Judges 14:12

KJV

And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

KJV (with Strong's)

And Samson {H8123} said {H559} unto them, I will now put forth {H2330} a riddle {H2420} unto you: if ye can certainly {H5046} declare {H5046} it me within the seven {H7651} days {H3117} of the feast {H4960}, and find it out {H4672}, then I will give {H5414} you thirty {H7970} sheets {H5466} and thirty {H7970} change {H2487} of garments {H899}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Shimshon said to them, "Let me present you with a riddle. If you can solve it within the seven days of the banquet and tell me the solution, I will give you thirty linen shirts and thirty changes of good clothes.

Berean Standard Bible

“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.

American Standard Version

And Samson said unto them, Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can declare it unto me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 14:12 introduces Samson's challenge to his Philistine wedding guests: a riddle proposed during the seven-day feast. He wagers a substantial prize of thirty sets of fine linen garments and festive attire against their ability to solve it within the given timeframe. This seemingly playful intellectual contest immediately establishes a high-stakes tension, foreshadowing the inevitable conflict and deception that will unfold between Samson and the Philistines, setting the stage for his divinely ordained, albeit often reckless, mission against Israel's oppressors.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Samson's personal and unrevealed encounter with a lion, which he tore apart with his bare hands, and his subsequent discovery of a beehive and honey within its carcass ([Judges 14:8](/judges/14-8 "Judges 14:8 - Samson and the Lion Carcass")). This unique and secret experience forms the very basis of the riddle he is about to propose, making it virtually impossible for anyone else to solve without insider knowledge. The setting is Samson's wedding feast in Timnath, a Philistine city, where his father-in-law has provided thirty Philistine companions. This marriage itself is presented as a divinely orchestrated, though humanly flawed, step in God's plan to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression, despite Samson's personal desires for a Philistine woman ([Judges 14:3](/judges/14-3 "Judges 14:3 - Samson's Desire for a Philistine Wife")). The riddle serves as a dramatic pivot point, transforming a festive occasion into a confrontational intellectual battle.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Wedding feasts in the ancient Near East were significant social events, often lasting for an extended period, typically seven days, as seen in the account of Jacob's wedding to Leah and Rachel ([Genesis 29:27](/genesis/29-27 "Genesis 29:27 - Jacob's Seven-Day Wedding Feast")). Riddles were a popular form of entertainment and intellectual challenge, often used to display wit, wisdom, or to settle disputes, as evidenced in various ancient texts and traditions. The prize Samson offers—thirty sheets (fine linen garments) and thirty changes of garments (festive outer wear)—was exceptionally valuable. Such items represented significant wealth and status in an agrarian society where clothing was often handmade and a major investment. The sheer value of the wager underscores the seriousness of the challenge and highlights Samson's confidence, perhaps even arrogance, in his secret knowledge and his ability to outwit his adversaries.
* **Key Themes:** The proposal of this riddle immediately brings several key themes to the forefront of the narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Riddles and Wagers** as a means of engagement and conflict in the ancient world, here used by Samson to assert dominance and challenge the Philistines. Secondly, it further illuminates **Samson's Character**, revealing his playful, yet often impulsive, self-reliant, and even reckless nature. He employs his cleverness and unique experiences, much like he uses his extraordinary physical strength ([Judges 14:6](/judges/14-6 "Judges 14:6 - Samson's Strength Against the Lion")), not merely for entertainment but as a strategic tool against those who are ultimately his enemies. Lastly, the high-stakes wager immediately establishes an **Underlying Conflict** that simmers beneath the surface of the festive atmosphere. The immense value of the prize foreshadows the Philistines' desperate and deceitful measures to obtain the answer, which will inevitably lead to further escalation of hostilities between Samson and his oppressors ([Judges 14:17](/judges/14-17 "Judges 14:17 - Samson's Wife Coerces the Riddle's Answer")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Riddle (Hebrew, _ḥîdâ'_):** The Hebrew word חִידָה (_ḥîdâ_) refers to an enigma, a puzzling question, or a dark saying. It implies something that requires cleverness, insight, or special knowledge to solve. In biblical contexts, riddles can be used for intellectual challenge (as here), for divine revelation (e.g., Numbers 12:8), or for moral instruction (e.g., Proverbs 1:6). Samson's use of a _ḥîdâ_ here is a test of wit, but also a veiled boast and a strategic move to gain an advantage over his Philistine companions.
* **Sheets (Hebrew, _sāḏîn'_):** The term סָדִין (_sāḏîn_) typically refers to a fine linen garment, often a tunic or an undergarment, or possibly a wrap. It was a valuable item, indicative of quality and comfort, and could also serve as a burial shroud (e.g., Mark 14:51-52). Thirty such garments would represent a significant amount of wealth, far beyond mere casual attire, highlighting the substantial nature of the wager.
* **Change of Garments (Hebrew, _ḥălîp̱ôṯ bəḡāḏîm'_):** This phrase, חֲלִיפוֹת בְּגָֽדִים (_ḥălîp̱ôṯ bəḡāḏîm_), literally means "changes of clothes." It refers to sets of outer garments, likely festive or ceremonial attire, kept for special occasions. To have thirty sets of these, in addition to the _sāḏîn_, signifies an immense prize, emphasizing the high stakes of the contest and the Philistines' motivation to win at any cost.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you:"** This opening clause establishes Samson's initiative and the nature of the challenge. He is the one setting the terms, signaling his confidence and control. The "riddle" is not a casual game but a strategic maneuver, designed to exploit his unique, secret experience with the lion and honey.
* **"if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out,"** This clause sets the conditions and the timeframe for the challenge. The "seven days of the feast" is the duration of the wedding celebration, adding a sense of urgency and pressure. The phrase "certainly declare it me" implies not just a guess, but a confident and accurate solution, while "find [it] out" emphasizes the intellectual effort required.
* **"then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:"** This final clause specifies the immense reward for solving the riddle. The "thirty sheets" (fine linen tunics) and "thirty change of garments" (sets of festive outer clothing) represent a staggering amount of wealth and status. This substantial prize underscores the seriousness of the wager and provides a powerful incentive for the Philistines to succeed, ultimately leading to their desperate and deceitful actions.

