Judges 15:6

KJV

Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then the Philistines {H6430} said {H559}, Who hath done {H6213} this? And they answered {H559}, Samson {H8123}, the son in law {H2860} of the Timnite {H8554}, because he had taken {H3947} his wife {H802}, and given {H5414} her to his companion {H4828}. And the Philistines {H6430} came up {H5927}, and burnt {H8313} her and her father {H1} with fire {H784}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The P'lishtim asked, "Who did this?" They answered, "Shimshon the son-in-law of the man from Timnah, because he took Shimshon's wife and gave her to his best man." Then the P'lishtim came up and burned both her and her father to death.

Berean Standard Bible

“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite,” they were told. “For his wife was given to his companion.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.

American Standard Version

Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he hath taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 15:6 chronicles a critical escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Samson and the Philistines. Following Samson's devastating act of burning their fields, the Philistines seek the perpetrator. Upon learning it was Samson, provoked by his Timnite father-in-law giving his wife to another man, the Philistines respond with brutal and swift retaliation, burning the woman and her father to death. This verse underscores the destructive cycle of vengeance and the tragic consequences of human conflict, setting the stage for further violent encounters.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a direct and violent consequence of Samson's prior actions, specifically his revenge detailed in [Judges 15:4-5](/judges/15-4 "Judges 15:4-5 - Samson's Fiery Revenge"). The narrative immediately precedes this verse with Samson's discovery that his Philistine wife had been given to his companion ([Judges 15:1-2](/judges/15-1 "Judges 15:1-2 - Samson's Wife Given Away")). His subsequent act of sending 300 foxes with torches into the Philistine grain fields, vineyards, and olive groves was a direct response to this perceived betrayal and insult. Judges 15:6 then details the Philistine reaction to this economic devastation: an inquiry into the cause, followed by a swift and brutal act of "justice" against those they deemed responsible for provoking Samson. This event, in turn, fuels Samson's next wave of vengeance, as seen in [Judges 15:7-8](/judges/15-7 "Judges 15:7-8 - Samson's Further Retaliation"), perpetuating the cycle of violence that characterizes much of the book of Judges.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Philistines were a formidable, technologically advanced people who had migrated from the Aegean Sea region and settled along the southwestern coast of Canaan. By the time of the Judges, they were the dominant oppressive force over Israel ([Judges 13:1](/judges/13-1 "Judges 13:1 - Philistine Oppression Begins")). Timnah, where Samson's wife was from, was a border town, often a flashpoint for conflict between the Israelites and Philistines. Marriage alliances, like Samson's, were often complex, involving dowries and social contracts. The act of a father giving his daughter, already betrothed or married, to another man was a severe breach of custom, though perhaps done by the Timnite out of fear of the Philistines or to appease them after Samson's initial outburst ([Judges 14:15-17](/judges/14-15 "Judges 14:15-17 - Samson's Wife Betrays Him")). The punishment of "burning with fire" was an extreme form of execution or retribution in the ancient Near East, signifying utter destruction and disgrace, often reserved for severe transgressions or as a display of power and ruthlessness.
* **Key Themes:**
* **The Cycle of Retaliation:** Judges 15:6 vividly illustrates how violence begets violence. Samson's personal revenge for a marital slight leads directly to the Philistines' brutal counter-revenge, which in turn provokes Samson further. This destructive pattern is a pervasive theme throughout the book of Judges, reflecting a period of moral and spiritual decline in Israel where "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" ([Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - Moral Anarchy in Israel")).
* **Consequences of Human Actions:** The verse grimly demonstrates the far-reaching and often unintended consequences of personal and inter-group conflicts. The Timnite father's decision to give his daughter to another man, perhaps motivated by fear or an attempt to mediate, ultimately led to his and his daughter's tragic and violent deaths. Their lives became collateral damage in a larger conflict sparked by Samson's personal grievances and the Philistine's oppressive nature.
* **Brutality of the Philistines:** The Philistines' response—burning the woman and her father with fire—showcases their severe and merciless nature, reflecting the harsh realities of ancient warfare and tribal disputes. This act is not merely punitive but also serves as a clear message and a further provocation, ensuring the continuation of hostilities with Samson, as seen in [Judges 15:7-8](/judges/15-7 "Judges 15:7-8 - Samson's Further Retaliation").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Burnt (Hebrew, _saraph'_):** The Hebrew verb שָׂרַף (_saraph_) consistently denotes destruction by fire. It is used throughout the Old Testament to describe burning sacrifices, cities, or people as a form of severe judgment or complete annihilation. In this context, it emphasizes the absolute and devastating nature of the Philistines' retribution, leaving nothing behind and signifying a total, merciless act of vengeance.
* **Son in law (Hebrew, _chatan'_):** The Hebrew word חָתָן (_chatan_) refers to a son-in-law or a bridegroom. Its use here, "Samson, the son in law of the Timnite," serves to identify Samson not merely by name but by his specific relational connection to the Timnite family and town. This highlights the personal and familial nature of the dispute, emphasizing that the Philistines understood the precise provocation that led to Samson's initial act of revenge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this?":** This opening clause reveals the Philistines' immediate reaction to the widespread destruction of their crops and groves. Their question indicates a desire for accountability and the identification of the perpetrator, driven by the significant economic and social impact of Samson's fiery revenge. It sets up the immediate investigation that follows.
* **"And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion.":** This clause provides the crucial information that the Philistines sought. The answer identifies Samson by name and, importantly, by his specific relationship to the Timnite, linking the widespread destruction to a personal grievance. The explanation of the motive—the Timnite father's breach of marriage custom by giving Samson's wife to another man—clarifies the direct cause of Samson's fury, allowing the Philistines to pinpoint the perceived source of the conflict.
* **"And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.":** This final, chilling clause details the Philistine's brutal and decisive response. Having identified the "cause" of Samson's rage (the Timnite's actions), they exact a severe and public retribution. The act of burning with fire signifies a complete and merciless destruction, targeting the very individuals whose actions (or in the wife's case, whose circumstances) led to the initial provocation. This act is intended to be a definitive resolution to the immediate problem, yet it tragically ignites a further cycle of violence with Samson.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative in Judges 15:6 employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as the Philistines, seeking to quell Samson's rage by punishing the Timnite who provoked him, inadvertently escalate the conflict. The Timnite's attempt to appease the Philistines by giving his daughter to a Philistine companion ultimately leads to his and his daughter's horrific deaths at the hands of those he sought to please, creating a tragic **peripeteia** or reversal of fortune. The passage also utilizes **foreshadowing**, as this brutal act of retaliation sets the stage for Samson's subsequent, even more devastating, acts of vengeance against the Philistines, indicating an escalating and relentless cycle of violence. The stark description of "burning her and her father with fire" serves as a form of **pathos**, evoking a sense of pity and horror at the innocent (or less culpable) collateral damage in this cycle of retribution.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 15:6 serves as a stark biblical commentary on the destructive nature of unchecked human vengeance and the futility of a "might makes right" approach to conflict resolution. In a period characterized by moral decline and a lack of central authority in Israel, this verse illustrates the tragic consequences when individuals and groups operate outside of God's righteous standards, where personal grievances are met with escalating brutality. The Philistines' act of burning the Timnite and his daughter, while an attempt to address the "root cause" of Samson's anger from their perspective, only perpetuates the cycle of violence, demonstrating that human-driven retribution often leads to greater suffering and further bloodshed, rather than true justice or peace. This narrative underscores the biblical principle that vengeance belongs to God alone, and human attempts to usurp this role invariably lead to chaos and destruction.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Do Not Take Revenge")
* [Proverbs 20:22](/proverbs/20-22 "Proverbs 20:22 - Do Not Repay Evil")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The tragic events of Judges 15:6 offer a sobering reflection on the destructive power of unchecked anger and the endless cycle of revenge. In a world where personal slights and perceived injustices often lead to escalating conflicts, this passage serves as a powerful warning against succumbing to the urge for personal retribution. The Timnite father's decision, perhaps born of fear or a misguided attempt at appeasement, and the Philistines' brutal response, both illustrate how human attempts to control or resolve conflict through violence often backfire, leading to greater suffering and the tragic loss of innocent lives. For us today, this narrative challenges us to examine our own reactions to offense and injustice. Do we perpetuate cycles of harm, or do we seek to break them? The call to "leave vengeance to the Lord" is not a passive resignation but an active trust in God's ultimate justice and a commitment to pursuing peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness, even when it feels counter-intuitive. It encourages us to cultivate wisdom and self-control, responding to evil with good, and seeking divine guidance rather than relying on our own impulses for retribution.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this passage challenge our natural inclination for retaliation when we feel wronged?**
* **In what ways do we, either individually or collectively, contribute to cycles of conflict in our own lives or communities?**
* **What does it practically mean to "leave vengeance to the Lord" in our daily interactions and in the face of injustice?**
* **How can we respond to perceived wrongs in a way that breaks, rather than perpetuates, cycles of harm and leads to true reconciliation?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Philistines burn the woman and her father?**

