Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Judges, Chapter 14ΚΡΙΤΑΙ ΙΔ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Samson's Philistine marriage and riddle begin the conflict through which the Lord seeks judgment on Israel's oppressors.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Judges 14 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. Judges survives in two divergent Greek text-forms — the so-called A-text (associated with Alexandrinus and the Hexaplaric/Antiochene tradition) and the B-text (associated with Vaticanus); Rahlfs prints the two side by side, and the reference annotated here is the verbatim Rahlfs reading as supplied. Chapter 14 narrates the opening movement of the Samson cycle: his marriage-quest to the Philistine town of Timnah (Θαμναθα), driven by the refrain αὕτη εὐθεῖα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου ('she is right in my eyes', v. 3), which the narrator immediately qualifies as παρὰ κυρίου ('it was from the LORD', v. 4) — a divinely engineered ἐκδίκησις ('occasion / vengeance') against the Philistines who ruled Israel. The Spirit of the LORD rushes on Samson (ἥλατο ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου, vv. 6, 19) so that he tears the lion bare-handed; the honey found in the carcass (vv. 8–9) becomes the matter of the wedding riddle (πρόβλημα, vv. 12–18) posed to the thirty companions: τί βρωτὸν ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ βιβρώσκοντος καὶ ἀπὸ ἰσχυροῦ γλυκύ ('what food came out of the eater, and out of the strong, sweetness?', v. 14). The wager of thirty linen garments and thirty robes (σινδόνας / στολὰς ἱματίων) is lost when the wife, under threat of fire (μήποτε κατακαύσωμέν σε, v. 15), weeps the answer out of Samson; his retort — εἰ μὴ ἠροτριάσατε ἐν τῇ δαμάλει μου ('if you had not plowed with my heifer', v. 18) — exposes the betrayal. Samson pays the wager by slaying thirty men at Ashkelon (Ἀσκαλῶνα, v. 19), and the wife is given to his companion (v. 20). The chapter's lexis is markedly Hebraizing: paratactic καί throughout, the cognate-participle ἀπαγγέλλοντες ἀπαγγείλητε (v. 12) calquing the Hebrew infinitive absolute, the idiom εὐθεῖα / ηὐθύνθη ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς (vv. 3, 7) for יָשַׁר בְּעֵינֵי, and the riddle-terms πρόβλημα / αἴνιγμα for חִידָה.

1

καὶ κατέβη Σαμψων εἰς Θαμναθα καὶ εἶδεν γυναῖκα εἰς Θαμναθα ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων τῶν ἀλλοφύλων

And Samson went down to Timnah, and he saw a woman in Timnah from the daughters of the Philistines.

Narrative opening of the Samson marriage-cycle (main narrative)καὶ κατέβη
The chapter opens with paratactic καί + aorist, the standard LXX narrative rhythm rendering Hebrew wayyiqtol. κατέβη ('went down') is topographically exact: Timnah lies in the Shephelah below the Danite hill-country. The verb of seeing (εἶδεν) launches the cycle's governing motif — Samson acts on what his eyes see (cf. vv. 2–3, 'right in my eyes').
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (narrative aorist)→ constative aorist (single completed movement)καταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; topographically precise — Samson descends from the Danite highlands to Timnah in the lowland Shephelah; the verb recurs as a structural marker through the chapter (vv. 5, 7, 10, 19).
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: transliteration of Hebrew שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshon, perhaps 'little sun', from שֶׁמֶשׁ 'sun'); indeclinable in the LXX; the last and most flamboyant of the major judges, a Nazirite dedicated from the womb (Judg 13).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΘαμναθαTimnahaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Θαμναθα: transliteration of Hebrew תִּמְנָתָה (Timnah, with the directional -āh); indeclinable in the LXX; a Philistine border-town in the Sorek valley, assigned to Dan/Judah but under Philistine control in Samson's day.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (perception)→ constative aorist (single act of seeing)ὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see / perceive'; the act of seeing inaugurates the cycle's leitmotif — Samson is repeatedly driven by sight (a woman 'seen', then 'right in his eyes'); the same root underlies the parents' failure to 'see/know' the divine purpose (οὐκ ἔγνωσαν, v. 4).
γυναῖκαa womanAccusativedirect object of εἶδενγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; here an unnamed Philistine woman who becomes the occasion of the whole narrative; γυναῖκα frames the entire chapter (it recurs at vv. 2, 3, 7, 10, 15, 16, 20).
εἰςinpreposition + accusative (here locative, calquing Hebrew בְּ)εἰς: normally 'into / to', but here used for location ('in Timnah'), a Koine/LXX extension where εἰς encroaches on ἐν, often reflecting the Hebrew בְּ.
ΘαμναθαTimnahobject of εἰς (locative; indeclinable place-name)Θαμναθα: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (origin / partitive)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive (partitive: 'from among the daughters')θυγάτηρ (gen. pl. θυγατέρων): 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the partitive ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων marks the woman as one of the Philistine women — the very class his parents will deplore as uncircumcised foreigners (v. 3).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive with ἀλλοφύλων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistines / foreignersGenitivegenitive attributive ('of the Philistines')ἀλλόφυλος: lit. 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines'), especially in Judges and Samuel, where it functions almost as the proper name 'Philistines' while retaining its overtone of ethnic otherness — the very point of the parents' objection.
2

