Judges 14 8

Judges 14:8 kjv

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

Judges 14:8 nkjv

After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion.

Judges 14:8 niv

Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey.

Judges 14:8 esv

After some days 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.

Judges 14:8 nlt

Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass.

Judges 14 verses

Judges 14 8 Meaning

This verse details Samson's unexpected discovery of a beehive within the dried carcass of the lion he had previously killed. It describes his deliberate detour to re-examine the lion's remains, finding a swarm of bees and honey. This surprising find sets the stage for a significant event in Samson's story, notably his famous riddle, and also highlights his casual disregard for his Nazirite vows against contact with dead bodies.

Judges 14 8 Context

Judges 14 recounts the initial stages of Samson's personal story and divine commission to begin delivering Israel from Philistine oppression. Having encountered a young Philistine woman in Timnah, Samson is intent on marrying her, a desire his parents object to because she is a foreigner. However, the narrator explicitly states that this seemingly self-willed act was part of God's sovereign plan to find an occasion against the Philistines. On his initial journey to Timnah, Samson was divinely empowered to tear a young lion apart with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-6). Verse 8 takes place on Samson's return journey, presumably some time later, to finalize the marriage arrangements ("to take her"). His deliberate detour to revisit the lion's carcass is crucial. The finding of bees and honey inside the remains of the lion forms the basis for the riddle he later poses at his wedding feast, triggering a chain of events that directly impacts the Philistines. Critically, Samson is a Nazirite from birth (Judges 13:5), and one of the core restrictions of a Nazirite vow is absolute abstinence from contact with dead bodies (Numbers 6:6-7). His turning aside and handling the carcass, even indirectly by eating from it, represents a direct violation of this solemn vow.

Judges 14 8 Word analysis

• After a while: (Hebrew: miyyamim - מִיָּמִים) Literally "from days," signifying a passage of time, though not immediately specified as short or long. It suggests a distinct period elapsed between Samson's initial killing of the lion and his return. This allows time for the carcass to dry out sufficiently for bees to inhabit it, rather than decompose.
• he returned: (Hebrew: wayyashav - וַיָּשָׁב) Indicates a physical return journey, specifically to Timnah to formalize his marriage to the Philistine woman. This action emphasizes Samson's continued pursuit of his desires.
• to take her: (Hebrew: lᵉqaḥtah - לְקַחְתָּהּ) Refers to the ancient practice of a man 'taking' a woman for marriage, often involving formal agreements and ceremonies. Samson's purpose for the return journey is clear: his wedding.
• and he turned aside: (Hebrew: wayyasar - וַיָּסַר) Implies a deliberate deviation from his direct path. This action shows a personal curiosity or inclination on Samson's part, recalling the previous event with the lion. It suggests a lack of urgency or an impulsive nature.
• to see: (Hebrew: lirʾot - לִרְאוֹת) To look at, observe. His intention was simply to revisit and examine the remains of the lion he had miraculously killed.
• the carcass: (Hebrew: nivlat - נִבְלַת) Refers specifically to the dead body, especially one that has decayed or become putrid. Its use here reinforces the severity of Samson's Nazirite vow violation. For bees to inhabit it, it would have had to be thoroughly dried out or just the skeletal remains.
• of the lion: (Hebrew: ha'aryeh - הָאַרְיֵה) The same lion he had previously torn apart. This provides continuity to the narrative and highlights the supernatural power granted to Samson by the Spirit.
• and behold: (Hebrew: wᵉhinnēh - וְהִנֵּה) An interjection used to draw attention, signify surprise, or introduce something unexpected or marvelous. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the discovery.
• there was a swarm of bees: (Hebrew: hamon dᵉvorim - הֲמוֹן דְּבוֹרִים) "Hamon" signifies a multitude, crowd, or great noise. "Dᵉvorim" means bees. This isn't just a few bees, but a thriving colony. Bees are naturally attracted to dark, dry cavities for nesting, making a skeletal lion's body a plausible, albeit unusual, location once decomposed.
• in the body of the lion: (Hebrew: bigᵉwiyath ha'aryeh - בִּגְוִיַּת הָאַרְיֵה) "Geviyah" also means body or corpse, often emphasizing the substantial physical remains. The choice of "body" again underscores the impurity of the source for a Nazirite. The drying out process implies an active working of nature (or even divine orchestration) to prepare the "cavity" for the bees.
• and honey: (Hebrew: udevash - וּדְבַשׁ) The sweet product of bees. Its presence signifies the ultimate unexpected "good" or "sweetness" derived from something previously dead and dangerous. This transformation forms the core paradox of Samson's riddle.

