Judges 15:7 - Samson said to them, “If you behave like this, surely I will take revenge on you, and after that I will cease.”

Generated Verse: Judges 15:7

What does "Judges 15:7" mean?


This verse, Judges 15:7, comes after the Philistines burned Samson's wife and her father to death. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

Context is Key: The Philistines burned Samson's wife and father-in-law because Samson had previously retaliated against them by burning their fields after they gave his wife to another man when he went to collect her.

"If you behave like this": This refers to the Philistines' horrific act of burning his wife and father-in-law. Samson sees it as a grave injustice and an escalation of the conflict.

"surely I will take revenge on you": Samson vows to retaliate against the Philistines for their actions. He's promising to inflict vengeance upon them.

"and after that I will cease": This is the crucial and often debated part of the verse. There are a few possible interpretations:

Limited Retaliation: One interpretation suggests that Samson is saying he will take revenge and then stop. This could mean he intends to inflict a specific amount of damage and then consider the matter settled. In this reading, "cease" means "stop" or "end." It implies he's being somewhat rational, or at least trying to set boundaries for his revenge.
Revenge Until I Die: Another interpretation sees this as Samson saying he will take revenge on the Philistines until he is completely finished, possibly implying until his death. In this reading, "cease" means "die" or "be no more." This reading implies Samson will take every opportunity to get revenge until he has no more strength or time.

In summary, Samson is saying that the Philistines' act of burning his wife and father-in-law will not go unpunished. He vows to seek revenge. The degree to which that revenge is intended to be limited is the central question.

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