Judges 15:2

KJV

And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: [is] not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

KJV (with Strong's)

And her father {H1} said {H559}, I verily {H559} thought {H559} that thou hadst utterly {H8130} hated {H8130} her; therefore I gave {H5414} her to thy companion {H4828}: is not her younger {H6996} sister {H269} fairer {H2896} than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

Complete Jewish Bible

Her father said, "I really thought you hated her altogether, so I gave her to your best man. But her younger sister - isn't she even prettier? Why not take her instead?"

Berean Standard Bible

“I was sure that you thoroughly hated her,” said her father, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.”

American Standard Version

And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 15:2 presents the pivotal and deeply frustrating interaction between Samson and his Philistine father-in-law, revealing the cultural chasm and personal betrayals that escalate the conflict between Samson and the Philistines. Following Samson's departure after his wedding feast, his father-in-law, presuming Samson's permanent abandonment of his wife, gave her to one of Samson's wedding companions. This verse captures the father-in-law's attempt to rationalize his actions and mitigate Samson's fury by offering a seemingly pragmatic, yet culturally insensitive, alternative: the younger, "fairer" sister. This moment not only highlights the objectification of women in that era but also serves as the immediate catalyst for Samson's subsequent acts of vengeance against the Philistines.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 15:2 is situated immediately after Samson's return to Timnah, seeking to reconcile with his Philistine wife. The preceding chapter, [Judges 14](/judges/14 "Judges 14 - Samson's Marriage and Riddle"), details Samson's initial encounter with the Philistine woman, his marriage, and the infamous riddle he posed at the wedding feast. Crucially, his wife, under duress from her own people, betrayed Samson by revealing the riddle's solution ([Judges 14:17](/judges/14-17 "Judges 14:17 - Samson's Wife Reveals the Riddle")). Enraged by this betrayal, Samson left her and returned to his father's house in Zorah. His prolonged absence led his father-in-law to assume a permanent abandonment, prompting the father-in-law to give Samson's wife to one of his "companions" (likely the best man or a close friend from the wedding). This verse, therefore, sets the stage for Samson's violent retaliation, moving the narrative from personal betrayal to broader inter-ethnic conflict.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges was characterized by a cyclical pattern of Israel's apostasy, oppression by foreign powers, their cry for deliverance, and God raising up a judge. Samson's story, in [Judges 13-16](/judges/13 "Judges 13-16 - The Story of Samson"), unfolds during a time of Philistine domination over Israel. The Philistines were a powerful, technologically advanced (iron-working) people who had settled on the coastal plain of Canaan. Marriage alliances, especially across ethnic lines, were complex and often fraught with political and social implications. The practice of a father giving his daughter in marriage, and the cultural norms around divorce or abandonment, varied. In Philistine society, it appears that a husband's prolonged absence could be interpreted as abandonment, allowing the father to re-marry his daughter. The casual offer of a younger sister as a replacement, based on her physical appearance, reflects a patriarchal society where women's agency was limited, and they were often viewed as property or commodities for alliance and procreation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Judges and Samson's narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **betrayal and broken covenants**, building on the wife's earlier treachery in [Judges 14:17](/judges/14-17 "Judges 14:17 - Samson's Wife Reveals the Riddle") and introducing the father-in-law's perceived betrayal. Secondly, it highlights the pervasive **misunderstanding and lack of communication** that plague Samson's relationships, leading to escalating conflict. The father-in-law's presumption ("I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her") is a prime example. Thirdly, the verse sharply illustrates the **objectification of women**, treating them as interchangeable commodities based on physical attractiveness ("is not her younger sister fairer than she?"). This dehumanizing perspective is a recurring motif in the book of Judges, often leading to tragic outcomes, as seen in the Levite's concubine in [Judges 19](/judges/19 "Judges 19 - The Levite and His Concubine"). Finally, the interaction serves as a critical point in the **escalation of conflict between Israel and the Philistines**, demonstrating how personal grievances become intertwined with national struggles, ultimately fulfilling God's purpose for Samson to "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines" ([Judges 13:5](/judges/13-5 "Judges 13:5 - Samson to Deliver Israel")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Companion (Hebrew, _mêrēaʿ'_):** This term refers to a friend, associate, or neighbor. In the context of a wedding, it would likely denote a close friend of the groom, perhaps even the "best man" or one of the wedding attendants. The father-in-law giving Samson's wife to his "companion" is particularly egregious, as it implies a breach of trust not just with Samson, but also within the social circle of the wedding, turning a supposed ally into a rival. This act would have been a profound insult to Samson's honor.
