Judges 14:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samson's wife weeps and accuses him of not loving her because he withholds the riddle; he reminds her even his parents do not know it.
What Does Judges 14:16 Mean?
Under that threat, Samson's wife weeps before him and charges that he does not truly love her, since he has set a riddle before her people and kept its answer even from her. Samson replies that he has not told it to his own father and mother; why should he tell her?
The scene turns on the pressure of tears and the language of love made into a weapon. She measures his love by whether he surrenders his secret; he holds the line by appeal to those even closer to him. Caught in fear, she presses; guarding his pride, he resists. The verse shows how relationships strain when trust is bent to serve an outside threat, and how the cry 'you do not love me' can be wielded to wear another down.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 14:16
What does Judges 14:16 mean?
Samson's wife weeps and accuses him of not loving her because he withholds the riddle; he reminds her even his parents do not know it.