Judges 14:5 · Bible study
Judges 14:5 Commentary: Lion Roars at Samson
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
The account of Samson's encounter with a lion at Timnah raises questions about his parents' presence and the setting's significance.
Research Summary
- Meaning: On the way to pursue a forbidden marriage, Samson faces a lion alone, but God’s Spirit empowers him to overcome it.
- Key words: “Young lion” (כְּפִיר, a lion in its prime), “roared” (שָׁאַג, a fierce, threatening cry).
- Main debate: Whether the mention of parents is a later insertion (Cambridge) or a consistent part of the narrative (most other commentators).
- Theological theme: God uses human weakness and unexpected danger to advance His purposes, even when his servant’s motives are mixed.
- Best use: Teaching on how God prepares his people through trials, and the sovereignty of God over circumstances that seem random.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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,
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and his mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion roared at him.
KJV King James Version 1769
Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Samson goeth down--also his father and his mother, to Timnath, and they come unto the vineyards of Timnath, and lo, a lion's whelp roareth at meeting him,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Samson went down, and his father and his mother, to Timnathah; and they came to the vineyards of Timnathah. And behold, a young lion roared against him;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Thamnatha. And when they were come to the vineyards of the town, behold a young lion met him, raging and roaring.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y Samsón descendió con su padre y con su madre á Timnah: y como llegaron á las viñas de Timnah, he aquí un cachorro de león que venía bramando hacia él.
E Sansão desceu com seu pai e com sua mãe a Timna: e quando chegaram às vinhas de Timna, eis que um leão jovem que vinha bramando até ele.
Samson descendit avec son père et sa mère à Thimna. Lorsqu’ils arrivèrent aux vignes de Thimna, voici, un jeune lion rugissant vint à sa rencontre.
Also ging Simson hinab mit seinem Vater und seiner Mutter gen Thimnath. Und als sie kamen an die Weinberge zu Thimnath, siehe, da kam ein junger Löwe brüllend ihm entgegen.
Alzo ging Simson, met zijn vader en zijn moeder, henen af naar Thimnath. Als zij nu kwamen tot aan de wijngaarden van Thimnath, ziet daar, een jonge leeuw, brullende hem tegemoet.
Poi Sansone scese con suo padre e con sua madre a Timnah; e come furon giunti alle vigne di Timnah, ecco un leoncello farglisi incontro, ruggendo.
Tedy szedł Samson z ojcem swym i z matką swoją do Tamnaty, a przychodząc ku winnicom Tamnaty, oto, lew młody ryczący zabieżał mu.
И пошел Самсон с отцом своим и с матерью своею в Фимнафу, и когда подходили к виноградникам Фимнафским, вот, молодой лев рыкая идет навстречу ему.
參孫 跟他父 母 下 亭拿 去，到了 亭拿 的葡萄園，見 有一隻少壯 獅子 向他 吼叫。
Then Samson went down to Timnah (and his father and his mother,) and came to the vine-gardens of Timnah; and a young lion came rushing out at him.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 14:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse sets up the first of Samson's Spirit‑empowered exploits. The parents accompany Samson to Timnah, but the lion confronts him alone. As the Cambridge Bible notes, ‘the encounter with the lion and the interview with the woman clearly shew that Samson was alone’. The Hebrew spotlight falls on the singular pronoun: the lion roared at him (לִ/קְרָאתֽ/וֹ). Keil and Delitzsch observe that the lion was a ‘young lion’ (כְּפִ֣יר אֲרָי֔וֹת), not a cub but an adolescent beast in its prime, common in the Judaean wilderness. The vineyards of Timnah, fertile but Philistine‑controlled, become the stage for a divine encounter. Gill notes that ‘the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him’ (v. 6) as the immediate sequel, making clear that this was no mere accident. God used the danger to equip Samson for his calling.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: All Christians agree that a young lion threatened Samson and that the Spirit of God enabled him to overcome it, demonstrating divine power operating in an imperfect human life.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Presence of Samson's parents | Christians agree that the text as received states that Samson's father and mother accompanied him to Timnah. | Whether the parents were actually present during the lion encounter (most commentators) or whether the mention is a later addition to align the story with typical marriage arrangements (Cambridge Bible). |
