Bible Strands
Judges 15:7
And Samson told them, “Because you have done this, I will not rest until I have taken vengeance upon you.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Samson addresses the Philistines immediately after they burn his wife and her father to death for exposing his riddle's answer. He declares his personal intent to retaliate for their specific action.
The words — The Hebrew אִם\־ ('im-) functions as both a conditional "if" and a negative "except," structuring his oath. The verb נִקַּ֥מְתִּי (ni.Kam.ti) literally means "I have avenged myself," marking his direct commitment to retribution.
The thread — This declaration of personal vengeance runs parallel to the later biblical command in Romans 12:19, which instructs readers to leave retribution to God. The narrative also aligns with Judges 14:4, where God actively seeks an occasion to move against the Philistines through Samson's actions.
Why it lands — The text records a raw human response to betrayal and violence without endorsing it as a moral model. Readers must observe how Samson's declared retaliation functions within a larger judicial framework rather than as an isolated example of righteous anger.
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 Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- Judges 14:4 (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.)
- 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,