Judges 14:14
New International Version
He replied, “Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet.” For three days they could not give the answer.

New Living Translation
So he said: “Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.” Three days later they were still trying to figure it out.

English Standard Version
And he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” And in three days they could not solve the riddle.

Berean Standard Bible
So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.

King James Bible
And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

New King James Version
So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” Now for three days they could not explain the riddle.

New American Standard Bible
So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell the answer to the riddle in three days.

NASB 1995
So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell the riddle in three days.

NASB 1977
So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.”But they could not tell the riddle in three days.

Legacy Standard Bible
So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell the riddle in three days.

Amplified Bible
So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” And they could not solve the riddle in three days.

Christian Standard Bible
So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. After three days, they were unable to explain the riddle.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. After three days, they were unable to explain the riddle.

American Standard Version
And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.

Contemporary English Version
Samson said: Once so strong and mighty--now so sweet and tasty! Three days went by, and the Philistine young men had not come up with the right answer.

English Revised Version
And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Samson said to them, "From the eater came something to eat. From the strong one came something sweet." For three days they couldn't solve the riddle.

Good News Translation
He said, "Out of the eater came something to eat; Out of the strong came something sweet." Three days later they had still not figured out what the riddle meant.

International Standard Version
So he told them: From the eater came something edible; from the strong something sweet. For three days they couldn't solve the riddle.

Majority Standard Bible
So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.

NET Bible
He said to them, "Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong one came something sweet." They could not solve the riddle for three days.

New Heart English Bible
He said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food. Out of the strong came forth sweetness." They couldn't in three days declare the riddle.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

World English Bible
He said to them, “Out of the eater came out food. Out of the strong came out sweetness.” They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says to them: “Out of the eater came forth something to eat, "" And out of the strong came forth [something] sweet”; and they were not able to declare the riddle [in] three days.

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith to them: 'Out of the eater came forth meat, And out of the strong came forth sweetness;' and they were not able to declare the riddle in three days.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to them, Out of him eating came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they were not able to announce the enigma in three days.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to them: Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to them, “Food went forth from that which eats, and sweetness went forth from that which is strong.” And they were unable to solve the proposition for three days.

New American Bible
So he said to them, “Out of the eater came food, out of the strong came sweetness.” For three days they were unable to answer the riddle,

New Revised Standard Version
He said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” But for three days they could not explain the riddle.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth something to eat, and out of the bitter came forth something sweet. And for three days they could not interpret the riddle.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He said to them: “From the eater went out food, and from the cruel went out sweetness.” And they could not interpret the riddle for three days
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto them: Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to them, Meat came forth of the eater, and sweetness out of the strong: and they could not tell the riddle for three days.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samson's Riddle
13But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.” 14So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle. 15So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”…

Cross References
Proverbs 1:6
by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Ezekiel 17:2
“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel

Matthew 13:34-35
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable. / So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

1 Corinthians 2:7
No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

Psalm 49:4
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:

Matthew 13:11
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.

Colossians 1:26
the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.

Luke 8:10
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Psalm 78:2
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,

Romans 16:25-26
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past / but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith—

Mark 4:11
He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

Ephesians 3:9
and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

out of the eater

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Deuteronomy 8:15,16
Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; …

1 Kings 17:6
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

they could

Proverbs 24:7
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Matthew 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Acts 8:31
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

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Able Couldn't Declare Eat Eater End Expound Meat Riddle Something Strong Sweet Sweetness Taker Three
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Judges 14
1. Samson desires a wife of the Philistines.
6. In his journey he kills a lion
8. In a second journey he finds honey in the carcass
10. Samson's marriage feast
12. His riddle by his wife is made known
19. He strikes down thirty Philistines
20. His wife is married to another.














Out of the eater
This phrase refers to the lion that Samson had previously killed. In Hebrew, the word for "eater" is "אֹכֵל" (okhel), which denotes one who consumes or devours. The lion, a symbol of strength and ferocity, is typically seen as a predator, consuming other creatures. In a broader biblical context, lions often symbolize danger or enemies (1 Peter 5:8). Here, the "eater" represents a formidable challenge or threat that Samson overcame through divine empowerment.

came something to eat
The unexpected outcome of the lion's carcass producing honey is a profound metaphor for God's ability to bring sustenance and blessing from unlikely sources. The Hebrew word for "eat" is "מַאֲכָל" (ma'akal), which signifies nourishment or provision. This reflects the biblical theme that God can transform situations of death or destruction into sources of life and sustenance, as seen in the manna provided in the wilderness (Exodus 16).

and out of the strong
The term "strong" in Hebrew is "עָז" (az), which conveys might or power. The lion, as the epitome of strength, represents challenges or adversities that seem insurmountable. This phrase underscores the biblical principle that God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and that He can use even the strongest adversities to fulfill His purposes.

came something sweet
The sweetness of the honey found in the lion's carcass is emblematic of the unexpected blessings and joys that can emerge from trials. The Hebrew word for "sweet" is "מָתוֹק" (matok), which implies pleasantness or delight. This reflects the scriptural truth that God can turn mourning into joy (Psalm 30:11) and that He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

(14) Out of the strong came forth sweetness.--The antithesis is not perfect, but we cannot strain the word "strong" to mean "bitter," as the LXX. and Syriac do. Josephus gives the riddle in the form,"the all-devouring having generated sweet food from itself, though itself far from sweet" (Antt. v. 8, ? 6). The whole of Samson's life has been described by Ewald as "a charming poetic picture, in which the interspersed verses gleam forth like the brightest pearls in a circlet." It must be confessed that the riddle was hardly a fair one, for the event to which it alluded was most unusual, and no one could have guessed such a riddle without some clue; for--

" 'Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb

In the dead carrion."

Shakespeare: Henry V., ii. 4.

Cassel quotes a curious parallel from the legends of North Germany. The judges offer a woman her husband's life if she can make a riddle which they cannot guess. On her way to the court she had found the carcase of a horse in which a bird had built its nest and hatched six young ones, which she took away. Her riddle was (I venture rudely to translate the rude old lines):--

"As hitherwards on my way I sped,

I took the living out of the dead,

Six were thus of the seventh made quit:--

To rede my riddle, my lords, 'tis fit."

The judges failed, and the husband was spared (Mullen-hof, Sagen, p. 506).

In three days.--It is hard to see why this is mentioned if it was only on the seventh day (Judges 14:15) that they tried the unfair means of inducing Samson's wife to reveal the secret. Bishop Hervey conjectures, with much probability, that we should read shesheth "six," for shelsheth, "four." The LXX. and Syriac read "on the fourth day," and (7) may easily have been confused with (4). . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So he said to them:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Out of the eater
מֵהָֽאֹכֵל֙ (mê·hā·’ō·ḵêl)
Preposition-m, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

came
יָצָ֣א (yā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

something to eat,
מַאֲכָ֔ל (ma·’ă·ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3978: An eatable

and out of the strong
וּמֵעַ֖ז (ū·mê·‘az)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5794: Strong, vehement, harsh

came
יָצָ֣א (yā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

something sweet.”
מָת֑וֹק (mā·ṯō·wq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4966: Sweet, sweetness

For three
שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (šə·lō·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

days
יָמִֽים׃ (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

they were unable
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to explain
לְהַגִּ֥יד (lə·hag·gîḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

the riddle.
הַחִידָ֖ה (ha·ḥî·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2420: A riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or question


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OT History: Judges 14:14 He said to them Out (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 14:13
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