Judges 14:15 Meaning: When a Wedding Feast Turns to Threat
On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?”
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to impoverish us? is it not so?
And it cometh to pass, on the seventh day, that they say to Samson's wife, `Entice thy husband, that he declare to us the riddle, lest we burn thee and the house of thy father with fire; to possess us have ye called for us? is it not?'
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to Samson's wife, Persuade thy husband, that he may explain to us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire. Have ye invited us to impoverish us, — is it not [so]?
Meaning in one sentence
The Philistines threaten to burn Samson's wife to force the riddle's answer. This verse exposes the hostility in a marriage made between enemies.
Context
The wedding feast in Timnah was supposed to be a celebration. But Samson had made a wager: a riddle the Philistine companions could not solve in three days. As the feast continued, they realized they were about to lose the bet. So they turned to Samson's wife, threatening to burn her and her family if she did not get the answer from him. Samson had married outside Israel, and the tension that was always below the surface now erupted in open threat. The men accused her of calling them only to rob them. This moment reveals that the marriage was not a peaceful union but a battleground.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words pull back the curtain on this scene. Entice (pati) carries the sense of persuading through deception. It is the same word used of the serpent in Eden. Here the Philistines order Samson’s wife to use that kind of pressure on her husband. Riddle (chidah) is not a simple puzzle; it can mean a dark or perplexing saying. This was a challenge designed to humiliate, and their inability to solve it pushed them to desperate measures. And then the word behind impoverish us (yarash) means to take possession of something, to inherit by force. The Philistines saw the bet as a scheme to strip them of their garments. Their accusation reveals how they viewed the whole event: not as a wedding but as a trap. Each word peels back another layer of the hostility that was always there.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators note that some ancient manuscripts read fourth day instead of seventh, suggesting early confusion about the timeline. Matthew Henry sees this threat as a sign of the Philistines' wickedness and the trouble Samson brought on himself. Other interpreters focus on the coercion of the wife, drawing parallels to how isolated she was between her husband and her people. Christian readers across traditions agree that this verse shows a relationship already broken before it truly began.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This verse asks you to look at how you treat people when you feel you are losing. The Philistines could have admitted defeat and paid the bet. Instead they turned to threats. In your own life, when a disagreement feels like a contest, do you start applying pressure? Do you use words as weapons? Samson's wife was caught between two hostile groups, and she paid the price. The story invites you to examine whether your relationships are built on trust or on coercion. If you find yourself threatening, even subtly, to get your way, it may be time to step back and ask God to show you a better path. He offers a way of honest speech and patient trust, even when you lose.
Main takeaway: A wedding feast that began with a riddle ends in threats, revealing the hostility that was always present in this marriage.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The men at the wedding were upset because they didn't know the answer to Samson's riddle. They told Samson's wife to trick him, or else they would burn her house down. That was a very scary and wrong thing to say.
For ages 9, 12
When people can't win fairly, they sometimes try to cheat or scare others. The Philistines threatened Samson's wife to get the answer to the riddle. This shows that their hearts were not right. God calls us to be honest and to trust Him even when we feel like losing. We can ask Him to help us be kind and truthful, especially when we are frustrated.
Questions People Ask
Why did the Philistines threaten to burn Samson's wife?
They were losing the bet and could not solve the riddle. So they pressured her to get the answer from Samson. They accused her and Samson of planning to rob them. The threat was real, as they later carried it out (Judges 15:6).
What does “entice your husband” mean in this verse?
The Hebrew word 'pati' means to persuade or deceive. It is the same word used of the serpent tempting Eve. The Philistines wanted her to use her influence over Samson to get the answer by manipulation.
Why do some translations say “fourth day” instead of “seventh day”?
The Hebrew text says 'seventh day' but some ancient manuscripts and versions read 'fourth day.' Commentators suggest this may be due to confusion about the timeline of the wedding feast. The key point remains the threat itself.
Did the Philistines actually burn Samson's wife later?
Yes, in Judges 15:6, after Samson left her, the Philistines came and burned her and her father's house with fire, fulfilling the threat.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study