Answer: The Philistines burned Samson's wife and her father as a brutal act of retribution, aiming to eliminate the perceived cause of Samson's destructive rage. From their perspective, the Timnite father's action of giving Samson's wife to another man was the direct provocation that led to Samson's fiery destruction of their crops and property ([Judges 15:4-5](/judges/15-4 "Judges 15:4-5 - Samson's Fiery Revenge")). By punishing the Timnite and his daughter with such severity, they likely intended to appease Samson, demonstrate their own ruthless justice, and prevent further attacks. This act also reflects the harsh realities of ancient warfare and tribal disputes, where extreme measures were often taken to assert dominance and respond to perceived insults. Tragically, this act only further inflamed Samson's anger, leading to more violence ([Judges 15:7-8](/judges/15-7 "Judges 15:7-8 - Samson's Further Retaliation")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The relentless cycle of violence and human failure depicted in Judges 15:6, where vengeance begets more vengeance, powerfully underscores humanity's desperate need for a true deliverer who can break this destructive pattern. Samson, though a judge raised by God, operates largely on personal grievance and raw strength, perpetuating the very chaos he is called to transcend. This narrative, therefore, points forward to Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills the role of the ultimate Peacemaker and Deliverer. Unlike Samson, who demanded an "eye for an eye" and retaliated with fire, Christ taught and embodied a radical new way: turning the other cheek ([Matthew 5:38-39](/matthew/5-38-39 "Matthew 5:38-39 - Turn the Other Cheek")), loving enemies ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")), and forgiving those who persecute ([Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus Forgives")). He did not respond to the world's violence with more violence but absorbed it on the cross, becoming the ultimate sacrifice that satisfied divine justice and broke the power of sin and death ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). Through His atoning work, Christ offers reconciliation and peace, not through retribution, but through self-giving love, inviting humanity into a new covenant where the cycle of vengeance is broken by grace and forgiveness ([Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19-20 "Colossians 1:19-20 - Reconciliation Through Christ")). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offering a path to true healing and restoration that human vengeance can never provide ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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 14:15

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? [is it] not [so]?

Proverbs 22:8

¶ He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

1 Thessalonians 4:6

That no [man] go beyond and defraud his brother in [any] matter: because that the Lord [is] the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

Judges 12:1

¶ And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.