καὶ ἀνέβη καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν γυναῖκα ἑόρακα ἐν Θαμναθα ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων Φυλιστιιμ καὶ νῦν λάβετε αὐτὴν ἐμοὶ εἰς γυναῖκα

And he went up and told his father and his mother, and said, 'I have seen a woman in Timnah from the daughters of the Philistines; now then, take her for me as a wife.'

Sequential narrative + embedded direct speech (Samson's demand)καὶ ἀνέβη
ἀνέβη ('went up') reverses the κατέβη of v. 1 — Samson returns to the highlands to report. The perfect ἑόρακα ('I have seen') gives his report a settled, decisive force, and καὶ νῦν ('now then') introduces the consequent imperative λάβετε, the standard Hebraic move from statement to demand (וְעַתָּה).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (narrative aorist)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the counterpart to κατέβη (v. 1) — Samson ascends from Timnah back to the Danite hill-country to bring his report; the down/up rhythm structures his movement throughout the chapter.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπήγγειλενtold / reportedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (reporting)→ constative aoristἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce / declare'; renders נָגַד (Hiphil); a keyword of the chapter — it governs the 'telling' of the riddle's answer (vv. 6, 9, 12–17), so that this everyday report ironically foreshadows the fatal disclosures to come.
τῷthe / hisDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὶfatherDativeindirect object (dative of person told)πατήρ (dat. πατρί): 'father'; renders אָב; Samson's father (Manoah, Judg 13) and mother are addressed together throughout vv. 2–6, the parental pair whose objection frames the marriage and whose ignorance of the divine purpose the narrator notes (v. 4).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῇthe / hisDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρὶmotherDativeindirect object (dative of person told)μήτηρ (dat. μητρί): 'mother'; renders אֵם; the unnamed mother of Samson, prominent in the annunciation narrative (Judg 13); the pairing father-and-mother recurs verbatim at vv. 3, 5, 6, 9.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing direct speech)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): the speech-introducing aorist; introduces Samson's direct demand, the first of his many self-willed utterances in the cycle.
γυναῖκαa womanAccusativedirect object of ἑόρακα (fronted for emphasis)γυνή: fronted before the verb for emphasis — 'a woman I have seen' — placing the object of desire first in Samson's report.
ἑόρακαI have seenPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb of direct speech (perfect)→ resultative perfect (a settled, decisive observation)ὁράω (perf. ἑόρακα/ἑώρακα): 'I have seen'; the perfect (rather than the narrative aorist εἶδεν of v. 1) gives Samson's report the force of a fixed resolve — what he has seen now stands as the abiding ground of his demand.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΘαμναθαTimnahobject of ἐν (locative; indeclinable place-name)Θαμναθα: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive (partitive)θυγατέρων: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Φυλιστιιμof the Philistinesgenitive in sense (indeclinable transliteration)Φυλιστιιμ: a direct transliteration of Hebrew פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines'); indeclinable; appears alongside the translation-equivalent ἀλλόφυλοι (v. 1) — the same people named by both transliteration and gloss within a single chapter, a feature of the Judges Greek tradition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing consequent demand)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transitional: 'now then')νῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν renders Hebrew וְעַתָּה, the standard discourse-marker moving from premise to request/command — here from Samson's report to his imperative demand.
λάβετεtakeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative: demand to the parents)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive request)λαμβάνω: 'take / get'; λαβεῖν γυναῖκα ('take a wife') is the idiom for arranging marriage (לָקַח אִשָּׁה); the second-person plural imperative places the duty of securing the bride on both parents — culturally the family's role in betrothal.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of λάβετεαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐμοὶfor meDativedative of advantage ('for me / on my behalf')ἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): the emphatic dative of advantage stresses Samson's self-interest — 'take her for me'; the personal pronoun underscores the willfulness of the demand.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as a wife')εἰς: here predicative ('to be / as'), a Hebraism rendering לְ of result/role (לְאִשָּׁה, 'as a wife'); the construction λαμβάνειν εἰς γυναῖκα = 'take as a wife'.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'as a wife')γυνή: here 'wife'; the third occurrence of the word in two verses, hammering home the single object of Samson's resolve.
3

