Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.” New Living Translation So before sunset of the seventh day, the men of the town came to Samson with their answer: “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson replied, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have solved my riddle!” English Standard Version And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.” Berean Standard Bible Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!” King James Bible And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. New King James Version So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have solved my riddle!” New American Standard Bible So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle.” NASB 1995 So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle.” NASB 1977 So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” Legacy Standard Bible So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have found out my riddle.” Amplified Bible So the men of the city said to Samson on the seventh day before sundown, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have solved my riddle.” Christian Standard Bible On the seventh day, before sunset, the men of the city said to him: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? So he said to them: If you hadn’t plowed with my young cow, you wouldn’t know my riddle now! Holman Christian Standard Bible On the seventh day, before sunset, the men of the city said to him: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? So he said to them: If you hadn’t plowed with my young cow, you wouldn’t know my riddle now! American Standard Version And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle. Contemporary English Version Before sunset that day, the men of the town went to Samson with this answer: A lion is the strongest--honey is the sweetest! Samson replied, This answer you have given me doubtless came from my bride-to-be. English Revised Version And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. GOD'S WORD® Translation So before sundown on the seventh day, the men of the city said to him, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" Samson replied, "If you hadn't used my cow to plow, you wouldn't know my riddle now." Good News Translation So on the seventh day, before Samson went into the bedroom, the men of the city said to him, "What could be sweeter than honey? What could be stronger than a lion?" Samson replied, "If you hadn't been plowing with my cow, You wouldn't know the answer now." International Standard Version Then the men of the city answered him just before sunset on the seventh day: "What's sweeter than honey? What's stronger than lions?" Samson responded, "If you hadn't plowed with my heifer you wouldn't have solved my riddle." NET Bible On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!" New Heart English Bible The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you hadn't plowed with my heifer, you wouldn't have found out my riddle." Webster's Bible Translation And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said to them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBefore sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!” World English Bible The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” He said to them, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have found out my riddle.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the men of the city say to him on the seventh day, before the sun goes in: “What [is] sweeter than honey? And what [is] stronger than a lion?” And he says to them: “Unless you had plowed with my heifer, "" You had not found out my riddle.” Young's Literal Translation And the men of the city say to him on the seventh day, before the sun goeth in: -- 'What is sweeter than honey? And what stronger than a lion?' And he saith to them: 'Unless ye had ploughed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle.' Smith's Literal Translation And the men of the city will say to him in the seventh day before the sun will go down, What is sweet above honey? and what is strong above the lion? and he will say to them, Unless ye ploughed with my heifer ye found not out my enigma. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd they on the seventh day before the sun went down said to him: What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said to them: If you had not ploughed with my heifer, you had not found out my riddle. Catholic Public Domain Version And they, on the seventh day, before the sun declined, said to him: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have uncovered my proposition.” New American Bible On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him, “What is sweeter than honey, what is stronger than a lion?” He replied to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.” New Revised Standard Version The men of the town said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the banquet, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And Samson said to them, If you had not enticed my heifer, you would not have interpreted my riddle. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the men of the city were saying on the seventh day, before he would enter the banquet: “What is sweeter than honey, or what is that stronger than a lion?” Samson said to them, “If you had not allured my heifer, you would not have interpreted my riddle” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down: What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day, before sunrise, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? and Sampson said to them, If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye would not have known my riddle. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Samson's Riddle…17She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people. 18Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!” 