Judges 14:5

Samson, who lived around 1100–1070 BC, emerges in this account as a man led by divine prompting but also propelled by his own impulses. We read, *“So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him”* (v.5). The journey “down to Timnah” highlights the shifting of location from Israelite territory into the land near the Philistines. Timnah itself was situated in the lowland regions that bordered the Israelite and Philistine lands, making it a crossroads where different cultures could meet. By bringing his father and mother, Samson seems to honor a familial obligation even as he sets out to pursue a marriage among the Philistines, which will later reveal a divine purpose despite outward appearances (Judges 14:4, NASB-95).

The appearance of the lion *“roaring toward him”* (v.5) demonstrates a literal threat that will test Samson’s strength and God’s provision. Though not stated explicitly in this verse, the broader account clarifies that Samson’s power comes from the Spirit of the LORD (Judges 14:6, NASB-95). His experience with the lion acts as a precursor to many of the extraordinary feats that characterize his life, culminating in his final act of strength against the Philistines (Judges 16:28-30, NASB-95). In this sense, Samson’s walk toward Timnah symbolizes more than a physical journey; it foreshadows the spiritual quest of a man chosen by God yet often driven by human desires.

The roaring lion also alludes in broad principle to the challenges believers face in every generation, reminding us how God’s calling is accompanied by challenges that require faith and reliance upon His strength. Such a motif echoes forward to the New Testament, where believers are warned of an “adversary the devil” who “prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8, NASB-95), highlighting the importance of standing firm in faith.

Samson’s encounter with the lion sets the stage for divine intervention and foreshadows the deliverance he will bring to Israel through his extraordinary strength.