Judges 14:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Empowered by the Spirit, Samson kills thirty men in Ashkelon, pays the wager from their garments, and returns home in anger.
What Does Judges 14:19 Mean?
The Spirit of the LORD comes upon Samson, and he goes down to Ashkelon, a Philistine city, strikes down thirty men, and takes their garments to pay the wager he owed. Then, his anger burning, he goes up to his father's house.
Here again the Spirit empowers Samson, and again the events serve God's hidden purpose against the oppressing Philistines, even amid Samson's raw anger. The text holds both together without flinching: human fury and divine providence in the same act. The verse does not present Samson's wrath as a model, but it shows the LORD beginning, through these very events, to loosen the Philistine grip on Israel. God's deliverance advances even through the storms of a flawed man's heart.
Judges 14:19 in the Original Language
Ashkelon (אַשְׁקְלוֹן) -- one of the five chief Philistine cities, lying on the coast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 14:19
What does Judges 14:19 mean?
Empowered by the Spirit, Samson kills thirty men in Ashkelon, pays the wager from their garments, and returns home in anger.