Judges 15:3 (KJV)

What does Judges 15:3 mean?

Judges 15:3 shows Samson declaring that he will be more justified than the Philistines when he harms them, even though he is about to do them wrong. Samson is saying that, because of what the Philistines have done to him, he will not be as much to blame for his actions against them.

Samson is speaking after the Philistines have wronged him by giving his wife to another man. He is not talking to a specific person but making a statement about his own sense of justice. The verse highlights Samson’s belief that his upcoming revenge is justified, even though he admits it will cause harm.

The Hebrew behind Judges 15:3

• "blameless" (נָקִי, naqiy): This word means to be innocent or free from guilt. Samson is saying he will be more "blameless" than the Philistines, suggesting he sees his actions as less blameworthy because of what they did first.
• "displeasure" (רָעָה, ra‘ah): This word often means "evil" or "harm." Samson admits he is about to do something harmful, but he frames it as a response to the wrong done to him.

Why Judges 15:3 matters

• This verse clarifies that Samson is not acting out of pure malice, but out of a sense of being wronged and seeking to justify his actions in his own eyes.
• The verse sets up the cycle of retaliation between Samson and the Philistines that continues through the chapter, showing how personal vengeance escalates conflict.
• Understanding Samson's reasoning helps explain the complicated moral landscape of the judges period, where personal justice often takes the place of formal law.