Judges 14:3

1 One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.

2 So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”

But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”

4 (Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)

5 Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”
KJV
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.
WEB
Then his father and his mother said to him, “Isn’t there a woman among your brothers’ daughters, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?” Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”
ASV
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.
DARBY
And his father and his mother said to him, Is there no woman among the daughters of thy brethren, and among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the Philistines, the uncircumcised? And Samson said to his father, Take her for me, for she pleases me well.
BLB
And his father and mother said to him, “Is there not among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, a woman, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”
ÅB
Da sa hans far og mor til ham: Er det da ikke noen kvinne blant dine frenders døtre eller i hele mitt folk siden du vil avsted og ta en hustru blant de uomskårne filistrer? Men Samson sa til sin far: Henne må du la meg få! Det er henne jeg synes om.
OTB
Hans far og mor spurte ham: "Er det ingen passende kvinne blant dine egne slektninger eller blant vårt folk, at du må gå til de uomskårne filisterne for å få en kone?" Men Samson insisterte overfor sin far: "Få henne til meg, for hun behager meg."
B1930
Da sa hans far og mor til ham: Er det da ikke nogen kvinne blandt dine frenders døtre eller i hele mitt folk siden du vil avsted og ta en hustru blandt de uomskårne filistrer? Men Samson sa til sin far: Henne må du la mig få! Det er henne jeg synes om.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 17:36

    Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

    Read in context
  • Judges 15:18

    And being very thirsty, Samson cried out to the LORD, “You have accomplished this great deliverance through Your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 7:2–3

    and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 31:4

    Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 1:20

    Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 34:12–16

    Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 17:26

    David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 14:6

    Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

    Read in context