| Meaning of the lion | All agree the lion was a real threat and embodies danger, and that Samson's victory came from the Spirit of God. | Some see the lion primarily as a literal historical event that demonstrates Samson's strength; others see it also as a type or foreshadowing of conflict with Philistines (Keil and Delitzsch). |
| Ethical evaluation of Samson's marriage | Christians agree that marrying a Philistine was against the law of Moses (Exodus 34:12-16) and that God nonetheless overruled it for his purposes. | Whether Samson's actions are sinful (Matthew Henry implies imprudence) or whether the narrator's comment in v.4 excuses them (many see God's sovereignty, not approval). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Timnah (תִּמְנָה) lay on the northern border of Judah, a town later assigned to the tribe of Dan (Joshua 15:10; 19:43). At the time of the judges, it was under Philistine control. The phrase ‘went down’ (וַ/יֵּ֧רֶד) is both geographical, the journey from the hill country to the lowland, and symbolic. Samson is descending toward conflict.
Vineyards were abundant in this region. The valley of Sorek (later the setting for Delilah) was especially known for its vines. As Ellicott’s Commentary notes, ‘the hills of Judah… were laboriously terraced up to the summit’ for viticulture. Vineyards, however, also provided cover for wild animals. The lion was once common in Palestine, especially in the desert south of Judah and the Jordan valley, though it has disappeared since the Crusades. The Hebrew word for the lion (כְּפִיר) suggests a young adult, ‘in the pride of his youthful prime’ (Jamieson‑Fausset‑Brown). For a traveller to meet a lion in a vineyard was terrifying but not improbable.
Samson’s parents accompany him reluctantly (v. 3). Their presence shows that the journey was a proper betrothal visit, but the narrative quickly focuses on Samson alone when danger strikes. The vineyards, a place of growth and blessing, become the location for a sudden test. This literary setting echoes other biblical scenes where God meets his servants in unexpected places, Moses at the burning bush, Joshua near Jericho, but here the encounter is not with a revelation but with a roaring beast.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text (Masoretic) is stable. The main translational difference lies in how the lion’s action is rendered: ‘roared against him’ (KJV, ASV) vs. ‘came roaring at him’ (WEB, BSB); these reflect the same Hebrew phrase (שֹׁאֵג לִ/קְרָאתֽ/וֹ) with slightly different English emphasis. No variant that changes the meaning is known.
Reception History
This verse has been read primarily as a literal historical account within both Jewish and Christian traditions. Rabbinical commentators often explored Samson’s Nazirite consecration and the moral lessons of his life. In Christian preaching, the lion encounter has been used to illustrate God’s deliverance in times of sudden danger. Some early church fathers, such as Ambrose, drew typological connections: the lion attacked by the Spirit‑filled Samson was seen as a defeat of evil. The honey produced later (v.8) was sometimes compared to the sweetness that can come from conquering a threat. Across traditions, the verse’s emphasis on God’s Spirit empowering an imperfect servant has offered encouragement and caution.
Preaching This Verse
Three‑point outline
- The descent into danger. Samson went down to Timnah, into Philistine territory. Following personal desire sometimes leads us into places of risk, yet God is already at work.
- The sudden confrontation. The lion roared against him. Trouble often arrives without warning, in the middle of ordinary tasks. The vineyards of life can hide predators.
- The divine response. The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. What Samson could not handle alone, God enabled him to overcome. Our weaknesses become the stage for God’s power.
Five‑point outline
- Setting the stage: Timnah, vineyards, Philistines.
- The travel companions: Parents go, but only Samson faces the lion. Community can support us but cannot fight our battles.
- The roaring adversary: A young lion, fierce and prime. Many of our fears are at their fullest strength.
