Judges 14:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samson's parents object to marriage outside the covenant people, but he insists because the woman pleases him.
What Does Judges 14:3 Mean?
His parents press back with a question. Among their own kindred and people there are surely worthy women; why reach for one of the uncircumcised Philistines, outside the covenant the LORD had made with Israel? Their concern is not snobbery but faithfulness. Samson answers only with his own pleasure: 'she pleaseth me well.'
The word 'uncircumcised' marks the Philistines as outside the sign of God's covenant. Samson's reply reveals a heart that weighs everything by what gratifies it. 'She pleaseth me well' is the whole of his reasoning. The verse gently exposes how often the human will overrides wise counsel, and how the eye, when it becomes our guide, leads us past the boundaries set for our good.
Judges 14:3 in the Original Language
uncircumcised (עָרֵל) -- lacking the covenant sign, hence outside the people set apart to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 14:3
What does Judges 14:3 mean?
Samson's parents object to marriage outside the covenant people, but he insists because the woman pleases him.