Judges 15:15
New International Version
Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.

New Living Translation
Then he found the jawbone of a recently killed donkey. He picked it up and killed 1,000 Philistines with it.

English Standard Version
And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.

Berean Standard Bible
He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and struck down a thousand men.

King James Bible
And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

New King James Version
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it.

New American Standard Bible
Then he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out with his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it.

NASB 1995
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out and took it and killed a thousand men with it.

NASB 1977
And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out and took it and killed a thousand men with it.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he sent forth his hand and took it and struck down 1,000 men with it.

Amplified Bible
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out his hand and took it and killed a thousand men with it.

Christian Standard Bible
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand, took it, and killed a thousand men with it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand, took it, and killed 1,000 men with it.

American Standard Version
And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith.

Contemporary English Version
Samson glanced around and spotted the jawbone of a donkey. The jawbone had not yet dried out, so it was still hard and heavy. Samson grabbed it and started hitting Philistines--he killed 1,000 of them!

English Revised Version
And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Samson found the jawbone from a donkey that had just died. He picked it up and killed 1,000 men with it.

Good News Translation
Then he found a jawbone of a donkey that had recently died. He reached down and picked it up, and killed a thousand men with it.

International Standard Version
He happened upon a jawbone from a putrefying donkey, reached out to grab it, and killed 1,000 men with it.

Majority Standard Bible
He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and struck down a thousand men.

NET Bible
He happened to see a solid jawbone of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.

New Heart English Bible
And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and reached down and took it, and struck a thousand men with it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he found a fresh jaw-bone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men with it.

World English Bible
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, put out his hand, took it, and struck a thousand men with it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he finds a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and puts forth his hand and takes it, and strikes down one thousand men with it.

Young's Literal Translation
and he findeth a fresh jaw-bone of an ass, and putteth forth his hand and taketh it, and smiteth with it -- a thousand men.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will find the jaw-bone of an ass, fresh, and he will stretch forth his hand and take it and will strike with it a thousand men.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And finding a jawbone, even the jawbone of an ass which lay there, catching it up, be slew therewith a thousand men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And finding a jawbone which was laying there, that is, the jawbone of a donkey, snatching it up, he put to death a thousand men with it.

New American Bible
Coming upon the fresh jawbone of an ass, he reached out, grasped it, and with it killed a thousand men.

New Revised Standard Version
Then he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached down and took it, and with it he killed a thousand men.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he found a hard jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand and took it, and slew a thousand men with it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he found the hard jawbone of a donkey, and he reached his hand and he took it and he killed one thousand men with it
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he found the jaw-bone of an ass that had been cast away, and he put forth his hand and took it, and smote with it a thousand men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samson's Revenge
14When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands. 15He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and struck down a thousand men. 16Then Samson said: “With the jawbone of a donkey I have piled them into heaps. With the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men.”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:49-51
Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. / Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. / David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.

Joshua 6:20
So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it.

1 Samuel 14:6-14
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” / His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” / “Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them. ...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Exodus 4:2-4
And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. / “Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it. / “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

1 Samuel 17:45-47
But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. / And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

2 Kings 13:18-19
Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped. / But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.

1 Samuel 17:40
And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.

1 Samuel 23:2-5
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” / But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” / Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” ...

2 Samuel 23:8-12
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, / but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. ...

Isaiah 41:14-16
Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. / Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. / You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

1 Samuel 17:34-37
David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. / Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

new jaw-bone.

Judges 3:31
And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

Judges 4:21
Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

Judges 7:16
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

a thousand.

