Lexical Summary chud: To riddle, to pose a riddle Original Word: חוּד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance put forth A primitive root; properly, to tie a knot, i.e. (figuratively) to propound a riddle -- put forth. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from the same as chidah Definition to propound a riddle NASB Translation propound (3), propounded (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [חוּד] verb denominative propound a riddle; — Qal Perfect2masculine singular חַדְתָּה Judges 14:16; Imperfect אָח֫וּדָה Judges 14:12; Imperative (חִידָה וּמְשֹׁל מָשָׁל) חוּד Ezekiel 17:2; חוּ֫דָה Judges 14:13; always with חידה accusative of congnate meaning with verb Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and FunctionThe verb חוּד carries the idea of propounding a riddle, posing an enigmatic saying that requires discernment. In Scripture it always appears in the causative stem, describing an intentional act of presenting an obscured truth for listeners to unravel. The nuance is not merely playful; it is a rhetorical device that simultaneously veils and unveils, testing the hearer’s insight and heart response. Canonical Occurrences 1. Judges 14:12 Here Samson proposes a riddle to the Philistine companions during his wedding feast: “Let me now put a riddle to you…”. The use sets a contest of wits that foreshadows the larger conflict between Yahweh’s judge and the oppressing Philistines. 2. Judges 14:13 The companions accept the wager, confirming that the riddle will determine honor, wealth, and ultimately the disclosure of divine secrets. 3. Judges 14:16 Samson’s bride presses him for the solution, revealing how riddles expose relational loyalties and hidden motives. 4. Ezekiel 17:2 The Lord commands, “Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel”. Here the prophetic riddle explains geopolitical events—Babylon’s advance against Jerusalem—while calling Judah to covenant fidelity. Historical and Cultural Background In the Ancient Near East, riddles were a recognized form of wisdom literature, often featured in royal courts as demonstrations of intellectual prowess. A well-known extra-biblical parallel appears in the account of the Queen of Sheba testing Solomon with riddles (1 Kings 10:1, implied by the Hebrew word חִידָה). Samson’s feast setting mirrors that cultural milieu; his riddle asserts Israelite superiority over Philistine intellect just as his physical feats declare Yahweh’s power over their gods. Theological Dimensions • Revelation and Concealment Riddles illustrate how God discloses truth selectively. To the humble, the enigma yields insight; to the proud, it remains veiled. This anticipates the principle later articulated by Jesus Christ: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:11). • Covenant Accountability Ezekiel’s riddle pronounces judgment on Judah’s breach of oath with Babylon, underscoring that covenant infidelity invites divine discipline. The parabolic form intensifies the message, forcing hearers to grapple with its meaning rather than dismiss it. • Typology of the Deliverer Samson’s riddle centers on a lion’s carcass producing honey—strength turned to sweetness—prefiguring how the Messiah would turn death’s bitterness into resurrection’s sweetness, defeating the roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) through seeming weakness. Ministry Significance 1. Teaching Methodology Preachers and teachers may employ stories, metaphors, or carefully crafted questions to engage listeners, following the biblical pattern of riddling speech. Such devices must serve clarity in the Spirit, not obscurity for its own sake. 2. Discernment Testing Like Samson’s wager, spiritual riddles test allegiance. Congregations confronted with challenging texts are pressed to seek wisdom from God rather than from cultural compromise. 3. Prophetic Engagement Ezekiel modelled how to address national sin through symbolic, thought-provoking messages. Modern prophetic voices can likewise employ creative forms that arrest attention and call nations back to covenant obligations. Practical Applications • Pursue Wisdom: Believers are urged to “cry out for insight” (Proverbs 2:3); riddles remind us that divine truth often requires diligent seeking. Conclusion Though appearing only four times, חוּד highlights a strategic biblical principle: God often cloaks revelation within enigma, inviting earnest pursuit, testing fidelity, and unveiling His redemptive purposes to those who seek Him with undivided hearts. Forms and Transliterations אָחֽוּדָה־ אחודה־ ח֥וּד ח֥וּדָה חַ֙דְתָּ֙ חדת חוד חודה ’ā·ḥū·ḏāh- ’āḥūḏāh- achudah chadta chud Chudah ḥaḏ·tā ḥaḏtā ḥū·ḏāh ḥūḏ ḥūḏāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 14:12 HEB: לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן אָחֽוּדָה־ נָּ֥א לָכֶ֖ם NAS: to them, Let me now propound a riddle KJV: said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle INT: said Samson propound now A riddle Judges 14:13 Judges 14:16 Ezekiel 17:2 4 Occurrences |
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