Judges 15 3

Judges 15:3 kjv

And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.

Judges 15:3 nkjv

And Samson said to them, "This time I shall be blameless regarding the Philistines if I harm them!"

Judges 15:3 niv

Samson said to them, "This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them."

Judges 15:3 esv

And Samson said to them, "This time I shall be innocent in regard to the Philistines, when I do them harm."

Judges 15:3 nlt

Samson said, "This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do to you Philistines."

Judges 15 verses

Judges 15 3 Meaning

This verse portrays Samson's forceful declaration following the Philistines' burning of his wife and her father. He proclaims his intention to retaliate, asserting that he will be "blameless" in the eyes of others, and presumably God, for any harm he inflicts upon them. His statement serves as a self-justification for his impending, brutal vengeance, establishing his moral impunity given their previous grievous act against him.

Judges 15 3 Context

Judges 15 immediately follows the narrative of Samson's failed marriage in Judges 14. Samson, angered by his Philistine wife's betrayal and the loss of a riddle-bet, burned the Philistines' grain fields, vineyards, and olive groves using foxes. In a retaliatory act, the Philistines severely escalated the conflict by burning Samson's Philistine wife and her father with fire (Judges 15:6). Verse 3 serves as Samson's immediate verbal response to this heinous act of reprisal, declaring his justification for a fresh, more brutal round of vengeance. This incident is rooted in the constant struggle between Israel and the Philistines during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by moral decline in Israel, lack of central leadership, and cycles of foreign oppression, where judges arose to deliver the people often through unconventional or personally driven means.

Judges 15 3 Word analysis

• And Samson said: Introduces Samson's personal declaration of intent, a characteristic feature of his narrative which often highlights his independent actions.
• to them,: Implies a general proclamation or resolve rather than a direct address to specific Philistines. It sets his intent openly.
• 'Now I shall be blameless: Hebrew: pa‘am zeh nakêh (פַּעַם זֶה נָקֶה).
  • pa‘am zeh: "this time," "now this time." Emphasizes a turning point; previous acts of retaliation might have been questioned, but now he feels fully justified. It is a declaration of new moral status.
  • nakêh (נָקֶה): "blameless," "innocent," "pure," "exonerated." Samson claims to be free from any culpability or punishment for his upcoming actions. This is a self-pronounced absolution, not a divine one, reflecting his personal, perhaps even presumptuous, sense of justice. It stands in contrast to the biblical standard of blamelessness before God (e.g., Deut 18:13).
• concerning the Philistines: Explicitly identifies the target of his actions and the context of his claimed impunity. His grievance and vengeance are directed specifically at this oppressive people.
• when I do them harm!': Hebrew: bi-hil'ātām (בְּהֵרָעִי אֹתָם), which can be literally "in my harming/grieving/destroying them." This indicates a future, definite act of inflicting damage or severe injury. The exclamation conveys Samson's resolute, aggressive determination.

• Words-group Analysis:
• 'Now I shall be blameless concerning the Philistines when I do them harm!': This complete phrase is Samson's personal charter for vengeance. He posits that the Philistines' egregious act of burning his wife and father-in-law renders any future harm he inflicts upon them as justified and without blame on his part. This reveals his focus on retributive justice, seeing it as proportional consequence rather than an act requiring further moral account. It also highlights the "eye for an eye" mentality of the time, although Samson often exceeded this standard, driven by passion rather than measured legal application.

Judges 15 3 Bonus section

• The Philistine burning of Samson's wife and her father was a harsh form of capital punishment, likely reserved for severe transgressions or as a terror tactic. This act, disproportionate even to Samson's initial field-burning (which itself was retribution for betrayal over the riddle), ignites Samson's resolve.
• Samson's assertion of blamelessness stands in stark contrast to later Mosaic law and prophetic teachings that emphasize the Lord's sole right to vengeance (Deut 32:35, Rom 12:19). It also precedes New Testament commands to "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies." This highlights the transitional nature of the Judges period.
• The passage illustrates the chaotic nature of the period described in Judges, where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6, 21:25), even a divinely appointed deliverer like Samson.

Judges 15 3 Commentary

Judges 15:3 is pivotal in Samson's narrative, showcasing his unique character and the moral ambiguity of the period. Samson's self-declaration of "blamelessness" isn't a theological endorsement from God, but a reflection of his own personal vendetta, now seemingly legitimized by the Philistines' cruelty. This verse encapsulates Samson's drive for personal, reciprocal justice rather than seeking the Lord's direction explicitly. While God did use Samson's personal motivations to orchestrate deliverance for Israel (Judges 14:4), Samson's actions often stemmed from impulsive, human anger and vengeance. The statement sets the stage for escalating violence, marking a shift from indirect acts (riddles, burning fields) to a direct, violent, and deeply personal form of retribution. This demonstrates how individuals in the era of the Judges often operated outside structured legal or divine authority, taking matters into their own hands based on personal grievances, even when those acts inadvertently served God's wider plan for His people.