Bible Strands
Judges 14:19
Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samson acts immediately after the men of Timnah extract his riddle answer on the seventh day, following their coercive questioning and his accusation that they manipulated him.
The words — The text centers on ר֣וּחַ (Ru.ach) and יְהוָ֗ה (Yah.weh) to identify the divine agent, paired with וַ/תִּצְלַ֨ח (va./titz.Lach) meaning "and it rushed," and וַ/יַּ֥ךְ (va/i.Yakh) meaning "and he struck down" thirty men in Ashkelon.
The thread — This manifestation of divine power aligns with the Spirit's activity in Judges 3:10 and Judges 13:25, while the resulting fury parallels the Spirit's rush upon Saul in 1 Samuel 11:6.
Why it lands — The passage records Samson's retaliatory violence as a direct narrative consequence of the Philistines' breach of the riddle bargain, requiring the reader to separate the description of an event from its moral endorsement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Judges 3:10 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.
- Judges 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
- 1 Samuel 11:6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.
- Judges 14:6 and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
- Judges 15:14 When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.