Judges 14 שׁוֹפְטִים פרק י״ד

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Judges 14 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיֵּרֶדvay/YE/redand went downשִׁמְשׁוֹןShim/SHONSamsonתִּמְנָתָהTim/NA/tato Timnahוַיַּרְאvay/YARand sawאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanבְּתִמְנָתָהbe/Tim/NA/tain Timnahמִבְּנוֹתmib/be/NOTof the daughters ofפְּלִשְׁתִּים׃Pe/lish/TIMthe Philistines

   And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

2. 2

   וַיַּעַלvay/YA/aland he came upוַיַּגֵּדvay/yag/GEDand toldלְאָבִיוle/a/VIVhis fatherוּלְאִמּוֹu/le/im/MOand his motherוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanרָאִיתִיra/I/tiI have seenבְתִמְנָתָהve/Tim/NA/tain Timnahמִבְּנוֹתmib/be/NOTof the daughters ofפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesוְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowקְחוּ־אוֹתָהּke/CHU-o/TAget herלִיlifor meלְאִשָּׁה׃le/ish/SHAas wife

   And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלוֹloto himאָבִיוa/VIVhis fatherוְאִמּוֹve/im/MOand his motherהַאֵיןha/ENis there noבִּבְנוֹתbiv/NOTamong the daughters ofאַחֶיךָa/CHE/khayour brothersוּבְכׇל־עַמִּיu/ve/KHOL-am/MIor among all my peopleאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanכִּי־אַתָּהki-at/TAthat youהוֹלֵךְho/LEKHgoלָקַחַתla/KA/chatto takeאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanמִפְּלִשְׁתִּיםmip/Pe/lish/TIMof the Philistinesהָעֲרֵלִיםha/a/re/LIMthe uncircumcisedוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשִׁמְשׁוֹןShim/SHONSamsonאֶל־אָבִיוel-a/VIVto his fatherאוֹתָהּo/TAherקַח־לִיkach-liget for meכִּי־הִיאki-hifor sheיׇשְׁרָהyosh/RAis pleasingבְעֵינָי׃ve/e/NAYin my eyes

   Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.

4. 4

   וְאָבִיוve/a/VIVand his fatherוְאִמּוֹve/im/MOand his motherלֹאlonotיָדְעוּya/de/Uknewכִּיkithatמֵיְהֹוָהme-Adonaiof the LORDהִיאhiit wasכִּי־תֹאֲנָהki-to/a/NAfor an occasionהוּא־מְבַקֵּשׁhu-me/vak/KESHHe was seekingמִפְּלִשְׁתִּיםmip/Pe/lish/TIMagainst the Philistinesוּבָעֵתu/va/ETfor at timeהַהִיאha/HIthatפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesמֹשְׁלִיםmosh/LIMhad dominionבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃be/Yis/ra/ELover Israel

   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.

5. 5

   וַיֵּרֶדvay/YE/redthen went downשִׁמְשׁוֹןShim/SHONSamsonוְאָבִיוve/a/VIVand his fatherוְאִמּוֹve/im/MOand his motherתִּמְנָתָהTim/NA/tato Timnahוַיָּבֹאוּvay/ya/VO/uand cameעַד־כַּרְמֵיad-kar/MEto the vineyards ofתִמְנָתָהTim/NA/taTimnahוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdכְּפִירke/FIRa young lion ofאֲרָיוֹתa/ra/YOTlionsשֹׁאֵגsho/EGroaredלִקְרָאתוֹ׃lik/ra/TOto meet him

   Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.

6. 6

   וַתִּצְלַחvat/tits/LACHand came mightilyעָלָיוa/LAYVupon himרוּחַRU/achthe Spirit ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיְשַׁסְּעֵהוּvay/shas/se/E/huand he tore itכְּשַׁסַּעke/shas/SAas one tearsהַגְּדִיhag/ge/DIa kidוּמְאוּמָהu/me/U/maand anythingאֵיןenthere was notבְּיָדוֹbe/ya/DOin his handוְלֹאve/LObut notהִגִּידhig/GIDhe toldלְאָבִיוle/a/VIVhis fatherוּלְאִמּוֹu/le/im/MOor his motherאֵת־אֲשֶׁרet-a/SHERwhatעָשָׂה׃a/SAhe had done

   And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

7. 7

   וַיֵּרֶדvay/YE/redand he went downוַיְדַבֵּרvay/dab/BERand spokeלָאִשָּׁהla/ish/SHAto the womanוַתִּישַׁרvat/ti/SHARand she pleasedבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofשִׁמְשׁוֹן׃Shim/SHONSamson

   And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

8. 8

   וַיָּשׇׁבvay/YA/shovand he returnedמִיָּמִיםmiy/ya/MIMafter a timeלְקַחְתָּהּle/kach/TAto take herוַיָּסַרvay/YA/sarand he turned asideלִרְאוֹתlir/OTto seeאֵת־מַפֶּלֶתet-map/PE/letthe carcass ofהָאַרְיֵהha/ar/YEthe lionוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdעֲדַתa/DATa swarm ofדְּבוֹרִיםde/vo/RIMbeesבִּגְוִיַּתbig/viy/YATin the carcass ofהָאַרְיֵהha/ar/YEthe lionוּדְבָשׁ׃u/de/VASHand honey

