Judges 14:18
*“So the men of the city said to 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 to them, ‘If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle.’”* (Judges 14:18). In this verse, set in the city of Timnah, a Philistine locale situated in the southwestern region near the land allotted to the tribe of Dan, we witness the climax of Samson’s riddle. According to tradition, Samson lived in the early 12th century BC, during the time of the Judges when Israel often vacillated between faithfulness to God and subjugation under neighboring powers. With a wedding celebration underway, the Philistine men of Timnah finally come forth with the answer to Samson’s riddle about honey and a lion, revealing they have obtained the solution through manipulation of Samson’s new wife rather than creative insight.
*“What is sweeter than honey?”* (Judges 14:18) underscores the substance of Samson’s riddle, which originated from the extraordinary event in which Samson found honey in the carcass of a lion (Judges 14:8-9 NASB-95). This miraculous discovery became the foundation of his puzzle. By referencing the sweetness, the men quote the very key to the riddle, yet they never solved it on their own. Instead, they coerced Samson’s bride, who felt the brunt of their threats, to divulge the hidden secret (Judges 14:17 NASB-95). This dynamic demonstrates how deception and intimidation overshadowed genuine inquiry.
Samson’s angered response, *“If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle”* (Judges 14:18), displays his realization that betrayal came from within his own household. This expression—a cultural metaphor—conveys his indignation that his bride was used as the means to expose his puzzle. The men’s words and victory reflect a temporary triumph of subterfuge, yet they sow seeds of further conflict between Samson and the Philistines, paving the way for his escalating confrontations that would ultimately fulfill God’s confrontation of the Philistines in Israel’s history (Judges 14:4 NASB-95).
Samson’s bride was extorted by her own countrymen, revealing that unresolved anger and broken trust often breed deeper hostilities.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Judges 5:12-18 meaning. Deborah and Barak’s victory song continues, praising those tribes who joined the fight and criticizing those who stayed behind.
- Deuteronomy 18:9-14 meaning. Moses discusses religious practices that are prohibited. He then describes the office of prophets who proclaim the word of their LORD. Thus, he forbade the Israelites from following the detestable practices of the surrounding nations in order to live blamelessly before the LORD in the Promised Land.
- Genesis 14:13-16 meaning. When Abram learned of Lot’s capture, he set out in pursuit with his allies. They pursued them a considerable distance, then defeated the kings and rescued Lot and the other captives as well as his possessions.