Judges 14:14

KJV

And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559} unto them, Out of the eater {H398} came forth {H3318} meat {H3978}, and out of the strong {H5794} came forth {H3318} sweetness {H4966}. And they could {H3201} not in three {H7969} days {H3117} expound {H5046} the riddle {H2420}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So he said to them, "Out of the eater came food; out of the strong came sweetness." Three days passed, and they couldn't solve the riddle.

Berean Standard Bible

So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.

American Standard Version

And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 14:14 presents Samson's enigmatic riddle, "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness," posed to his Philistine wedding guests. This profound paradox, born from Samson's private encounter with a lion and his subsequent discovery of honeycomb within its carcass, served as a test of intellect and a catalyst for escalating conflict. The Philistines' inability to decipher its meaning within three days underscores the riddle's unique origin in divine providence and Samson's singular experiences, setting the stage for betrayal and the unfolding of God's sovereign plan to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed at the heart of the narrative concerning Samson's controversial marriage to a Philistine woman from Timnath, as detailed in [Judges 14](/judges/14 "Judges 14 - Samson's Marriage and Riddle"). The preceding verses establish Samson's desire for this foreign wife, a decision explicitly stated to be "of the LORD" to provide an occasion against the Philistines ([Judges 14:4](/judges/14-4 "Judges 14:4 - God's Purpose in Samson's Marriage")). On his initial journey to Timnath, Samson, empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, single-handedly tore apart a young lion ([Judges 14:6](/judges/14-6 "Judges 14:6 - Samson's Spirit-Empowered Strength")). Later, returning to claim his bride, he found a swarm of bees and honeycomb in the lion's carcass, a secret he kept from his parents. The riddle, therefore, is not merely an intellectual game but a direct outgrowth of this divinely orchestrated, yet personal and secret, encounter, designed to provoke the Philistines and further God's agenda. The Philistines' failure to solve it within the initial three days, as stated in this verse, immediately precipitates their coercion of Samson's wife, leading to the riddle's betrayal in [Judges 14:15](/judges/14-15 "Judges 14:15 - The Philistines' Threat and Betrayal").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Riddles were a popular form of intellectual entertainment and a test of wisdom in the ancient Near East, often exchanged at feasts or public gatherings. Samson's wedding feast, a customary week-long celebration, provided the perfect setting for such a challenge. The presence of "thirty companions" (Judges 14:11) highlights the social custom of the groom being accompanied by friends, often from the bride's community, who served as attendants. Timnath itself was a Philistine city, situated on the border between Israelite and Philistine territories, underscoring the constant tension and cultural intermingling. The Philistines were the dominant power oppressing Israel during the period of the Judges, and Samson's interactions, even seemingly personal ones like a marriage, consistently served as points of conflict and divine judgment against them. The high stakes of the riddle – thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes – reflect the value placed on such intellectual contests and the wealth involved in such social exchanges.
* **Key Themes:** Samson's riddle powerfully encapsulates several major themes within the Book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Unexpected Providence**, demonstrating how God can bring about His purposes through unconventional means and even through human sin or folly. The "sweetness" from the "eater" is a tangible illustration of God's ability to extract good and provision from dangerous or unlikely sources, foreshadowing how God would use Samson's tumultuous life to deliver Israel. Secondly, the riddle speaks to the **Nature of Wisdom and Revelation**. Samson's riddle was unsolvable by human ingenuity alone; it required specific, privileged knowledge of a divinely orchestrated event. This contrasts human, worldly wisdom with a deeper, divinely revealed understanding, hinting at the limitations of human intellect in grasping God's ways. Finally, the riddle serves as a potent **Foreshadowing of Conflict and Betrayal**. The Philistines' inability to solve it, and their subsequent resort to threats and deceit against Samson's wife, immediately ignites a cycle of violence and treachery that defines Samson's judgeship and the ongoing struggle between Israel and their oppressors.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Eater (Hebrew, _'okhel'_):** This term (אָכֵל) literally means "one who eats" or "devourer." In the context of the riddle, it directly refers to the lion that Samson encountered and killed. The choice of this word emphasizes the lion's inherent nature as a predator, a creature of consumption and danger, setting up a stark contrast with what "came forth" from it.