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

9. 9

   וַיִּרְדֵּהוּvay/yir/DE/huand he scraped it outאֶל־כַּפָּיוel-kap/PAYVinto his palmsוַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentהָלוֹךְha/LOKHgoingוְאָכֹלve/a/KHOLand eatingוַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand cameאֶל־אָבִיוel-a/VIVto his fatherוְאֶל־אִמּוֹve/EL-im/MOand to his motherוַיִּתֵּןvay/yit/TENand gaveלָהֶםla/HEMto themוַיֹּאכֵלוּvay/yo/KHE/luand they ateוְלֹא־הִגִּידve/LO-hig/GIDbut did not tellלָהֶםla/HEMthemכִּיkithatמִגְּוִיַּתmig/ge/viy/YATfrom the carcass ofהָאַרְיֵהha/ar/YEthe lionרָדָהra/DAhe had scrapedהַדְּבָשׁ׃had/de/VASHthe honey

   And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

10. 10

    וַיֵּרֶדvay/YE/redand went downאָבִיהוּa/VI/huhis fatherאֶל־הָאִשָּׁהel-ha/ish/SHAto the womanוַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand he madeשָׁםshamthereשִׁמְשׁוֹןShim/SHONSamsonמִשְׁתֶּהmish/TEa feastכִּיkiforכֵּןkensoיַעֲשׂוּya/a/SUused to doהַבַּחוּרִים׃hab/ba/chu/RIMthe young men

    So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

11. 11

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passכִּרְאוֹתָםkir/o/TAMwhen they sawאוֹתוֹo/TOhimוַיִּקְחוּvay/yik/CHUand they tookשְׁלֹשִׁיםshe/lo/SHIMthirtyמֵרֵעִיםme/re/IMcompanionsוַיִּהְיוּvay/yih/YUto beאִתּוֹ׃it/TOwith him

    And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

12. 12

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלָהֶםla/HEMto themשִׁמְשׁוֹןShim/SHONSamsonאָחוּדָה־נָּאa/chu/DA-nalet me now put forthלָכֶםla/KHEMto youחִידָהchi/DAa riddleאִם־הַגֵּדim-hag/GEDif declareתַּגִּידוּtag/GI/duyou can declareאוֹתָהּo/TAitלִיlito meשִׁבְעַתshiv/ATwithin the sevenיְמֵיye/MEdays ofהַמִּשְׁתֶּהham/mish/TEthe feastוּמְצָאתֶםu/me/tsa/TEMand find it outוְנָתַתִּיve/na/tat/TIand I will giveלָכֶםla/KHEMto youשְׁלֹשִׁיםshe/lo/SHIMthirtyסְדִינִיםse/di/NIMlinen garmentsוּשְׁלֹשִׁיםu/she/lo/SHIMand thirtyחֲלִפֹתcha/li/FOTchanges ofבְּגָדִים׃be/ga/DIMgarments

    And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

13. 13

    וְאִם־לֹאve/IM-lobut if notתוּכְלוּtukh/LUyou canלְהַגִּידle/hag/GIDdeclare itלִיlito meוּנְתַתֶּםu/ne/tat/TEMthen you shall giveאַתֶּםat/TEMyouלִיlito meשְׁלֹשִׁיםshe/lo/SHIMthirtyסְדִינִיםse/di/NIMlinen garmentsוּשְׁלֹשִׁיםu/she/lo/SHIMand thirtyחֲלִיפוֹתcha/li/FOTchanges ofבְּגָדִיםbe/ga/DIMgarmentsוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidלוֹloto himחוּדָהCHU/daput forthחִידָתְךָchi/da/te/KHAyour riddleוְנִשְׁמָעֶנָּה׃ve/nish/ma/EN/nathat we may hear it

    But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.

14. 14

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלָהֶםla/HEMto themמֵהָאֹכֵלme/ha/o/KHELfrom the eaterיָצָאya/TSAcame outמַאֲכָלma/a/KHALsomething to eatוּמֵעַזu/me/AZand out of the strongיָצָאya/TSAcame outמָתוֹקma/TOKsomething sweetוְלֹאve/LOand notיָכְלוּya/khe/LUcould theyלְהַגִּידle/hag/GIDdeclareהַחִידָהha/chi/DAthe riddleשְׁלֹשֶׁתshe/LO/shetin threeיָמִים׃ya/MIMdays

    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.

