King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Shimshon went down with his father and mother to Timnah. When they came to the vineyards of Timnah, a young lion roared at him.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,
American Standard Version:
Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Then went{H3381} Samson{H8123} down{H3381}, and his father{H1} and his mother{H517}, to Timnath{H8553}, and came{H935} to the vineyards{H3754} of Timnath{H8553}: and, behold, a young{H3715} lion{H738} roared{H7580} against{H7125} him.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Judges 14:5
Judges 14:5 is a verse set within the narrative of Samson, one of the judges of Israel, who lived during a time when the Israelites were under the oppressive rule of the Philistines. The verse is part of the larger story of Samson's visit to Timnath, a Philistine town, where he sees and desires a Philistine woman to be his wife. This desire is in direct conflict with the Israelites' covenant with God, which instructed them not to intermarry with the surrounding nations to prevent idolatry.
In this particular verse, Samson is accompanied by his parents to Timnath, highlighting the tension between the obedience to God's law and personal desires. The mention of the vineyards suggests an atmosphere of fertility and indulgence, which contrasts with the Nazirite vow that Samson was supposed to uphold, a vow that included abstinence from products of the vine.
The encounter with the young lion is a pivotal moment, showcasing Samson's extraordinary strength and his role as a divinely empowered judge. The lion, often a symbol of strength and ferocity, roars against Samson, yet he tears the lion apart with his bare hands, an act that prefigures his future victories over the Philistines and demonstrates his God-given power. This event is also significant as it leads to one of Samson's riddles at his wedding feast, further entangling him in the complex web of Philistine relations and his own destiny.
The historical context of this verse reflects a period in Israel's history when the people were frequently straying from God's commands, and God was raising up judges to deliver them from their enemies. Samson's story, including this encounter with the lion, serves as a narrative of God's power working through flawed individuals and the consequences of succumbing to personal desires over divine directives.
*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: H3381
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַד
Transliteration: yârad
Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. - Strong's Number: H8123
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁמְשׁוֹן
Transliteration: Shimshôwn
Pronunciation: shim-shone'
Description: from שֶׁמֶשׁ; sunlight; Shimshon, an Israelite; Samson. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H8553
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תִּמְנָה
Transliteration: Timnâh
Pronunciation: tim-naw'
Description: from מָנָה; a portion assigned; Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine; Timnah, Timnath, Thimnathah. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H3754
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֶּרֶם
Transliteration: kerem
Pronunciation: keh'-rem
Description: from an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard; vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage. See also בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם. - Strong's Number: H3715
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּפִיר
Transliteration: kᵉphîyr
Pronunciation: kef-eer'
Description: from כָּפַר; a village (as covered in by walls); also a young lion (perhaps as covered with a mane); (young) lion, village. Compare כָּפָר. - Strong's Number: H738
There are 184 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲרִי
Transliteration: ʼărîy
Pronunciation: ar-ee'
Description: or (prolonged) [ar-yay']; from אָרָה (in the sense of violence); a lion; (young) lion, [phrase] pierce (from the margin). - Strong's Number: H7580
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁאַג
Transliteration: shâʼag
Pronunciation: shaw-ag'
Description: a primitive root; to rumble or moan; [idiom] mightily, roar. - Strong's Number: H7125
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִרְאָה
Transliteration: qirʼâh
Pronunciation: keer-aw'
Description: from קָרָא; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite); [idiom] against (he come), help, meet, seek, [idiom] to, [idiom] in the way.