* **Fairer (Hebrew, _yāpâ'_):** Meaning "beautiful," "pleasing," or "good-looking." The father-in-law's use of this word to describe the younger sister underscores the superficiality of his proposed solution. It reveals a cultural mindset where a woman's value, even in the context of marriage, could be reduced to her physical appearance, implying interchangeability and a lack of regard for the sanctity of the marital bond or the individual's personhood.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her;":** This clause reveals the father-in-law's rationale for his actions. The phrase "verily thought" (Hebrew, _ḥāšab_ - "to think, devise, reckon") indicates a presumption or assumption on his part. He interpreted Samson's prolonged absence as a definitive sign of abandonment and intense dislike ("utterly hated her"). This highlights a critical failure in communication and a hasty judgment, leading to a significant misunderstanding that fuels the ensuing conflict.
* **"therefore I gave her to thy companion:":** This is the direct consequence of the father-in-law's assumption. Acting on his misinterpretation, he re-married his daughter to one of Samson's former wedding associates. This act, while perhaps culturally permissible under Philistine law for a perceived abandonment, was a profound insult to Samson's honor and a direct breach of the marital covenant from Samson's perspective. It also indicates the father-in-law's attempt to secure his daughter's future, albeit at Samson's expense.
* **"[is] not her younger sister fairer than she?":** This rhetorical question is a crass attempt by the father-in-law to deflect Samson's anger and offer a "solution." It reveals a disturbing objectification of women, reducing them to interchangeable commodities whose value is primarily based on physical attractiveness. The father-in-law assumes Samson's primary concern is merely having a wife, rather than the specific bond or the insult to his honor.
* **"take her, I pray thee, instead of her.":** This is the father-in-law's explicit offer. It's a pragmatic, yet deeply insensitive, attempt to resolve the crisis by substituting one daughter for another. This proposal completely disregards the emotional, relational, and covenantal aspects of marriage, further highlighting the cultural and moral chasm between Samson's Israelite understanding (even if flawed) and the Philistine customs.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant **Literary Devices**. The father-in-law's statement includes **Rhetorical Question** ("is not her younger sister fairer than she?"), which is not genuinely seeking information but rather attempting to persuade or justify his actions, revealing his manipulative and superficial approach. There is clear **Irony** in the father-in-law's attempt to pacify Samson by offering a "fairer" sister, as this very offer, rooted in a transactional view of women, further enrages Samson and directly leads to his destructive retaliation. The entire interaction serves as a powerful instance of **Foreshadowing**, as this personal betrayal and the father-in-law's dismissive attitude directly precipitate Samson's vengeful acts against the Philistines, escalating the conflict from a domestic dispute to a broader ethnic struggle. The casual offer of the younger sister also functions as **Symbolism**, representing the patriarchal and objectifying nature of the Philistine culture, contrasting sharply with the covenantal ideals of marriage, even if imperfectly practiced by Samson himself.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 15:2 profoundly illustrates the destructive consequences of broken trust, poor communication, and the objectification of individuals. The father-in-law's presumption and his transactional view of women reflect a broader societal brokenness, where personal honor and physical appearance supersede covenantal fidelity and human dignity. Theologically, this passage underscores the chaos and moral decay prevalent during the period of the Judges, where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" ([Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - Everyone Did What Was Right in His Own Eyes")). It serves as a stark reminder of humanity's fallen nature and the need for divine guidance in relationships and societal structures, highlighting how sin distorts perceptions, breaks bonds, and escalates conflict.