15. 15

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבַּיּוֹםbay/YOMon the dayהַשְּׁבִיעִיhash/she/vi/Ithe seventhוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidלְאֵשֶׁת־שִׁמְשׁוֹןle/E/shet-shim/SHONto Samson’s wifeפַּתִּיpat/TIenticeאֶת־אִישֵׁךְet-i/SHEKHyour husbandוְיַגֶּד־לָנוּve/yag/GED-LA/nuthat he may declare to usאֶת־הַחִידָהet-ha/chi/DAthe riddleפֶּן־נִשְׂרֹףpen-nis/ROFlest we burnאוֹתָךְo/TAKHyouוְאֶת־בֵּיתve/ET-betand the house ofאָבִיךְa/VIKHyour fatherבָּאֵשׁba/ESHwith fireהַלְיׇרְשֵׁנוּhal/yor/SHE/nuto dispossess usקְרָאתֶםke/ra/TEMhave you invitedלָנוּLA/nuusהֲלֹא׃ha/LOis it not so

    And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?

16. 16

    וַתֵּבְךְּvat/TEVKand she weptאֵשֶׁתE/shetthe wife ofשִׁמְשׁוֹןShim/SHONSamsonעָלָיוa/LAYVbefore himוַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidרַק־שְׂנֵאתַנִיrak-se/ne/TA/niyou only hate meוְלֹאve/LOand do notאֲהַבְתָּנִיa/hav/TA/nilove meהַחִידָהha/chi/DAthe riddleחַדְתָּCHAD/tayou have put forthלִבְנֵיliv/NEto the children ofעַמִּיam/MImy peopleוְלִיve/LIbut to meלֹאlonotהִגַּדְתָּהhig/GAD/tahave you told itוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלָהּlato herהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdלְאָבִיle/a/VImy fatherוּלְאִמִּיu/le/im/MInor my motherלֹאlonotהִגַּדְתִּיhig/GAD/tiI have told itוְלָךְve/LAKHand to youאַגִּיד׃ag/GIDshall I tell

    And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?

17. 17

    וַתֵּבְךְּvat/TEVKand she weptעָלָיוa/LAYVbefore himשִׁבְעַתshiv/ATthe sevenהַיָּמִיםhay/ya/MIMthe daysאֲשֶׁר־הָיָהa/SHER-ha/YAthat lastedלָהֶםla/HEMto themהַמִּשְׁתֶּהham/mish/TEthe feastוַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבַּיּוֹםbay/YOMon the dayהַשְּׁבִיעִיhash/she/vi/Ithe seventhוַיַּגֶּד־לָהּvay/YAG/ged-lathat he told herכִּיkibecauseהֱצִיקַתְהוּhe/tsi/KAT/hushe pressed himוַתַּגֵּדvat/tag/GEDand she toldהַחִידָהha/chi/DAthe riddleלִבְנֵיliv/NEto the children ofעַמָּהּ׃am/MAher people

    And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

18. 18

    וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidלוֹloto himאַנְשֵׁיan/SHEthe men ofהָעִירha/IRthe cityבַּיּוֹםbay/YOMon the dayהַשְּׁבִיעִיhash/she/vi/Ithe seventhבְּטֶרֶםbe/TE/rembeforeיָבֹאya/VOwent downהַחַרְסָהha/CHAR/sathe sunמַה־מָּתוֹקma-ma/TOKwhat is sweeterמִדְּבַשׁmid/de/VASHthan honeyוּמֶהu/MEand whatעַזazis strongerמֵאֲרִיme/a/RIthan a lionוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלָהֶםla/HEMto themלוּלֵאlu/LEif notחֲרַשְׁתֶּםcha/rash/TEMyou had plowedבְּעֶגְלָתִיbe/eg/la/TIwith my heiferלֹאlonotמְצָאתֶםme/tsa/TEMwould you have found outחִידָתִי׃chi/da/TImy riddle

    And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

19. 19

    וַתִּצְלַחvat/tits/LACHand came mightilyעָלָיוa/LAYVupon himרוּחַRU/achthe Spirit ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיֵּרֶדvay/YE/redand he went down toאַשְׁקְלוֹןAsh/ke/LONAshkelonוַיַּךְvay/YAKHand struckמֵהֶםme/HEMof themשְׁלֹשִׁיםshe/lo/SHIMthirtyאִישׁishmenוַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookאֶת־חֲלִיצוֹתָםet-cha/li/tso/TAMtheir spoilוַיִּתֵּןvay/yit/TENand gaveהַחֲלִיפוֹתha/cha/li/FOTthe changes of garmentsלְמַגִּידֵיle/mag/gi/DEto those who declaredהַחִידָהha/chi/DAthe riddleוַיִּחַרvay/YI/charand was kindledאַפּוֹap/POhis angerוַיַּעַלvay/YA/aland he went up toבֵּיתbetthe house ofאָבִיהוּ׃a/VI/huhis father

    And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.

20. 20

    וַתְּהִיvat/te/HIbut was givenאֵשֶׁתE/shetthe wife ofשִׁמְשׁוֹןShim/SHONSamsonלְמֵרֵעֵהוּle/me/re/E/huto his companionאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomרֵעָהre/Ahad befriendedלוֹ׃lohim

    But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.