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ μὴ οὔκ εἰσιν θυγατέρες τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου καὶ ἐκ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ μου γυνή ὅτι σὺ πορεύῃ λαβεῖν γυναῖκα ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων καὶ εἶπεν Σαμψων πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ ταύτην λαβέ μοι ὅτι αὕτη εὐθεῖα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου

And his father and his mother said to him, 'Are there no daughters of your brothers, or any woman among all my people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?' But Samson said to his father, 'Take this one for me, for she is right in my eyes.'

Parental objection + Samson's overruling reply (dialogue exchange)καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ
The verse stages a two-turn dialogue: the parents' rhetorical question (μὴ οὔκ … 'are there really none …?') expects the answer 'of course there are', appealing to endogamy and covenant identity (the Philistines are ἀπερίτμητοι, 'uncircumcised'); Samson's curt reply ταύτην λαβέ μοι … αὕτη εὐθεῖα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου ('she is right in my eyes') closes the exchange and supplies the chapter's thematic refrain.
Word-by-word analysis· 50 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing reply)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction; singular with compound subject)→ constative aoristλέγω: the singular verb εἶπεν governs the compound subject 'his father and his mother' — a common Greek/Hebrew construction where the verb agrees with the nearer (or lead) subject.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject (first of compound subject)πατήρ: nominative subject; though grammatically lead subject, the reply is voiced by both parents jointly.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubject (second of compound subject)μήτηρ: nominative; the mother is joined to the father as co-speaker of the objection.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
μὴnot / surely notinterrogative particle (introducing a question expecting 'no')μή: here the interrogative particle introducing a rhetorical question; combined with the following οὔκ it forms an emphatic double negative ('is it really that there are none …?') expecting the answer 'there certainly are'.
οὔκnotnegative adverb (with εἰσιν)οὐ (οὔκ before vowel): negates εἰσιν; the doubled μὴ οὔκ heightens the parents' incredulity — 'are there really no daughters?'
εἰσινare therePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb of the rhetorical question→ stative present (existence)εἰμί: 'be / exist'; the existential present in the rhetorical question — 'are there none?' — appeals to the availability of suitable Israelite brides.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject of εἰσινθυγάτηρ (nom. pl. θυγατέρες): 'daughters'; deliberately echoing the θυγατέρων of vv. 1–2 — the parents contrast the daughters of the kin with the daughters of the Philistines.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothers / kinsmenGenitivegenitive of relationship ('daughters of your kinsmen')ἀδελφός (gen. pl. ἀδελφῶν): 'brother / kinsman'; renders אָח; here in the extended sense of fellow-tribesmen/kin — the parents urge endogamy within Dan/Israel rather than marriage to the uncircumcised.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possessionσου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶand / orcoordinate conjunction (here disjunctive in force)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκamong / frompreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
παντὸςallGenitiveattributive adjective (with λαοῦ)πᾶς (gen. παντός): 'all / whole'; ἐκ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ — 'from the whole of my people' — broadens the appeal from kin to the entire covenant nation.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive (partitive: 'among all my people')λαός: 'people'; the covenant term for Israel (rendering עַם); 'my people' sets Israelite identity against the ἀλλόφυλοι, sharpening the covenantal stakes of the marriage.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possessionμου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