#### Literary Devices
The passage effectively employs several literary devices. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the high-stakes wager and the specific timeframe immediately suggest that the contest will not end peacefully, hinting at the deception and conflict that will follow. There is a strong element of **Irony**, as Samson, a Nazirite dedicated to God, engages in a worldly, self-serving wager at his own wedding to a Philistine woman, an act already fraught with tension. This highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of his character. The entire interaction functions as a **Wager/Contest Motif**, a common narrative device in ancient literature where intellectual or physical challenges are used to drive the plot and reveal character. This motif here serves to escalate the underlying ethnic and spiritual conflict between Samson and the Philistines, transforming a social event into a battle of wits that will inevitably lead to violence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 14:12, while seemingly a simple account of a riddle, delves into profound theological and thematic territory. It illustrates the dangers of unequal yokes and the compromises that can arise when God's people integrate too closely with those who do not share their values or allegiance. Samson's choice of a Philistine wife, though divinely purposed for judgment, stems from his own desire, and this riddle becomes a microcosm of the larger conflict between Israel and the Philistines. The narrative subtly explores themes of wisdom versus folly, as Samson's "wisdom" in posing an unanswerable riddle is met with the Philistines' "folly" in resorting to coercion and deception. This episode also highlights the concept of divine sovereignty working through human imperfection, as even Samson's reckless actions are ultimately bent to God's larger purposes of delivering Israel.

* [Proverbs 26:27](/proverbs/26-27 "Proverbs 26:27 - He Who Digs a Pit Will Fall Into It")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")
* [Ecclesiastes 7:26](/ecclesiastes/7-26 "Ecclesiastes 7:26 - The Bitter Woman")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Samson's riddle and the subsequent events serve as a powerful cautionary tale for believers today. While we are called to engage with the world, this narrative underscores the critical importance of discernment and integrity in our relationships and interactions, especially when dealing with those who may not share our foundational values or intentions. Samson's attempt to outwit his adversaries through a cunning, yet ultimately self-serving, maneuver led to escalating conflict, deception, and violence. This reminds us that even seemingly innocent games or challenges can carry significant spiritual and relational risks if not rooted in wisdom and guided by God's Spirit. We are challenged to consider the motivations behind our actions, the company we keep, and the potential consequences of our choices, striving always for peace, truth, and righteousness, rather than relying on our own cleverness or engaging in contests that compromise our witness or invite destructive outcomes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How might Samson's reliance on his own cleverness, rather than God's direct guidance, be a warning for believers today?**
* **What are some modern-day "riddles" or "wagers" that Christians might be tempted to engage in, and what are the potential dangers?**
* **In what ways can we ensure that our interactions with those who do not share our faith are characterized by integrity and wisdom, rather than leading to compromise or conflict?**

