Judges 14:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samson proposes a riddle, wagering thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes if they can solve it in seven days.
What Does Judges 14:12 Mean?
Samson turns the feast into a contest. He offers a riddle to the thirty companions and stakes a generous prize: if they can solve it within the seven days of the celebration, he will give them thirty linen wraps and thirty festal garments.
The riddle game belongs to the merriment of such feasts, but Samson's wager carries an edge. He knows the answer rests on a secret only he has seen, the honey in the lion. Confident in his hidden knowledge, he sets a challenge they cannot fairly win. The verse shows cleverness mixed with pride, and begins a chain of events that will turn a wedding into a reckoning. Hidden knowledge, used to win over others, often sets the stage for the very trouble it seeks to avoid.
Judges 14:12 in the Original Language
riddle (חִידָה) -- a puzzling saying meant to test wit, often hiding a deeper truth beneath its words.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 14:12
What does Judges 14:12 mean?
Samson proposes a riddle, wagering thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes if they can solve it in seven days.