γυνήa womanNominativesubject (implied 'is there no woman …?')γυνή: nominative subject of the elliptical second member of the question ('[is there] no woman among all my people?'); recalls the γυναῖκα of vv. 1–2 with a covenant-internal alternative.
ὅτιthatconjunction (consecutive/causal: 'that you go …')ὅτι: here introducing the consequence/ground of the rhetorical question — 'that you should go …'; renders Hebrew כִּי.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)σύ: the emphatic nominative pronoun underscores the parents' dismay — 'that you, of all people, go …'.
πορεύῃgo / are goingPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb of the ὅτι-clause→ progressive present (action in course)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the present depicts Samson's marriage-quest as already underway; renders הָלַךְ.
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωinfinitive of purpose (with πορεύῃ)→ aorist infinitiveλαμβάνω (aor. inf. λαβεῖν): the infinitive of purpose completing πορεύῃ — 'go in order to take a wife'; λαβεῖν γυναῖκα is the marriage idiom (cf. v. 2).
γυναῖκαa wifeAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖνγυναῖκα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistinesGenitivegenitive of sourceἀλλόφυλος: 'Philistine / foreigner'; here loaded with the parents' disapproval, immediately qualified as 'the uncircumcised'.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive with ἀπεριτμήτων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπεριτμήτωνuncircumcisedGenitiveattributive adjective ('the uncircumcised')ἀπερίτμητος: 'uncircumcised'; renders עָרֵל; the term marks the Philistines as outside the covenant sign (cf. Gen 17) — a standard contemptuous epithet for the Philistines (1 Sam 14:6; 17:26); it crystallizes the covenantal scandal of the proposed marriage.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (here adversative in force)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Samson's blunt rejoinder, which overrides the parental objection without engaging its substance.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςπατήρ (acc. πατέρα): Samson addresses the father specifically (though both parents spoke), the head of the household responsible for arranging the betrothal.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ταύτηνthis oneAccusativedirect object of λαβέ (emphatic demonstrative, fronted)οὗτος (acc. fem. ταύτην): 'this (woman)'; the fronted demonstrative is emphatic and dismissive of the alternatives — 'this one, take for me'; it fixes desire on the single Philistine woman.
λαβέtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative to the father)→ ingressive aorist imperative (peremptory demand)λαμβάνω (aor. impv. λαβέ): the singular imperative (to the father, vs. plural λάβετε to both in v. 2) is curt and commanding — the son dictating to the father, an inversion of expected deference.
μοιfor meDativedative of advantageμοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; introduces the sole reason Samson offers — not covenant, kinship, or counsel, but his own sight.
αὕτηsheNominativesubject (demonstrative as pronoun)οὗτος (nom. fem. αὕτη): 'she / this one'; the demonstrative serves as the subject of the refrain, keeping the focus relentlessly on the single woman of Samson's choosing.
εὐθεῖαright / pleasingNominativepredicate adjective ('she is right')εὐθύς (fem. εὐθεῖα): 'straight / right / pleasing'; εὐθεῖα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου renders יָשְׁרָה בְעֵינַי ('right in my eyes'), the chapter's thematic refrain (cf. ηὐθύνθη, v. 7); the idiom describes what is agreeable to the beholder, here loaded with the irony that Samson's 'right in my eyes' serves the LORD's hidden purpose (v. 4) — a phrase that anticipates the book's verdict that 'everyone did what was right in his own eyes' (Judg 21:25).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative idiom)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative (locative idiom: 'in [my] eyes')ὀφθαλμός (dat. pl. ὀφθαλμοῖς): 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου = 'in my eyes / in my estimation', a Hebraism (בְּעֵינַי); the 'eyes' motif binds the cycle together and grimly anticipates Samson's blinding by the Philistines (Judg 16:21).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possessionμου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
4

καὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι παρὰ κυρίου ἐστίν ὅτι ἐκδίκησιν αὐτὸς ζητεῖ ἐκ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι κυριεύοντες ἐν Ισραηλ

But his father and his mother did not know that it was from the LORD, that he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines; and at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.

Narratorial theological aside (explanatory; raises the camera above the dialogue)καὶ ... οὐκ ἔγνωσαν
The narrator steps in with the chapter's interpretive key: the parents 'did not know' (οὐκ ἔγνωσαν) that the marriage was παρὰ κυρίου ('from the LORD'). The double ὅτι unpacks the divine plan: YHWH is engineering an ἐκδίκησις ('occasion / requital') against the Philistines, who at that time 'were ruling over Israel'. The aside resolves the tension of vv. 1–3 — Samson's self-willed desire is, unbeknownst to all, the instrument of providence.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (here introducing aside)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject (first of compound subject)πατὴρ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubject (second of compound subject)μήτηρ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἔγνωσαν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἔγνωσανknewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (with negative: 'did not know')→ constative aorist (settled state of ignorance)γινώσκω: 'know / perceive'; renders יָדַע; the parents' not-knowing is the narrator's device for dramatic irony — the reader is granted the divine perspective the characters lack (cf. the same construction at Exod 11 of Pharaoh's ignorance and at Gen 42:23 of Joseph's brothers).
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of ἔγνωσαν)ὅτι: introduces the content of what the parents failed to know — the divine origin of the affair.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source/agency)παρά + gen.: 'from (the side of) / proceeding from'; παρὰ κυρίου marks the marriage as originating in YHWH's purpose, not mere human caprice; the construction stresses divine agency.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with παρά)κύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here in the theologically pivotal phrase παρὰ κυρίου ('from the LORD') — the divine name discloses that the whole entanglement is providentially ordained as the means of judgment on the Philistines.
ἐστίνit is / it wasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the ὅτι-clause (predicate: 'it is from the LORD')→ stative present (timeless statement within the report)εἰμί: the present ἐστίν within the object-clause states the abiding fact ('it is from the LORD'); the narrator's theological judgment is framed as a standing truth rather than a past event.
ὅτιthat / forconjunction (second ὅτi: explanatory/epexegetical)ὅτι: the second ὅτι unfolds the content of the divine purpose — YHWH's seeking of an occasion against the Philistines.
ἐκδίκησινvengeance / an occasionAccusativedirect object of ζητεῖἐκδίκησις: 'vengeance / requital / vindication'; renders Hebrew תֹּאֲנָה ('opportunity / pretext') — the LXX interprets the sought 'occasion' as judicial requital; YHWH (the implied agent behind αὐτός) is seeking just retribution against the Philistine oppressors through Samson's marriage-quarrel.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)αὐτός: the emphatic nominative; ambiguous between Samson and the LORD, but in context the LORD is the ultimate seeker of the ἐκδίκησις (the antecedent of παρὰ κυρίου) — the providential agent working through Samson's desire.
ζητεῖis seekingPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζητέωmain verb of the second ὅτι-clause→ progressive present (ongoing purpose)ζητέω: 'seek / look for'; the present depicts the seeking of an occasion as an ongoing divine strategy; renders בָּקַשׁ; the verb frames the entire Samson cycle as a search for a pretext to strike the Philistines.
ἐκagainst / frompreposition + genitive (here 'an occasion from/against')ἐκ: 'out of / from'; with ἐκδίκησιν it conveys 'requital exacted from the Philistines'.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistinesGenitivegenitive object of ἐκἀλλόφυλος: 'Philistine'; the object of the divine requital — the oppressing power named again to close the theological aside.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing circumstantial note)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρῷtimeDativedative of time (with ἐκείνῳ: 'at that time')καιρός: 'time / season / appointed moment'; ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ('at that time') renders בָּעֵת הַהִיא, a standard narrative time-frame formula situating the events within the period of Philistine domination.
ἐκείνῳthatDativedemonstrative adjective (with καιρῷ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative pins the circumstantial note to the era of the narrative — the days of Philistine rule before Samson's deliverance.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject (of the circumstantial participial clause)ἀλλόφυλος (nom. pl. ἀλλόφυλοι): 'the Philistines'; the subject of the closing clause, identified as the ruling power — the political condition that makes the LORD's sought ἐκδίκησις necessary.
κυριεύοντεςwere rulingPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · κυριεύωpredicate participle (periphrastic / circumstantial: 'were ruling')→ durative present participle (ongoing domination)κυριεύω: 'rule over / be lord of'; the present participle (with implied ἦσαν) forms a periphrastic imperfect — 'were ruling over Israel'; renders מָשַׁל; it states the political backdrop of the whole Samson cycle (cf. Judg 13:1, 'the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines forty years').
ἐνover / inpreposition + dative (with κυριεύοντες: 'rule over')ἐν: with κυριεύω, the dative complement (ἐν Ισραηλ) renders the Hebrew construction for ruling 'over' (מָשַׁל בְּ) — a Hebraism preserving the בְּ.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐν (indeclinable proper noun)Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the oppressed covenant nation whom the Philistines rule and whom Samson, all unknowing, is raised up to begin delivering (Judg 13:5).
5

