Judges 14:4 kjv
But 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.
Judges 14:4 nkjv
But his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD?that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
Judges 14:4 niv
(His parents did not know that this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)
Judges 14:4 esv
His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
Judges 14:4 nlt
His father and mother didn't realize the LORD was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.
Judges 14 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good... | God's sovereignty over human evil. |
| Deut 2:30 | But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass... for the LORD your God hardened his spirit... | God's use of hardened hearts for His purpose. |
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low, He also exalts... | God's sovereign control over all circumstances. |
| Prov 16:9 | A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. | God's guidance over human planning. |
| Isa 10:5-7 | Ah, Assyria, the rod of My anger... Yet he does not mean so... | God using nations for His purpose, though they don't know it. |
| Isa 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning... My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure. | God's absolute control over outcomes. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways... | Human inability to comprehend God's plans. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God... | God works even adverse circumstances for good. |
| Rom 9:18 | Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. | God's sovereign hardening for His purposes. |
| Rom 11:33-34 | Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!... | The unsearchable nature of God's wisdom. |
| Eph 1:11 | In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will... | God's complete sovereign orchestration. |
| Acts 2:23 | Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God... | God's specific plan, even through evil actions. |
| Acts 4:27-28 | For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. | Human actions fulfill God's prior determination. |
| Judg 2:16 | Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them from the hand of those who plundered them. | God raises deliverers for His people. |
| Judg 3:9-11 | When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer... Othniel... | Israel's cry met by God's provision of a deliverer. |
| Judg 3:12 | Then the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon king of Moab... | God uses foreign oppressors for discipline. |
| Judg 6:6 | So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites... | Consequence of Israel's disobedience. |
| Judg 13:1 | Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. | The specific Philistine oppression. |
| Lev 26:17 | I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you... | God's disciplinary consequence of oppression. |
| Deut 28:43-44 | The foreigner who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower... he shall be the lender and you shall be the borrower. | Predicted curse of foreign dominion. |
Judges 14 verses
Judges 14 4 Meaning
Judges 14:4 reveals that while Samson's parents did not understand his desire for a Philistine wife, his unconventional choice was sovereignly orchestrated by the LORD. God's purpose was to create a specific opportunity, a "pretext" or "occasion," for Samson to confront the Philistines. This divine intervention was necessary because the Philistines were at that time oppressing Israel, and God intended to use Samson as a deliverer to begin the liberation of His people.
Judges 14 4 Context
This verse immediately follows Samson's demand to his parents for a Philistine wife, an action that appeared to defy God's command against intermarriage with pagan peoples. The broader context of the book of Judges is Israel's cyclical pattern of disobedience, resulting in divine judgment through foreign oppression, followed by their cries for help, and God raising a judge to deliver them. Samson's story begins during a period of intense Philistine dominance over Israel, lasting forty years. While Samson's choice seemed born of personal desire, this verse provides a divine interpretive lens, revealing God's overarching purpose in allowing and even orchestrating events to challenge the Philistine rule and begin Israel's deliverance, utilizing an unexpected and unconventional means through Samson.
Judges 14 4 Word analysis
- But his father and mother: Implies human perspective, which is limited and often fails to see God's deeper purpose.
- knew not (יָדְעוּ - yade'u): "Did not know" or "were not aware." Highlights their lack of understanding regarding the divine hand at play, contrasting human perception with divine reality. It underscores human short-sightedness.
- that it was of the LORD (מֵיְהוָה הִיא - mêYHWH hî’): This is a critical theological statement. "Of the LORD" (from Yahweh) asserts divine initiative and control. It signifies God's sovereign ordination, not necessarily moral approval of Samson's desire, but that God would use the circumstances resulting from it. This phrase emphasizes God's hidden but active will in events.
- that he sought an occasion (תֹּאֲנָה הוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ - to’anah hu’ mevaqqesh):
- sought (מְבַקֵּשׁ - mevaqqesh): To seek, require, search. Implies intentionality on Samson's part, even if unconsciously guided.
- an occasion (תֹּאֲנָה - to’anah): This noun means "pretext," "opportunity," "occasion," or "grievance." Often used in contexts implying a cause for quarrel or dispute, sometimes with a negative or manipulative connotation. Here, it refers to God using Samson's seemingly disobedient desire as the very spark for conflict with the Philistines.
- against the Philistines: Clearly states the intended target of this divinely orchestrated "occasion." They are Israel's oppressors.
- for at that time: Sets the immediate historical context, providing the divine rationale.
- the Philistines had dominion (מָשְׁלִים - mashlim - were ruling) over Israel: This crucial detail explains the underlying divine motive. Israel was under foreign oppression, necessitating God's intervention through a judge. God's ultimate purpose was the deliverance of His people from servitude.
Words-group analysis
- "But his father and mother knew not that it was of the LORD": This phrase sharply contrasts human understanding with divine providence. It illustrates that God often works in mysterious ways, beyond human comprehension or conventional wisdom, to accomplish His purposes. Even seemingly ungodly choices can be supernaturally woven into God's sovereign plan.
- "that he sought an occasion against the Philistines": This highlights God's strategic use of Samson's desire. The marriage itself becomes a "pretext" or "opportunity" for God to instigate conflict against the Philistine oppressors, aligning Samson's personal actions, however flawed, with God's broader redemptive purpose for Israel.
- "for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel": This clause provides the essential theological justification and context for God's actions. God was not merely enabling Samson's whim, but responding to Israel's plight under oppression, actively initiating the process of their liberation through a chosen, albeit complex, instrument.
Judges 14 4 Bonus section
This verse exemplifies the mysterious interplay between human free will and divine sovereignty. It does not excuse Samson's potential sin of coveting a foreign wife, but rather reveals God's overarching purpose in using an imperfect instrument and a controversial choice for His divine strategy of deliverance. This highlights that God's ways are higher than man's, often working outside of conventional piety or expectation. It is a powerful reminder that God's ultimate aim is the redemption of His people, and He is able to use every event, even those born of human weakness or shortsightedness, to advance His kingdom plan. This verse serves as a crucial theological interpretive key to understanding Samson's often unconventional narrative within the book of Judges.
Judges 14 4 Commentary
Judges 14:4 offers a profound glimpse into God's sovereignty, where His eternal plan unfolds even through the perplexing and seemingly disobedient choices of human agents. Samson's desire for a forbidden marriage was not morally sanctioned by God, yet God providentially leveraged this decision. He actively used it to create a strategic "occasion" to confront the Philistines, who were oppressing Israel. This verse affirms that God is perfectly capable of achieving His righteous ends through human actions, regardless of the individual's full understanding or even their imperfect motives. It reassures us that even when events seem chaotic or defy our moral expectations, God remains utterly in control, orchestrating circumstances to fulfill His purposes for His people.