* **Strong (Hebrew, _'az'_):** The Hebrew word (עָז) denotes something "fierce," "mighty," "powerful," or "violent." It serves as a parallel descriptor for the lion, highlighting its formidable strength and predatory nature. The juxtaposition of "strong" with "sweetness" creates a profound paradox, emphasizing that something seemingly destructive or overpowering can yield something life-giving and pleasant.
* **Sweetness (Hebrew, _māṯôq'_):** This word (מָתוֹק) refers to something "sweet" or "pleasant to taste," specifically honey in this context. Its emergence from the "strong" and "eater" (the lion) represents an unexpected blessing, provision, and delightful outcome from a source of danger and death. It symbolizes the surprising goodness that can arise from difficult or even terrifying circumstances.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto them,"**: This simple introductory clause sets the scene for Samson's address to the thirty Philistine companions at the wedding feast. It highlights the direct, challenging nature of his communication, initiating the intellectual contest.
* **"Out of the eater came forth meat,"**: This is the first half of the paradoxical riddle. "The eater" refers to the lion Samson had killed, a creature whose natural function is to consume and destroy. "Meat" (Hebrew: _ma'akal_, meaning "food" or "something eaten") refers to the honeycomb found within the lion's carcass. The statement presents a profound reversal: from a source of consumption and potential death, something edible and life-sustaining emerged.
* **"and out of the strong came forth sweetness."**: This is the parallel second half of the riddle, reinforcing the paradox. "The strong" again refers to the powerful and fierce lion. "Sweetness" refers to the honey. This clause emphasizes the unexpected nature of the outcome: from a creature of immense power and danger, something delightful, pleasant, and beneficial was produced. Together, these two clauses form a chiasm (ABBA structure: Eater-Meat, Strong-Sweetness), intensifying the riddle's enigmatic quality.
* **"And they could not in three days expound the riddle."**: This final clause reveals the immediate consequence of Samson's challenge. Despite their collective intellect and the customary period for such contests, the Philistines were utterly stumped. Their inability to solve it underscores the riddle's unique and personal nature, rooted in an experience only Samson had, and sets the stage for their frustration, coercion, and the subsequent betrayal by Samson's wife.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 14:14 is rich in literary devices, primarily employing **Paradox** and **Riddle** as its central mechanisms. The entire verse is a **Riddle**, a form of intellectual challenge designed to test wisdom and insight, popular in ancient Near Eastern cultures. Samson's riddle, however, is a unique type, as its solution relies on a private, unshared experience, making it virtually unsolvable by conventional means. This inherent insolvability creates dramatic **Irony**, as Samson, though seemingly offering a fair challenge, has set an impossible task, highlighting the Philistines' eventual reliance on deceit. The core of the riddle itself is a striking **Paradox**: "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." This juxtaposition of opposing concepts—consumption yielding sustenance, and strength producing delicacy—serves to mystify the listeners and underscore the unexpected nature of God's workings. Furthermore, the riddle employs **Symbolism**: the lion, a symbol of destructive power and danger, unexpectedly becomes the vessel for honey, a symbol of sweetness, provision, and blessing. This symbolic transformation foreshadows God's ability to bring good out of seemingly adverse or destructive circumstances, a theme central to Samson's life and the broader narrative of redemption.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Samson's riddle, with its profound paradox of "sweetness from the strong," serves as a powerful theological statement about God's sovereign ability to bring good out of evil, life out of death, and provision from unexpected sources. It challenges human assumptions about where blessings originate, demonstrating that divine providence can work through the most unlikely and even dangerous circumstances. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, affirming that God's wisdom often operates contrary to human logic, transforming what appears to be a source of destruction into a wellspring of sustenance and joy. The riddle, therefore, is not merely a clever word puzzle but a microcosm of God's redemptive plan, where even the "eaters" of our lives can be transformed into conduits of His grace and blessing.

