But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.

JUDGES 15:1KJV
Know the Bible

Judges 15:1 (KJV)

What does Judges 15:1 mean?

Judges 15:1 describes how, some time after an earlier conflict, Samson goes to visit his wife during the wheat harvest, bringing a young goat as a gift, intending to see her in her private room. However, her father refuses to let Samson enter and see her.

The verse sets the scene during the wheat harvest, a time of year that often signified festivity and abundance in ancient Israel. Samson, acting on his own initiative, brings a customary gift (a young goat) to his wife, but is unexpectedly blocked by her father. This moment introduces the tension that will drive the events of the chapter, showing a breakdown in Samson’s marriage and family relations.

The Hebrew behind Judges 15:1

  • "Wheat" (חִטָּה, ḥittah) and "harvest" (קָצִיר, qatsir): The mention of wheat harvest highlights both the time of year and a season of plenty, which contrasts with the conflict and loss that follows.
  • "Kid" (גְּדִי, gedi; עֵז, ez): The word for "kid" here refers to a young goat, a common gift or offering in ancient times, signaling goodwill or reconciliation.
  • "Chamber" (חֶדֶר, cheder): This word means an inner room or private chamber, indicating Samson’s intention to visit his wife in a personal, intimate setting, not just a public visit.
  • "Suffer" (נָתַן, natan): Here, "suffer" means "permit" or "allow," so the verse is saying that the father would not allow Samson to enter, not that he caused him pain.

Why Judges 15:1 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Samson’s relationship with his wife was not yet fully severed in his mind, as he brings a gift and expects to see her, which sets up the personal betrayal he feels.
  • The detail about the wheat harvest helps readers place the story in its agricultural and cultural context, showing that this was a time when people would normally be celebrating, not feuding.
  • The refusal by the father-in-law to let Samson see his wife is a turning point that leads directly to the escalating conflict and violence in the following verses, making this a key moment in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“kid” Hebrew H1423 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 27:9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
  • Exodus 23:19 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
  • Judges 13:19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

“wheat” Hebrew H2406 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 30:14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
  • 1 Samuel 12:17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
  • Psalms 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

“chamber” Hebrew H2315 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 43:30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
  • 1 Kings 22:25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
  • Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

“Samson” 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.