- Solitude in the crisis: The narrative isolates Samson; he does not call for help. Sometimes we are alone with the fight.
- Resources beyond self: The Spirit’s empowerment follows. The victory belongs to God, not to human strength.
Illustration hooks
- An unexpected car breakdown on the way to a job interview, a small crisis that tests patience and problem‑solving, but also becomes a story of provision.
- A sudden diagnosis during a routine check‑up. The setting seemed safe, but the news roars like a lion. The response requires more than human courage.
- A gardener discovers a wasp nest while pruning. The ordinary task becomes threatening; the danger was hidden in the familiar.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would God let a young marriage‑seeker face a lion on his way to meet his bride?
- Does the presence of danger mean I have made a wrong decision? Samson was in God’s will yet still attacked.
- What resources has God given me for the sudden tests of life?
Leading a Discussion
This verse appears at a turning point in the Samson narrative. The hero has insisted on marrying a Philistine woman. His parents disagree, but they go with him. Then a lion attacks. Read Judges 14:1, 6 together to see the full scene. Ask your group to picture the journey and the sudden assault.
Discussion questions
- What do you notice about the setting, the vineyards of Timnah? Why might the writer mention that detail?
- The text says the lion roared at Samson, not at his parents. What does that suggest about the focus of the story?
- In verse 4, the narrator reveals that “it was of Yahweh.” How does that change the way you read the lion attack?
- Why do you think Samson did not tell his parents what happened? (Verse 6b) What might he be processing?
- Have you ever faced a sudden, frightening situation that later seemed to have God’s hand behind it? Share if comfortable.
- How does the Spirit’s empowerment in verse 6 speak to the way God equips us for what we cannot do alone?
- What “roaring lions” in your life right now might actually be occasions for God to show His strength?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke explains that the young lion's roar does not just describe a distant sound but a sudden, violent charge. The image is of the beast rushing out fiercely, intent on tearing its prey apart. For him, "roared against him" conveys an immediate, terrifying assault.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary identifies the mention of Samson's parents as a later scribal addition intended to make his marriage fit the typical pattern where parents arranged matters, since the narrative shows him alone. It also notes that lions were common in Palestine at the time and have been extinct there since the Crusades.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Then went Samson and his father and his mother downe to Timnath, and came to ye vineyardes at Timnath: and beholde, a young Lyon roared vpon him.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the vineyards of Timnath lay somewhat off Samson's direct path, suggesting he turned aside perhaps to eat grapes. He also emphasizes the lion was a full-grown beast, not a whelp, and provides historical evidence that lions were still common in that region at the time.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jfb notes that the Hebrew phrase describes a lion at the peak of its youthful vigor, and these savage beasts lived in Judah's wild mountain passes. Samson's feat required no weapon, only the superhuman courage and strength the Spirit's occasional influences gave him, gradually training him for his public calling.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlight that Samson's strength was purely supernatural: the Spirit of Jehovah enabled him to tear a lion apart with his bare hands, unlike David, Benaiah, or modern Arabs who used weapons. The comment that Samson told his parents nothing underscores that this power came directly from God, not from human effort.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that Samson's encounter with the lion was an incidental event, not a planned exploit. The Spirit of God came upon him at the precise moment of need, and Samson treated the victory so matter-of-factly that he did not even tell his parents. For Lange, this reveals a natural, unpretentious greatness flowing from divine consecration, unlike the boastful heroics of mythological figures.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that Samson's parents could not see how their son's desire for a Philistine wife could serve God's plan. Yet the narrator quietly reveals that the Lord himself was working through this very choice, using Samson's personal inclination as the occasion to begin delivering Israel from Philistine rule.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley rejects Matthew Henry's claim that the goodness of God's promised land will intensify the punishment of those who perish. He argues that this reasoning fails under predestination: if some are not elected, they never had a genuine offer, and if all the elect are saved, the grant was never free to the others.