19Then 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,… Cross References Proverbs 1:17 How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it! Proverbs 6:26 For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. Proverbs 7:10-21 Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. / She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home. / Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. ... Proverbs 9:13-18 The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. / She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city, / calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight. ... Proverbs 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. Proverbs 30:18-19 There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand: / the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden. Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. Isaiah 29:15 Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?” Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. Matthew 12:39 Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Matthew 16:1-4 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. / But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ / and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times. ... Mark 8:11-12 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven. / Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Luke 11:29-32 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. / For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. / The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here. ... 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 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. / For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” / Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ... Treasury of Scripture And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? and he said to them, If you had not plowed with my heifer, you had not found out my riddle. Jump to Previous Bride's City Cow Hadn't Heifer Honey Lion Ploughing Plowed Riddle Room Samson Seventh Stronger Sun Sunset Sweeter Wouldn'tJump to Next Bride's City Cow Hadn't Heifer Honey Lion Ploughing Plowed Riddle Room Samson Seventh Stronger Sun Sunset Sweeter Wouldn'tJudges 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. Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: The timing here is significant, as the seventh day marks the completion of a week, often symbolizing completion or perfection in biblical terms. The men of the city, the Philistines, were under pressure to solve Samson's riddle to avoid the consequences of their wager. This reflects the cultural practice of riddles and challenges in ancient times, often used to demonstrate wisdom or cunning. The urgency before sunset indicates their desperation and the importance of the deadline. “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!” Persons / Places / Events 1. SamsonA judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength, which was a gift from God. He was a Nazirite from birth, dedicated to God, and his life was marked by a series of conflicts with the Philistines. 2. Philistines A group of people who were enemies of Israel during the time of the Judges. They were known for their advanced weaponry and frequent conflicts with the Israelites. 3. Timnah A Philistine town where Samson went to find a wife, which led to a series of events including the riddle he posed to the Philistines. 4. Riddle Samson posed a riddle to the Philistines during his wedding feast, which they could not solve without coercing his wife to extract the answer from him. 5. Samson's Wife A Philistine woman who was coerced by her people to betray Samson by revealing the answer to his riddle. Teaching Points The Danger of PrideSamson's riddle was a display of his pride and overconfidence. Pride can lead to our downfall if we are not careful to remain humble before God. The Influence of Relationships Samson's choice to marry a Philistine woman led to his betrayal. Our relationships can greatly influence our spiritual walk, and we must choose them wisely. The Consequences of Disobedience Samson's life shows the consequences of not fully adhering to God's commands. Disobedience can lead to personal and communal strife. God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Failure Despite Samson's failures, God used his actions to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines. God's plans can prevail even through human weakness. Guarding Our Hearts Like Samson, we must be vigilant in guarding our hearts against influences that can lead us away from God's path. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 14:18?2. How does Judges 14:18 illustrate the consequences of breaking God's commands? 3. What can we learn about honesty from Samson's interaction in Judges 14:18? 4. How does Judges 14:18 connect to Proverbs 12:22 about truthfulness? 5. How can we apply the lesson of integrity from Judges 14:18 today? 6. What role does divine wisdom play in understanding riddles in Judges 14:18? 7. What is the significance of the riddle in Judges 14:18? 8. How does Judges 14:18 reflect on Samson's character? 9. Why did Samson's wife betray him in Judges 14:18? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 14? 11. What riddles are found in the Bible? 12. Is it scientifically plausible for bees to produce honey in the carcass of a recently slain lion (Judges 14:8-9)? 13. Why does Samson, who is under a Nazirite vow, freely handle the lion's remains (Judges 14:8-9)? 