Judges 14:19

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.

And the Spirit {H7307} of the LORD {H3068} came {H6743} upon him, and he went down {H3381} to Ashkelon {H831}, and slew {H5221} thirty {H7970} men {H376} of them, and took {H3947} their spoil {H2488}, and gave {H5414} change {H2487} of garments unto them which expounded {H5046} the riddle {H2420}. And his anger {H639} was kindled {H2734}, and he went up {H5927} to his father's {H1} house {H1004}.

Then the Spirit of ADONAI came over him powerfully. He went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their good clothes, and gave them to the men who had "solved" the riddle. He was boiling with rage, so he went straight up to his father's house,

Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,

And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and smote thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave the changes of raiment unto them that declared the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

Commentary

Context

Judges 14:19 details a pivotal moment in the narrative of Samson, one of Israel's judges. This verse immediately follows the revelation of Samson's riddle by his Philistine wife, who was coerced by her countrymen. Samson had bet thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments that his wedding guests could not solve his riddle. When they succeeded through deceit, Samson was enraged. This verse describes his immediate, divinely empowered, and violent response to fulfill his end of the bet.

Key Themes

  • Divine Empowerment and the Spirit of the LORD: The phrase "the Spirit of the LORD came upon him" is a recurring motif in Samson's story (Judges 13:25, Judges 15:14). It signifies a supernatural enablement for a specific task, often involving immense strength, even if the motive behind the action (Samson's anger) was human. This empowerment allowed him to act decisively against Israel's oppressors, the Philistines.
  • Retribution and Justice: Samson's act of slaying thirty men in Ashkelon and taking their spoil was a direct, albeit violent, form of retribution for the Philistines' deception regarding the riddle. While fueled by personal anger, this event also served God's broader purpose of initiating conflict with the Philistines, as noted in Judges 14:4, "it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines."
  • Samson's Flawed Character: Despite divine empowerment, Samson's actions are often driven by personal vendettas and passions, as seen in his "anger was kindled." This verse highlights the complex nature of Samson as a judge – a divinely chosen deliverer whose personal weaknesses and volatile emotions often intersect with God's sovereign plan.
  • Conflict with the Philistines: Ashkelon was one of the five major Philistine cities, making Samson's raid there a significant act of aggression against the very people who oppressed Israel. This event escalates the ongoing tension between Samson and the Philistines, setting the stage for future confrontations.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "the Spirit of the LORD came upon him" uses the Hebrew term ruach Yahweh (רוּחַ יְהוָה). This denotes a powerful, empowering presence of God's Spirit, equipping individuals with extraordinary abilities for specific divine tasks, not necessarily indicating moral perfection or spiritual maturity.
  • "Ashkelon" (אַשְׁקְלוֹן) was a prominent Philistine city, strategically located on the Mediterranean coast. Its mention underscores the direct confrontation with the heart of Philistine power.

Practical Application

Judges 14:19 reminds us that God can use imperfect people and even their flawed motives to accomplish His sovereign purposes. While Samson's anger was a human flaw, God utilized his strength and circumstances to begin the deliverance of Israel from Philistine oppression. This verse encourages us to see God's hand at work even in complex and messy situations, demonstrating that His plan often unfolds through human actions, both good and bad. It also highlights the consequences of deception and the intensity of personal anger when left unchecked, even when God's power is present.

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

  • 1 Samuel 11:6 (5 votes)

    And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

  • Judges 3:10 (5 votes)

    And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

  • Judges 13:25 (4 votes)

    And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

  • Judges 14:6 (3 votes)

    And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

  • Judges 15:14 (3 votes)

    [And] when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that [were] upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.