Words-group analysis

• "After a while he returned to take her, and he turned aside": This phrase reveals Samson's personal priorities and impulsive nature. His return journey for marriage to the Philistine woman is secondary to a curious detour, suggesting a self-driven pursuit of his own interests, which consistently characterises Samson's narrative.
• "to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey": This segment encapsulates the profound paradox central to the verse. The discovery is highly unexpected: a decaying, unclean symbol of death and danger has paradoxically become a source of life (bees) and sweetness (honey). The "behold" emphasizes the astonishment and unique nature of this divine or natural phenomenon. This transformation highlights God's ability to bring forth good from unforeseen, even seemingly impure, circumstances, and directly sets up Samson's later riddle: "Out of the eater came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet." The implication of Samson partaking of this honey also signifies a clear violation of his Nazirite vow, showing a pattern of disregard for his sacred calling.

Judges 14 8 Bonus section

The discovery of bees and honey within a dead animal's carcass, while biologically rare if the carcass were still putrefying, is less unusual if the animal had completely dried out and become skeletal. In the dry climate of ancient Israel, the rapid desiccation of a carcass could create a hardened, sheltered cavity ideal for a bee colony. This suggests that a significant amount of time, likely several months, passed between Samson killing the lion and his return to Timnah. The emphasis is on the startling discovery itself, rather than strict biological exactness of the timing of the decay.

Furthermore, this seemingly simple act of Samson turning aside reveals his deep curiosity and a personal touch with his divine power. He does not just rush towards his marriage, but is drawn back to the physical evidence of his extraordinary strength. However, this curiosity directly leads to his spiritual compromise. This foreshadows a recurring theme in Judges where individuals, even those raised up by God, act impulsively or disobediently, yet God sovereignly uses their flawed choices to advance His purposes for Israel. The sweetness of the honey thus becomes a powerful, multifaceted symbol – of unexpected blessing, but also of Samson's flawed obedience, ultimately contributing to a cunning plan against Israel's enemies.

Judges 14 8 Commentary

Judges 14:8 is a pivotal moment that underscores several key themes in Samson's story. Firstly, it showcases God's remarkable sovereignty, even working through unconventional and impure circumstances. The emergence of life and sweetness from a carcass, a symbol of death and uncleanness, is a potent illustration of how God can bring good out of unexpected sources. This transformation foreshadows the riddle that defines this chapter, highlighting a paradox: what was once a source of terror (lion) becomes a source of provision (honey).

Secondly, the verse pointedly highlights Samson's persistent disregard for his Nazirite vow. By deliberately turning aside to examine, and presumably partake of, the honey from the carcass, Samson flagrantly violates a core restriction (Num 6:6-7). This is not an accidental transgression but an intentional choice rooted in curiosity and immediate gratification. This casual breaking of his consecration sets a pattern for his later life, indicating his self-reliance and indifference to the covenant, despite possessing extraordinary divine strength. It reveals a dichotomy between his physical power and his spiritual discipline.

This event also provides insight into ancient Jewish understanding of purity laws, with bees not necessarily being seen as producing "unclean" honey, but the contact with the carcass making the source defiled. Samson, however, crosses that boundary directly, showing his disregard for external defilement, which often mirrored internal spiritual states in the Old Covenant. The honey from the lion can be seen as a hidden blessing or resource that emerged from a fierce and seemingly destructive encounter, paralleling how trials or "lions" in life can sometimes yield unforeseen sweetness or strength when God is at work.

• Example for practical usage: Just as sweetness came from something formidable, challenges in life (the 'lion') can, by God's grace, surprisingly lead to blessings or growth (the 'honey') we never anticipated.
• Example for practical usage: Samson's actions warn against the danger of neglecting our spiritual commitments for immediate desires. Small compromises can pave the way for greater departures from God's path.