Judges 15:17 (KJV)

What does Judges 15:17 mean?

Judges 15:17 describes how, after finishing his speech, Samson threw away the jawbone he had used as a weapon and named the place Ramathlehi. The verse marks the end of Samson’s victory over the Philistines using an unusual weapon and shows him commemorating the event by naming the location.

Samson is the main figure here, having just defeated a large number of Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. After speaking—likely a short declaration or boast—he discards the jawbone, and the spot is given a name that means “Jawbone Hill” or “the height of the jawbone.” This act of naming places after significant events was common in the Old Testament and helps tie the story to a real location.

The Hebrew behind Judges 15:17

• "Jawbone" (לֶחִי, leḥi): This word refers specifically to the jawbone of a donkey, the tool Samson used as a weapon. The name Ramathlehi (רָמַת לֶחִי, Ramat-leḥi) literally means "height of the jawbone," directly connecting the place to the event.
• "Called" (קָרָא, qara): This verb means to name or proclaim. Samson’s act of naming the place highlights the importance of the victory and marks it for memory.
• "Place" (מָקוֹם, maqom): This word simply means a physical location, emphasizing that the story is tied to a real, specific spot.
• "Ramathlehi" (רָמַת לֶחִי, Ramat-leḥi): The name combines "ramah" (height or hill) and "leḥi" (jawbone), so the place name itself is a reminder of the dramatic event.

Why Judges 15:17 matters

• This verse clarifies that Samson’s victory was so remarkable that it became the basis for naming a location, showing how significant events were memorialized in ancient Israel.
• The detail about Samson discarding the jawbone signals the end of the immediate conflict and sets up what happens next in his story.
• Understanding the meaning of "Ramathlehi" helps the reader see the direct connection between the event and the place, reinforcing the historical and narrative context of Samson’s actions.