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?

JUDGES 14:15KJV
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Judges 14:15 (KJV)

What does Judges 14:15 mean?

Judges 14:15 describes how, on the seventh day of Samson’s wedding feast, the Philistine guests pressured Samson’s wife to persuade him to reveal the answer to his riddle, threatening to burn her and her father’s house if she refused. The guests accused her of inviting them only to take advantage of them.

During the wedding celebration, Samson had posed a riddle to the Philistines, wagering a prize if they could solve it. When the guests could not figure it out, they turned to Samson’s wife, using threats and intimidation. This verse shows the tension and danger in the relationship between Samson, his wife, and the Philistines, highlighting the seriousness of the threat and the desperation of the guests.

The Hebrew behind Judges 14:15

  • פַּתִּי (patti, "Entice"): This word means to persuade or seduce, often with a sense of coaxing or leading someone astray. The Philistines are not asking politely; they are demanding that Samson’s wife use whatever means necessary to get the answer.
  • חִידָה (chidah, "riddle"): This word refers to a puzzle or enigmatic saying. The use of this word shows that Samson’s challenge was not just a simple question but something meant to be difficult and mysterious.
  • שָׂרַף (saraph, "burn"): This verb is a direct and violent threat. The Philistines are not making an idle warning; they are threatening real harm to force compliance.
  • יָרַשׁ (yarash, "have"): This word often means to possess or take something by force. The guests’ accusation that they were called to "take that we have" suggests they feel tricked or exploited by Samson’s family.

Why Judges 14:15 matters

  • Judges 14:15 clarifies the level of hostility and mistrust between the Philistines and Samson’s family, showing that the marriage alliance was fraught with danger from the start.
  • The verse reveals the pressure and fear Samson’s wife faced, helping explain her later actions in the story.
  • This moment sets up the conflict that will unfold in the following verses, showing how personal relationships and broader national tensions are tightly connected in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“riddle” Hebrew H2420 · used in 17 verses

  • Numbers 12:8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
  • Judges 14:17 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.
  • Psalms 49:4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

“Entice” Hebrew H6601 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 9:27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
  • Proverbs 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

“Samson's” Hebrew H8123 · used in 37 verses

  • Judges 13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
  • Judges 15:6 Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
  • Judges 16:10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

“seventh” Hebrew H7637 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • Leviticus 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
  • 1 Kings 18:44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.