Judges 14:7
New International Version
Then he went down and talked with the woman, and he liked her.

New Living Translation
When Samson arrived in Timnah, he talked with the woman and was very pleased with her.

English Standard Version
Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.

King James Bible
And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

New King James Version
Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

New American Standard Bible
So he went down and talked to the woman; and she looked pleasing to Samson.

NASB 1995
So he went down and talked to the woman; and she looked good to Samson.

NASB 1977
So he went down and talked to the woman; and she looked good to Samson.

Legacy Standard Bible
So he went down and spoke to the woman; and she was right in the eyes of Samson.

Amplified Bible
So he went down and talked with the woman; and she looked pleasing to Samson.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he went and spoke to the woman, because she seemed right to Samson.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he went and spoke to the woman, because Samson wanted her.

American Standard Version
And he went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.

Contemporary English Version
When they got to Timnah, Samson talked to the woman, and he was sure that she was the one for him.

English Revised Version
And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then he went to talk to the young woman. She was the one he wanted.

Good News Translation
Then he went and talked to the young woman, and he liked her.

International Standard Version
Then he went down and talked to the woman, and she looked fine to Samson.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.

NET Bible
Samson continued on down to Timnah and spoke to the girl. In his opinion, she was just the right one.

New Heart English Bible
He went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson's eyes.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

World English Bible
He went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he goes down and speaks to the woman, and she is right in the eyes of Samson;

Young's Literal Translation
And he goeth down and speaketh to the woman, and she is right in the eyes of Samson;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will go down and speak to the woman, and she will be right in the eyes of Samson.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he went down and spoke to the woman that had pleased his eyes.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he went down and spoke to the woman who had pleased his eyes.

New American Bible
he went down and spoke to the woman. He liked her.

New Revised Standard Version
Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they went down and they spoke with the woman and she was pleasing in the eyes of Samson
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they went down and spoke to the woman, and she was pleasing in the eyes of Sampson.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samson's Marriage
6and 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. 7Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.

Cross References
Genesis 6:2
the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

Joshua 23:12-13
For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, / know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

1 Kings 11:1-2
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.

Nehemiah 13:25-27
I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! / Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. / Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”

Proverbs 5:3-5
Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, / in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. / Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.

Proverbs 6:25
Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

Proverbs 31:3
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

1 Corinthians 7:39
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Ephesians 5:25-28
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, / and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ...

Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;


Treasury of Scripture

And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

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Eyes Liked Pleased Pleasing Right Samson Speaketh Talk Talked
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Eyes Liked Pleased Pleasing Right Samson Speaketh Talk Talked
Judges 14
1. Samson desires a wife of the Philistines.
6. In his journey he kills a lion
8. In a second journey he finds honey in the carcass
10. Samson's marriage feast
12. His riddle by his wife is made known
19. He strikes down thirty Philistines
20. His wife is married to another.














Then Samson continued on his way down
This phrase indicates Samson's physical journey, but it also symbolizes a spiritual descent. Samson's journey to Timnah, a Philistine territory, represents a departure from his Nazirite vow and the covenantal expectations of Israel. The geographical movement "down" can be seen as a metaphor for his moral and spiritual decline. This journey is part of a larger narrative where Israel is under Philistine oppression, and Samson's actions are pivotal in God's plan to deliver Israel, despite his personal failings.

and spoke to the woman
Samson's interaction with the Philistine woman marks a significant moment in his life. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, marrying outside the Israelite community was discouraged, as it often led to idolatry and assimilation into pagan practices. This encounter foreshadows the conflict between Samson's personal desires and his divine calling. The act of speaking to her suggests a level of engagement and interest that goes beyond mere attraction, indicating the beginning of a relationship that will have significant consequences.

because she was pleasing to his eyes
This phrase highlights Samson's impulsive nature and tendency to be led by his senses rather than spiritual discernment. The emphasis on physical attraction underscores a recurring theme in Samson's life: his susceptibility to temptation and his failure to adhere to the spiritual discipline expected of a Nazirite. This mirrors the broader biblical narrative where the Israelites often succumb to the allure of foreign gods and cultures, leading to their downfall. Samson's focus on what is "pleasing to his eyes" contrasts with the biblical call to live by faith and obedience to God's commands, as seen in passages like 1 Samuel 16:7, where God looks at the heart rather than outward appearances.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Samson
A judge of Israel known for his supernatural strength, given by God, and his Nazirite vow. He is a central figure in this passage, demonstrating a moment of personal choice and desire.

2. The Woman
A Philistine woman from Timnah whom Samson desires to marry. She represents a significant turning point in Samson's life, as his attraction to her leads to a series of events that fulfill God's purposes, albeit through Samson's personal failings.

3. Timnah
A Philistine town where the woman lived. It is significant as a place of interaction between the Israelites and their Philistine oppressors, highlighting the tension and cultural differences.

4. Philistines
The ruling oppressors of Israel during Samson's time. Their interactions with Samson are pivotal in the account of Judges, showcasing the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines.

5. Nazirite Vow
A vow taken by Samson, which included abstaining from wine, not cutting his hair, and avoiding contact with the dead. This vow is central to his identity and the source of his strength, though he often struggles to uphold it.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Unequal Yoking
Samson's desire for a Philistine woman serves as a cautionary tale about forming close relationships with those who do not share the same faith and values.

God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Weakness
Despite Samson's personal failings, God uses his actions to fulfill divine purposes, reminding us that God's plans can prevail even through our weaknesses.

The Importance of Obedience
Samson's life illustrates the consequences of straying from God's commands and the importance of adhering to one's commitments, such as the Nazirite vow.

Guarding the Heart
Samson's attraction to the Philistine woman highlights the need to guard our hearts and desires, aligning them with God's will.

Consequences of Impulsive Decisions
Samson's impulsive decision to pursue the Philistine woman serves as a reminder to seek God's guidance in our choices and consider the long-term consequences.(7) Talked with the woman.--His father and mother seem to have preceded him, and made the betrothal arrangements; otherwise he would not have been allowed by Eastern custom to talk with her. It cannot mean "talked about the woman," as Rosenmller says.

Verse 7. - Went down, as in ver. 1, where see note.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then [Samson] continued on his way down
וַיֵּ֖רֶד (way·yê·reḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

and spoke
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to the woman,
לָאִשָּׁ֑ה (lā·’iš·šāh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

because [he]
שִׁמְשֽׁוֹן׃ (šim·šō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8123: Samson -- a deliverer of Israel

wanted
וַתִּישַׁ֖ר (wat·tî·šar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3474: To be straight, even, to be, right, pleasant, prosperous

her.
בְּעֵינֵ֥י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain


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OT History: Judges 14:7 He went down and talked (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 14:6
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