* [Genesis 2:24](/genesis/2-24 "Genesis 2:24 - One Flesh")
* [Proverbs 18:13](/proverbs/18-13 "Proverbs 18:13 - Hasty Judgment")
* [Matthew 19:6](/matthew/19-6 "Matthew 19:6 - What God Has Joined Together")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 15:2 offers potent lessons for contemporary relationships and our understanding of human dignity. The father-in-law's hasty assumption ("I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her") serves as a powerful cautionary tale against acting on unverified perceptions. In our own lives, how often do we presume others' intentions or feelings without seeking clarity, leading to unnecessary conflict and hurt? This narrative compels us to cultivate habits of clear and empathetic communication, prioritizing understanding over assumption. Furthermore, the casual offer of the younger sister as a replacement, based solely on physical appearance, is a stark reminder of the dangers of objectification. We are called to recognize and affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, created in God's image, rather than reducing them to their utility, appearance, or any other superficial characteristic. This applies not only to marital relationships but to all our interactions, urging us to treat others with respect, integrity, and genuine regard for their personhood, upholding the sacredness of commitments and the value of every soul.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to make assumptions about others' intentions or feelings instead of seeking clear communication?**
* **How does this passage challenge my own views on the value and dignity of individuals, particularly in a world that often prioritizes superficial qualities?**
* **What steps can I take to foster healthier communication and build trust in my relationships, avoiding the pitfalls seen in this narrative?**
* **How does the brokenness of human relationships in Judges point to our need for divine grace and guidance in our interactions?**

### FAQ

**Why did Samson's father-in-law give his wife to another man?**

Answer: Samson's father-in-law gave his daughter to one of Samson's wedding companions because he presumed Samson had permanently abandoned her. After Samson's wife betrayed him by revealing his riddle ([Judges 14:17](/judges/14-17 "Judges 14:17 - Samson's Wife Reveals the Riddle")), Samson left her and returned to his father's house. His prolonged absence led the father-in-law to believe that Samson "utterly hated her" and would not return. In Philistine culture, a husband's extended absence could be interpreted as abandonment, allowing the father to arrange a new marriage for his daughter, likely to secure her future and maintain social standing.

**What does the offer of the younger sister reveal about the culture?**

Answer: The father-in-law's casual offer of the younger sister, stating "is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her," starkly reveals the patriarchal and objectifying nature of Philistine society at the time. Women were often viewed as property or commodities, their worth tied to their physical appearance and their utility in alliances or procreation, rather than their individual personhood or the sanctity of a marital bond. This highlights a culture where women could be interchangeably offered to resolve disputes, underscoring a profound lack of respect for their autonomy and dignity, a theme unfortunately present in other parts of the book of [Judges](/judges "The Book of Judges").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Judges 15:2 vividly portrays human brokenness, betrayal, and the objectification of individuals, it inadvertently highlights the profound need for a perfect covenant-keeper and a redeemer who values every person. The father-in-law's casual disregard for the marital bond and his transactional view of women stand in stark contrast to the divine blueprint for marriage as a sacred, indissoluble union, where two become "one flesh" ([Matthew 19:6](/matthew/19-6 "Matthew 19:6 - What God Has Joined Together")). More broadly, the passage underscores humanity's pervasive sinfulness, where self-interest, presumption, and a lack of love lead to escalating conflict. Christ, however, perfectly embodies the ultimate covenant-keeper, who, unlike Samson or the father-in-law, never betrays or abandons His bride, the Church ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Loves the Church")). He did not offer a "fairer" substitute but offered Himself, the perfect Lamb of God, as the ultimate sacrifice to redeem a fallen humanity, demonstrating the immeasurable value He places on each individual, regardless of their "fairness" or perceived utility ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). In Christ, we find the restoration of true dignity, the healing of broken relationships, and the fulfillment of God's perfect love, which transcends all human failures and cultural depravities.

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

Judges 14:20

But Samson's wife was [given] to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Acts 26:9

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Genesis 38:14

And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which [is] by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

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?