### FAQ

**Why did Samson propose a riddle, and what was its significance?**
Answer: Samson proposed the riddle primarily as a challenge and a display of his wit, leveraging a secret, personal experience (finding honey in a lion's carcass) that made the riddle virtually unanswerable by his Philistine companions. Its significance lies in its role as a catalyst for conflict. What began as a social game quickly escalated into a high-stakes wager, revealing the underlying animosity between Samson and the Philistines. It was a strategic move by Samson to assert dominance and perhaps even humiliate his adversaries, setting the stage for future confrontations that would further God's purposes against the Philistines.

**What was the value and cultural significance of the "thirty sheets and thirty change of garments"?**
Answer: The "thirty sheets" (fine linen tunics) and "thirty change of garments" (sets of festive outer wear) represented an extremely valuable prize in ancient Israel and the surrounding cultures. Clothing, especially fine or multiple sets, was a significant form of wealth, often used for trade or as a display of status. This substantial wager underscored the seriousness of Samson's challenge and provided a powerful financial incentive for the Philistines to solve the riddle. The immense value of the prize directly contributed to the Philistines' desperation and their subsequent use of coercion and deception to extract the answer from Samson's wife, leading to further conflict as described in [Judges 14:15-18](/judges/14-15 "Judges 14:15-18 - The Philistines Coerce Samson's Wife").

**What does this event reveal about Samson's character and his relationship with God?**
Answer: This event reveals Samson's complex and often contradictory character. He is portrayed as clever, confident, and even reckless, using his wit similarly to how he uses his strength—often for personal gratification or to engage with his enemies on his own terms. While Samson was a Nazirite dedicated to God from birth ([Judges 13:5](/judges/13-5 "Judges 13:5 - Samson's Nazirite Vow")), his actions here, including marrying a Philistine woman and engaging in a worldly wager, demonstrate a significant degree of self-will and a lack of adherence to the spirit of his Nazirite vows. Despite his personal flaws and impulsive choices, the narrative consistently shows that God was working through Samson's actions, even his seemingly misguided ones, to begin the deliverance of Israel from Philistine oppression ([Judges 14:4](/judges/14-4 "Judges 14:4 - God's Purpose in Samson's Actions")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Samson's riddle, born of a secret experience and leading to deceit and strife, stands in stark contrast to the ultimate "riddle" of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ. While Samson's challenge was designed to trap and expose his adversaries, Christ's life, death, and resurrection are the divine revelation that brings light and truth to all who believe. Jesus himself is the embodiment of God's wisdom, the one "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, the Treasure of Wisdom")). He doesn't pose riddles to trick, but speaks in parables to reveal spiritual truths to those with ears to hear, while simultaneously concealing them from those hardened in unbelief ([Mark 4:11-12](/mark/4-11 "Mark 4:11 - The Purpose of Parables")). Furthermore, Samson's wager involved costly garments, a temporary and material prize. In Christ, we are offered not merely "thirty sheets and thirty change of garments" but the priceless "garment of salvation" and the "robe of righteousness" ([Isaiah 61:10](/isaiah/61-10 "Isaiah 61:10 - The Garment of Salvation")), freely given through His atoning sacrifice. He is the true Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), providing the ultimate answer to humanity's deepest dilemma and clothing us with His perfect righteousness, a fulfillment far surpassing any earthly wager.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 45:22

To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred [pieces] of silver, and five changes of raiment.

1 Kings 10:1

¶ And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

Ezekiel 17:2

Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

2 Kings 5:22

And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

2 Kings 5:5

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

Proverbs 1:6

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Matthew 13:34

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: