King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
But if ye cannot declare [it] me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But if you can't solve it, you give me thirty linen shirts and thirty changes of good clothes." They answered, "Tell us the riddle, we want to hear it."
Berean Standard Bible:
But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”
American Standard Version:
but if ye cannot declare it unto me, then shall ye give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But if ye cannot{H3201} declare{H5046} it me, then shall ye give{H5414} me thirty{H7970} sheets{H5466} and thirty{H7970} change{H2487} of garments{H899}. And they said{H559} unto him, Put forth{H2330} thy riddle{H2420}, that we may hear{H8085} it.
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 14:13
Judges 14:13 is part of the narrative concerning Samson, one of the Israelite judges known for his superhuman strength and his vow to live as a Nazirite, dedicated to God. The verse occurs within the context of Samson's wedding feast, which is a cultural event involving a series of festivities and riddles, common in the ancient Near East as a form of entertainment and a test of wisdom.
In the verse, Samson presents a challenge to his thirty Philistine wedding guests. He wagers that if they cannot solve the riddle he poses, they must provide him with thirty sheets (likely fine garments or linen) and thirty changes of clothing. This reflects both the competitive spirit of the occasion and the practice of bridegrooms providing gifts to their guests, but with a twist—Samson is the one who stands to receive the gifts. The Philistines, confident in their wisdom or perhaps unaware of the riddle's complexity, readily agree to the terms, indicating their eagerness to engage in the contest.
The historical context of this event is set during a time when the Israelites were under the oppressive rule of the Philistines, and the story of Samson is one of the many cycles of oppression and deliverance found in the book of Judges. Samson's interactions with the Philistines are often marked by cunning and strength, as he seeks to deliver Israel from their control, albeit his methods are unconventional and his motives sometimes personal.
The themes present in this verse include the tension between the Israelites and the Philistines, the cultural importance of riddles and feasts, and the idea of wisdom and understanding as a form of power or currency. It also highlights Samson's character, which is both enigmatic and audacious, as he uses the occasion of his marriage to challenge and potentially exploit his Philistine guests, setting the stage for further conflict and the unfolding of his divine mission as a judge of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3201
There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָכֹל
Transliteration: yâkôl
Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer. - Strong's Number: H5046
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַד
Transliteration: nâgad
Pronunciation: naw-gad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H7970
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁלוֹשִׁים
Transliteration: shᵉlôwshîym
Pronunciation: shel-o-sheem'
Description: or שְׁלֹשִׁים; multiple of שָׁלוֹשׁ; thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth; thirty, thirtieth. Compare שָׁלִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H5466
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָדִין
Transliteration: çâdîyn
Pronunciation: saw-deen'
Description: from an unused root meaning to envelop; a wrapper, i.e. shirt; fine linen, sheet. - Strong's Number: H2487
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲלִיפָה
Transliteration: chălîyphâh
Pronunciation: khal-ee-faw'
Description: lemma חלִיפָה missing vowel, corrected to חֲלִיפָה; from חָלַף; alternation; change, course. - Strong's Number: H899
There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּגֶד
Transliteration: beged
Pronunciation: behg'-ed
Description: from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, [idiom] very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H2330
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חוּד
Transliteration: chûwd
Pronunciation: khood
Description: a primitive root; properly, to tie a knot, i.e. (figuratively) to propound a riddle; put forth. - Strong's Number: H2420
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִידָה
Transliteration: chîydâh
Pronunciation: khee-daw'
Description: from חוּד; a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim; dark saying (sentence, speech), hard question, proverb, riddle. - Strong's Number: H8085
There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַע
Transliteration: shâmaʻ
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.