Judges 14:16

And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told [it] me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told [it] my father nor my mother, and shall I tell [it] thee?

And Samson's ^{H8123} wife ^{H802} wept ^{H1058} before him, and said ^{H559}, Thou dost but hate ^{H8130} me, and lovest ^{H157} me not: thou hast put forth ^{H2330} a riddle ^{H2420} unto the children ^{H1121} of my people ^{H5971}, and hast not told ^{H5046} it me. And he said ^{H559} unto her, Behold, I have not told ^{H5046} it my father ^{H1} nor my mother ^{H517}, and shall I tell ^{H5046} it thee?

Shimshon's wife went to him in tears and said, "You don't love me, you hate me! You told a riddle to my fellow countrymen, and you haven't told me the answer." He said to her, "Look, I haven't even told it to my father and mother! Should I tell you?"

Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”

And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell thee?

Commentary

Commentary on Judges 14:16 (KJV)

This verse captures a pivotal moment of intense domestic and cultural pressure for Samson, as his Philistine wife relentlessly presses him to reveal the answer to his famous riddle. Her emotional plea, bordering on accusation, underscores the conflict between personal loyalty and tribal allegiance that defines much of Samson's story.

Context

Judges 14:16 takes place during Samson's wedding feast in Timnath. Samson, known for his extraordinary strength and unconventional choices, had posed a riddle to thirty young Philistine men accompanying him at the feast. The riddle, "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness," was based on his recent encounter with a lion and subsequent discovery of honey in its carcass (Judges 14:8). The wager was significant: thirty changes of garments and thirty sheets. Unable to solve it themselves, the Philistines threatened Samson's wife and her family, compelling her to extract the answer from him. This verse details her method of coercion.

Key Themes

Emotional Manipulation: Samson's wife employs a classic tactic of emotional blackmail, using tears and accusations of hatred to wear down his resolve. Her lament, "Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not," is designed to exploit his affections and sense of obligation.
Breach of Trust and Loyalty: The verse highlights a fundamental conflict of loyalties. Samson's wife is torn between her husband and her own people, the Philistines, whose threats she faces. Her ultimate allegiance, at this point, appears to be to her community rather than to her marriage vows.
Samson's Vulnerability: Despite his immense physical strength, Samson consistently demonstrates a profound weakness for women and a susceptibility to their influence. This incident foreshadows his later, more devastating vulnerability to Delilah's persistent nagging (Judges 16:16), which ultimately leads to his downfall.
Divine Purpose (Undercurrent): Although Samson's actions often appear driven by personal desires and flaws, the narrative of Judges repeatedly suggests that God was working through these very events to bring about conflict with the Philistines and deliver Israel from their oppression (Judges 14:4).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not" is a strong Hebrew idiom, often used to express deep disappointment, rejection, or a profound lack of affection, rather than literal animosity. It emphasizes the emotional intensity of her plea and her feeling of being wronged or unloved if he withheld the secret.

Practical Application

This verse offers several timeless lessons:

Beware of Manipulation: It serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of emotional manipulation in relationships. True love seeks to build up, not to tear down or coerce.
The Importance of Choosing Wisely: Samson's troubled marriage, initiated against his parents' counsel but ultimately "of the Lord" for His purposes (Judges 14:3), highlights the complexities of interfaith or inter-cultural unions where fundamental loyalties and values may clash.
Standing Firm Under Pressure: Samson's initial refusal to tell even his parents shows a recognition of the secret's importance. The narrative invites reflection on one's own resolve when faced with persistent pressure from others, especially from those we care about.
Recognizing Personal Weaknesses: Samson's repeated yielding to female influence is a recurring pattern. This verse encourages self-awareness regarding one's own vulnerabilities and areas where one is prone to compromise.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

Judges 16:15

And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart [is] not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength [lieth].
Genesis 2:24

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.