."
Three days later they were still trying to figure it out.

Judges 14 verses

Judges 14 14 Meaning

Judges 14:14 records Samson's challenging riddle posed to thirty Philistine men during his wedding feast: "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." The riddle's answer, derived from Samson's personal experience, is the honey found within the carcass of the lion he had previously slain. It speaks to a paradoxical source, where that which typically destroys yields sustenance and delight. The verse also highlights the Philistines' inability to solve this enigmatic puzzle within the given time frame.

Judges 14 14 Context

This verse is situated during Samson's wedding feast in Timnath, a Philistine city. Samson, by proposing a riddle, was engaging in a customary practice of the time at such banquets, often involving a wager. The terms of the wager here were significant: thirty changes of clothes for thirty answers. The underlying context includes Samson's prior uncharacteristic actions, such as his independent choice of a Philistine wife against his parents' counsel (though providentially used by God for a confrontation with the Philistines), his slaying of a lion barehanded (unbeknownst to anyone), and his subsequent discovery of honey in the lion's carcass. This personal experience forms the exclusive basis for the riddle, making it seemingly impossible for anyone without this specific knowledge to solve. The riddle's deliberate obscurity and the high stakes amplify the tension between Samson and his Philistine guests, ultimately leading to conflict and fulfilling God's overarching purpose to confront Philistine dominance over Israel.

Judges 14 14 Word analysis

• And he said unto them: Introduces Samson's direct address to the thirty Philistine men. This phrase sets the stage for a verbal challenge within a social context.
• Out of the eater (מֵהָאֹכֵל - mê-hā-’ōḵêl):
  • ’ōḵêl (אוֹכֵל) is a participle meaning "one who eats" or "the devourer." In this context, it refers to the fierce lion that Samson had killed.
  • Significance: Highlights the paradox that something destructive or menacing can become the source of provision. This directly alludes to the lion as the agent of consumption.
• came forth meat (יָצָא מַאֲכָל - yāṣā’ ma’ăḵāl):
  • yāṣā’ (יָצָא) means "came forth" or "went out," denoting an emergence.
  • ma’ăḵāl (מַאֲכָל) means "food" or "meat." In this specific context, it refers to the honey found within the lion's carcass.
  • Significance: The honey, a source of sustenance and delight, remarkably emerged from the carcass of the animal that would normally consume. This forms the first part of the enigmatic paradox.
• and out of the strong (וּמֵעַז - ū-mê-‘az):
  • ‘az (עַז) is an adjective meaning "strong," "mighty," or "fierce." This again refers to the powerful lion.
  • Significance: Reinforces the description of the source as formidable and imposing, emphasizing the surprising nature of what came from it. This doubles down on the seemingly contradictory origin.
• came forth sweetness (יָצָא מָתוֹק - yāṣā’ māṯôq):
  • yāṣā’ (יָצָא) "came forth" again.
  • māṯôq (מָתוֹק) is an adjective meaning "sweet." It unequivocally refers to the honey.
  • Significance: Concludes the paradox, stating that pleasantness and delight emerged from a powerful, potentially dangerous entity. It highlights the transformation of the feared into the desirable.
• And they could not: Indicates the Philistines' utter inability. Their intellectual capacity, worldly wisdom, or general knowledge was insufficient to solve it. This sets the stage for their frustration.
• in three days expound the riddle: Specifies the timeframe given to solve the ḥîḏāh (חִידָה), a riddle or dark saying. Three days suggests a period designed to build suspense and pressure. Their failure points to the riddle's profound obscurity without inside knowledge.

Judges 14 14 Bonus section

The riddle’s inherent paradox not only challenged the Philistines but also implicitly foreshadows the greater truths of God’s redemptive plan. Just as death (the dead lion) became the source of life-giving sweetness (honey), the Cross of Christ, an ultimate symbol of suffering and death, becomes the source of eternal life and spiritual sustenance for believers. Furthermore, the incident reveals the Philistines' character and spiritual blindness; rather than seeking wisdom, they resorted to cunning and threats, demonstrating a contrast with true understanding that comes from God. Samson's choice to pose an unanswerable riddle without his unique experience also subtly speaks to God's wisdom, which often appears foolish or unknowable to the world, yet is perfectly clear to those who possess spiritual discernment.

Judges 14 14 Commentary

Samson's riddle in Judges 14:14 stands as a classic biblical paradox, drawing upon his unique experience of finding honey in a lion's carcass. It serves multiple layers of significance. Literally, it highlights Samson's personal encounter and tests the wit of the Philistines, who were known for their strength and culture but lacked the divine insight or the specific personal knowledge required. Symbolically, the riddle speaks to God's capacity to bring good and blessing out of seemingly impossible or destructive circumstances. The "eater" (lion, symbolizing destructive power or evil) producing "meat/honey" (sustenance, blessing, sweetness) reflects a pattern seen throughout Scripture where God's purposes are fulfilled through unexpected and often difficult means. For instance, the ultimate triumph of life through the death of Christ, or strength emerging from weakness. The Philistines' failure to solve it without coercion underscores human limitations in comprehending divine plans or the specific workings of God, especially when they are outside their worldview or knowledge base. This riddle, therefore, isn't just a party game but a micro-cosmic reflection of the broader tension between divine action and human understanding, and the surprising ways God orchestrates His will even through unlikely individuals and events.