* [Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "Joseph's Declaration of God's Purpose")
* [2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "God's Power Perfected in Weakness")
* [John 12:24](/john/12-24 "The Grain of Wheat Must Die")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Samson's riddle invites us to look beyond immediate appearances and trust in God's capacity to work in paradoxical ways within our own lives. Just as sweetness emerged from the formidable lion, we are called to recognize that God can bring forth unexpected blessings, growth, and even joy from our most challenging or "eater"-like experiences—be they trials, losses, or periods of intense struggle. This requires a spiritual discernment that sees beyond the surface, acknowledging that God's wisdom often defies conventional understanding. The riddle also serves as a reminder that some truths are not immediately obvious or accessible to all; they may require a deeper, more personal revelation or a trust in divine providence that surpasses mere intellectual prowess. It encourages us to cultivate a posture of faith, believing that even when circumstances seem to consume us, God is capable of extracting "meat" and "sweetness" for our good and His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I identify "eaters" or "strong" challenges in my life that, through God's grace, might yield unexpected "sweetness" or blessings?**
* **In what specific ways has God brought good or provision out of difficult or seemingly destructive situations in my past?**
* **What does Samson's riddle teach me about the nature of divine wisdom compared to human understanding, and how can I better seek God's perspective in my circumstances?**
* **Am I willing to trust God's paradoxical workings, even when the path is unclear or the source of blessing seems unlikely?**

### FAQ

**What was the exact answer to Samson's riddle?**

Answer: The answer to Samson's riddle, "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness," was "a lion and honey." The "eater" and "strong" referred to the lion that Samson had killed and later found to contain a honeycomb. This specific, unshared experience was the key to solving the riddle, making it impossible for the Philistines to answer without external information or betrayal.

**Why did Samson pose such a difficult and seemingly unfair riddle?**

Answer: Samson posed this riddle for several reasons. Firstly, it was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern feasts to engage in intellectual challenges, and Samson, known for his strength, also possessed a sharp wit. Secondly, the riddle was a deliberate challenge to the Philistines, designed to demonstrate his unique experiences and perhaps his superiority. More profoundly, however, [Judges 14:4](/judges/14-4 "God's Purpose in Samson's Marriage") explicitly states that Samson's desire for the Philistine woman and the subsequent events, including the riddle, were "of the LORD, that He might seek an occasion against the Philistines." Thus, the riddle, though born from Samson's personal experience and perhaps his own pride, served as a divine catalyst to ignite conflict and further God's plan for Israel's deliverance from Philistine oppression.

**Was Samson's secret of finding honey in the lion's carcass unusual or unclean?**

Answer: According to Mosaic Law, touching a dead body, especially an unclean animal like a lion, would render a person ceremonially unclean ([Leviticus 11:27](/leviticus/11-27 "Unclean Animals")). As a Nazirite, Samson had an additional vow not to touch anything dead ([Numbers 6:6](/numbers/6-6 "Nazirite Vow Not to Touch Dead Bodies")). Therefore, his actions of tearing the lion and later retrieving honey from its carcass were indeed a violation of his Nazirite vow and ceremonial law. This highlights Samson's complex character, where his divine empowerment often coexisted with personal disobedience and disregard for the Law, yet God still used him for His purposes. The "sweetness" from the "eater" in this context also subtly points to God's ability to bring good even through human imperfection and transgression.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Samson's riddle, "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "eater" and "strong" can be seen as powerful metaphors for sin, death, and the forces of evil that held humanity captive. Humanity was consumed by the "eater" of sin, leading to spiritual death ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "The Wages of Sin")). Yet, from this ultimate "eater"—the cross, where Christ, the "Lamb of God" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")), was seemingly consumed by death—came forth the "meat" of eternal life and the "sweetness" of salvation. Christ's apparent weakness on the cross, where He allowed Himself to be "strong" enough to bear the sin of the world, became the very source of divine power and redemption ([1 Corinthians 1:25](/1_corinthians/1-25 "The Foolishness of God is Wiser")). His death, the ultimate act of self-sacrifice, defeated the "eater" of death itself, bringing forth the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "Jesus, the Bread of Life")) and the "living water" ([John 7:38](/john/7-38 "Rivers of Living Water")) for all who believe. Thus, the paradox of Samson's riddle perfectly prefigures the glorious truth that from the greatest defeat came the greatest victory, and from the ultimate "strong" act of sacrificial love came the sweetest grace and redemption for all humanity.

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

James 1:2

¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

James 1:4

But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

1 Kings 17:6

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

Romans 8:37

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Romans 5:3

And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 5:5

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.