14. How could one man realistically kill a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-6)? What Does Judges 14:18 Mean Before sunset on the seventh day• The wedding feast lasted seven days (Judges 14:12), and the wager on Samson’s riddle was set to expire at sundown. • By waiting until “before sunset,” the thirty companions pushed the limit of their agreement, mirroring how the Philistines repeatedly tested Israel’s boundaries (Judges 3:1–4). • Scripture often uses the close of a day to signal a moment of decision or judgment (Deuteronomy 24:15; Joshua 8:29). God’s timetable is precise; delays never thwart His purposes. The men of the city said to Samson • These “men” were Philistine groomsmen assigned to be Samson’s companions (Judges 14:11). • Their collective voice shows community complicity in deception—an early glimpse of the national conflict God will ignite through Samson (Judges 13:5; Judges 15:11). • Their approach echoes Genesis 3:1–5, where a smooth question masks rebellion. "What is sweeter than honey?" • Honey symbolized delight and abundance in the land (Exodus 3:8; 1 Samuel 14:25–29). • Psalm 19:10 exalts God’s words as “sweeter than honey,” hinting that true sweetness lies in divine truth, not in riddles solved by treachery. • The Philistines recite Samson’s own image but miss its deeper meaning: the sweetness had come from the carcass of a lion—strength and sweetness bound together by God’s intervention (Judges 14:8–9). "And what is stronger than a lion?" • A lion epitomized unmatched power (Proverbs 30:30; 1 Samuel 17:34–36). • The riddle’s answer points back to Samson’s Spirit-empowered victory over the lion (Judges 14:5–6), underscoring that true strength belongs to the Lord (Psalm 28:7). • Revelation 5:5 identifies Christ as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” the ultimate display of strength. So he said to them • Samson immediately discerns their scheme. His quick reply reflects Proverbs 26:5—answering a fool according to his folly so he won’t be wise in his own eyes. • His words expose sin rather than ignore it, a principle echoed in Ephesians 5:11. "If you had not plowed with my heifer" • An agricultural metaphor: they misused Samson’s wife—his “heifer”—to gain inside information (Judges 14:15, 17). • The phrase reveals betrayal. Marriage was to be a covenant of trust (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14), yet she succumbed to pressure, illustrating how divided loyalties corrupt relationships (James 4:4). • Samson’s wording also hints at exploitation: just as an ox should not be muzzled while threshing (Deuteronomy 25:4), so a spouse should not be coerced. "You would not have solved my riddle!" • The riddle’s solution required revelation, not deduction; only insider knowledge could break it (Judges 14:14). • Their deceit invites the principle of Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.” Consequences will follow—Samson will strike the Philistines (Judges 14:19). • Yet even through treachery God advances His deliverance plan (Romans 8:28). Samson’s anger propels him to confront Philistine oppression, fulfilling Judges 14:4. summary Judges 14:18 captures the climax of Samson’s wedding riddle. The Philistines wait until the last possible moment, exposing their dishonesty by quoting his own imagery. Samson’s reply unmasks their betrayal of marital trust and highlights that only by illicit means could they “solve” what God had hidden. The episode demonstrates that human scheming cannot thwart the Lord; rather, He turns even deceit into a catalyst for judging His enemies and advancing His redemptive purposes. (18) What is sweeter than honey?--Their answer is given in the same rhythmical form as the riddle itself.If ye had not plowed with my heifer.--Many commentators, following Rabbi Levi Ben Gershom, read in this proverbial phrase an implication that Samson suspected his wife of adultery; but there is no sufficient reason for this view. Verse 18. - The men of the city - the same as were spoken of in ver. 11 as Samson's companions. Before the sun went down - just in time, therefore, to save the wager, as defined in ver. 12. This is the uncommon word for the sun used also in Judges 8:13, where see note. What is sweeter, etc. They put their answer in a form to make it seem as if they had guessed the riddle; but Samson instantly perceived his wife's treachery, and showed that he did so by quoting the proverb of plowing with another person s heifer. They had not used their own wit to find out the riddle, but had learnt the secret at Samson's cost, through his wife. He insinuates that had they acted fairly he would have won the wager.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Beforeבְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ (bə·ṭe·rem) Preposition-b | Adverb Strong's 2962: Non-occurrence, not yet, before sunset יָבֹ֣א (yā·ḇō) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go on the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (haš·šə·ḇî·‘î) Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular Strong's 7637: Seventh (an ordinal number) day, בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day the men אַנְשֵׁ֨י (’an·šê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person of the city הָעִ֜יר (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement said וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say to [Samson]: לוֹ֩ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew “What מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what is sweeter מָּת֣וֹק (mā·ṯō·wq) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 4966: Sweet, sweetness than honey? מִדְּבַ֔שׁ (mid·də·ḇaš) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1706: Honey, syrup And what [is] וּמֶ֥ה (ū·meh) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what stronger עַ֖ז (‘az) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 5794: Strong, vehement, harsh than a lion?” מֵאֲרִ֑י (mê·’ă·rî) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 738: A lion 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 “If you had not לוּלֵא֙ (lū·lê) Conjunction Strong's 3884: If not, unless plowed חֲרַשְׁתֶּ֣ם (ḥă·raš·tem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise with my heifer, בְּעֶגְלָתִ֔י (bə·‘eḡ·lā·ṯî) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 5697: A, calf, one nearly grown you would not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no have solved מְצָאתֶ֖ם (mə·ṣā·ṯem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present my riddle!” חִידָתִֽי׃ (ḥî·ḏā·ṯî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 2420: A riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or question Links Judges 14:18 NIVJudges 14:18 NLT Judges 14:18 ESV Judges 14:18 NASB Judges 14:18 KJV Judges 14:18 BibleApps.com Judges 14:18 Biblia Paralela Judges 14:18 Chinese Bible Judges 14:18 French Bible Judges 14:18 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 14:18 The men of the city said (Jd Judg. 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