Judges 14:19 - Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and struck thirty men of them, and took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Judges 14:19" mean?
Judges 14:19 describes a pivotal moment in Samson's story, filled with divine empowerment, violence, resolution (of sorts), and lingering anger. Let's break down each element:
"Yahweh's Spirit came mightily on him": This is a key phrase in the Book of Judges, indicating divine empowerment. It signifies that God's power surges through Samson, giving him superhuman strength and motivation. This isn't a constant state but a temporary surge for a specific purpose.
"He went down to Ashkelon, and struck thirty men of them, and took their plunder": Ashkelon was a Philistine city. Driven by his need to pay the wager he lost in the riddle contest (because his wife betrayed him), Samson undertakes a violent raid. He single-handedly kills thirty Philistines and steals their clothing (plunder).
"Then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle": This fulfills the terms of the wager. Samson pays the thirty Philistines who correctly solved the riddle, although they only did so by pressuring his wife. This action "resolves" the bet but does not settle the underlying tensions and betrayal.
"His anger burned, and he went up to his father's house": Even after fulfilling the wager, Samson remains consumed by anger. This anger is likely directed at several things:
His wife's betrayal: She manipulated him to get the answer to the riddle and revealed it to her people.
The Philistines: They used his wife against him and gained advantage.
The situation as a whole: He was forced into this situation by the wedding and the riddle, and now he's left with resentment and violence.
Going back to his father's house suggests a retreat or a sulking. He doesn't reconcile with his wife and isn't seeking further confrontation immediately.
In summary:
The verse shows Samson, empowered by God, resorting to violence to fulfill a bet he lost due to betrayal. While he completes the transaction, the verse underscores his simmering anger and sets the stage for further conflict. The verse is important for understanding Samson's character: he is a man of great strength but also prone to anger, impulsivity, and easily manipulated. His actions, while divinely empowered, are not necessarily righteous or morally exemplary. They are a reflection of the volatile and violent times of the Judges, and foreshadow the larger conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines.
Judges 14:19 - Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and struck thirty men of them, and took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.
What does "Judges 14:19" mean?
Judges 14:19 describes a pivotal moment in Samson's story, filled with divine empowerment, violence, resolution (of sorts), and lingering anger. Let's break down each element:
"Yahweh's Spirit came mightily on him": This is a key phrase in the Book of Judges, indicating divine empowerment. It signifies that God's power surges through Samson, giving him superhuman strength and motivation. This isn't a constant state but a temporary surge for a specific purpose.
"He went down to Ashkelon, and struck thirty men of them, and took their plunder": Ashkelon was a Philistine city. Driven by his need to pay the wager he lost in the riddle contest (because his wife betrayed him), Samson undertakes a violent raid. He single-handedly kills thirty Philistines and steals their clothing (plunder).
"Then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle": This fulfills the terms of the wager. Samson pays the thirty Philistines who correctly solved the riddle, although they only did so by pressuring his wife. This action "resolves" the bet but does not settle the underlying tensions and betrayal.
"His anger burned, and he went up to his father's house": Even after fulfilling the wager, Samson remains consumed by anger. This anger is likely directed at several things:
His wife's betrayal: She manipulated him to get the answer to the riddle and revealed it to her people.
The Philistines: They used his wife against him and gained advantage.
The situation as a whole: He was forced into this situation by the wedding and the riddle, and now he's left with resentment and violence.
Going back to his father's house suggests a retreat or a sulking. He doesn't reconcile with his wife and isn't seeking further confrontation immediately.
In summary:
The verse shows Samson, empowered by God, resorting to violence to fulfill a bet he lost due to betrayal. While he completes the transaction, the verse underscores his simmering anger and sets the stage for further conflict. The verse is important for understanding Samson's character: he is a man of great strength but also prone to anger, impulsivity, and easily manipulated. His actions, while divinely empowered, are not necessarily righteous or morally exemplary. They are a reflection of the volatile and violent times of the Judges, and foreshadow the larger conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines.