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 14:15KJVWhat 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.