What is the meaning of Judges 14:6? The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him • Scripture states, “the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him with power” (Judges 14:6a). • This sudden endowment is the same wording used for Othniel (Judges 3:10) and Gideon (Judges 6:34), showing a pattern: God’s Spirit enables extraordinary acts for His purposes. • The focus is on divine initiative, not human potential; just as Saul later receives the Spirit for kingship (1 Samuel 10:6), Samson receives power for deliverance from the Philistines (Judges 13:5). • Practical takeaway: God equips His servants at the moment of need, echoing Zechariah 4:6—“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of Hosts.” He tore the lion apart with his bare hands • “He tore the lion apart with his bare hands” (Judges 14:6b). • The act is literal; no weapon is mentioned, underscoring that the feat was impossible apart from God (cf. Benaiah’s lion-slaying in 2 Samuel 23:20). • Parallel: David’s defense of his flock from lion and bear (1 Samuel 17:34-37) illustrates the same truth—God’s anointed can face overwhelming danger in His strength. • This event initiates Samson’s series of personal victories that foreshadow Israel’s larger deliverance (Judges 15:14-16). As one would tear a young goat • The comparison highlights ease: in the culture of the time, preparing a young goat for food was routine. • By likening the lion to a goat, the text emphasizes how completely God’s power eclipses natural obstacles (cf. Psalm 91:13, “You will tread on the lion and cobra”). • It also sets up the later riddle about the honey in the lion’s carcass (Judges 14:14), turning a moment of danger into a testimony of God’s provision. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done • Samson’s silence may reflect: – Personal secrecy common to his narrative (Judges 14:9; 16:17). – Awareness that touching a carcass violated his Nazirite separation (Numbers 6:6-8); he shields his parents from defilement or disappointment. – A pattern of acting alone, contrasting with later judges who rallied Israel (cf. Deborah in Judges 4–5). • Similar discretion appears in Mary pondering events “in her heart” (Luke 2:19), underscoring that not every divine encounter must be broadcast. summary Judges 14:6 records a literal, Spirit-empowered victory. God’s Spirit rushes upon Samson, granting supernatural strength; the lion falls as effortlessly as a butchered goat, displaying God’s supremacy over creation and threats. Samson’s quiet concealment foreshadows both his complex character and the greater deliverance God will achieve through him. For believers, the verse affirms that when God calls, He supplies power, often in sudden, overwhelming measure, inviting humble reliance on the Spirit rather than on human ability. |
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