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Ass Chance Dead Donkey Earth Hand Jawbone Jaw-Bone Killed Mouth-Bone New Newly Putteth Reached Seized Slew Smiteth Smote Struck Therewith Thousand
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Ass Chance Dead Donkey Earth Hand Jawbone Jaw-Bone Killed Mouth-Bone New Newly Putteth Reached Seized Slew Smiteth Smote Struck Therewith Thousand
Judges 15
1. Samson is denied his wife
3. He burns the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands
6. His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines
8. Samson smites them hip and thigh
9. He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines
14. He kills them with a jawbone
18. God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi














He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey
In this phrase, the word "found" suggests a divine providence in Samson's discovery of the jawbone. The Hebrew root for "found" is "matsa," which often implies an encounter that is orchestrated by God. The "fresh jawbone of a donkey" indicates that it was not brittle, but strong and suitable for use as a weapon. The donkey, an animal often associated with humility and service, becomes an instrument of God's power in Samson's hands. This highlights the theme that God can use the most unexpected means to achieve His purposes.

reached out his hand and took it
The action of "reached out his hand" signifies Samson's willingness to act in faith. The Hebrew verb "shalach" for "reached out" conveys a deliberate and decisive action. This phrase underscores the importance of human agency in cooperation with divine empowerment. Samson's taking of the jawbone is symbolic of accepting God's provision, even when it comes in an unusual form.

and struck down a thousand men
The phrase "struck down" comes from the Hebrew "nakah," which means to smite or kill. This demonstrates the extraordinary strength given to Samson by the Spirit of the Lord. The number "a thousand" is significant in biblical terms, often representing a large, complete, or perfect number. This miraculous victory serves as a testament to God's power working through Samson, despite his personal flaws. It also foreshadows the ultimate victory of God over His enemies, reminding believers of the spiritual battles they face and the assurance of victory through divine strength.

(15) A new jawbone.--Literally, a moist jawbone--i.e., the jawbone of an animal recently dead, and before the bone had become brittle. In this instance, at any rate, Samson might feel himself absolved from the rule of ceremonial cleanness, which forbad him as a Nazarite to touch carcases. A jawbone is a mighty magic weapon in one of the Polynesian legends (Grey, Polyn. Mythology, p. 35), but that throws no light on this narrative.

Slew a thousand men.--The verb is rather smote than "slew," and the expression (whether due to poetry or not) is to be taken generally, like "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." If Goliath was able single-handed to strike terror into the whole army of Israel, Samson with his long locks and colossal strength would be still more likely to strike a terror into the Philistines, and all the more because a supernatural awe was doubtless attached by this time to his name and person. The very fact that, though armed only with this wretched weapon of offence, he yet dared to rush upon the Philistines would make them fly in wilder panic (Joshua 23:10). "One man of you shall chase a thousand; for the Lord your God He it is that fighteth for you, as He hath promised you." (Comp. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 32:30.) So we read that one of David's heroes slew three hundred men (1Chronicles 11:11; comp. 2Samuel 23:8). The Philistines, dull and superstitious, seem to have been peculiarly liable to these panics (1Samuel 14:4-18). Bishop Patrick quotes a striking parallel from a song on the Emperor Aurelian. . . .

Verse 15. - A most vivid and stirring description! The Spirit of the Lord (Judges 14:19), with that suddenness which marks his extraordinary movements (1 Kings 18:12; 2 Kings 2:16; Acts 2:2; Acts 8:39, etc.), came upon Samson, and mightily strengthened him in his outer man. The strong new cords snapped asunder in an instant, and before the Philistines could recover from their terror at seeing their great enemy free, he had snatched up the heavy jawbone of an ass recently dead, and with it smote the flying Philistines till a thousand of them had fallen under his blows.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He found
וַיִּמְצָ֥א (way·yim·ṣā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

the fresh
טְרִיָּ֑ה (ṭə·rî·yāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2961: Dripping, fresh

jawbone
לְחִֽי־ (lə·ḥî-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3895: The cheek, the jaw-bone

of a donkey,
חֲמ֖וֹר (ḥă·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2543: A male ass

reached out
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

his hand
יָדוֹ֙ (yā·ḏōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

and took it,
וַיִּקָּחֶ֔הָ (way·yiq·qā·ḥe·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

and struck down
וַיַּךְ־ (way·yaḵ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

a thousand
אֶ֥לֶף (’e·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 505: A thousand

men.
אִֽישׁ׃ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person


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OT History: Judges 15:15 He found a fresh jawbone (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 15:14
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