καὶ κατέβη Σαμψων καὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εἰς Θαμναθα καὶ ἦλθεν ἕως τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος Θαμναθα καὶ ἰδοὺ σκύμνος λέοντος ὠρυόμενος εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῦ

And Samson went down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and he came as far as the vineyard of Timnah; and behold, a young lion was roaring to meet him.

Scene-shift to the journey (main narrative; introduces the lion episode)καὶ κατέβη
The journey to finalize the marriage becomes the setting for the lion-encounter. The deictic καὶ ἰδού ('and behold') is a vivid presentational marker (Hebrew וְהִנֵּה) that freezes the narrative on the sudden threat — a roaring young lion — preparing the reader for the Spirit-empowered feat of v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (singular with lead subject Samson)→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the singular verb leads the compound subject (Samson + parents); resumes the descent to Timnah begun in v. 1, now to conclude the betrothal.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject (in apposition to compound subject)πατὴρ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubject (compound)μήτηρ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΘαμναθαTimnahobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Θαμναθα: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (narrative aorist)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθεν): 'come / go'; the singular isolates Samson (he comes alone to the vineyard, apart from his parents — narratively necessary so that he tells them nothing of the lion, v. 6).
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent: 'up to')ἕως: 'until / as far as'; here spatial, marking the limit of the approach — the vineyards on the outskirts of Timnah.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμπελῶνοςvineyardGenitivegenitive object of ἕωςἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; the vineyard setting carries a subtle Nazirite irony — Samson, sworn to abstain from the produce of the vine (Num 6:3–4; Judg 13:14), encounters the lion among the vines, and will later make a drinking-feast (πότον, v. 10).
Θαμναθαof Timnahgenitive in sense (indeclinable place-name, with ἀμπελῶνος)Θαμναθα: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (presentational)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentational particle (deictic)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the deictic interjection that suddenly presents the lion to view, heightening narrative immediacy and surprise.
σκύμνοςyoung lion / cubNominativesubject (of the presentational clause)σκύμνος: 'cub / young (of an animal)'; renders כְּפִיר; σκύμνος λέοντος ('a young lion') denotes a vigorous young lion, not a helpless cub — making the bare-handed slaying all the more a feat of Spirit-given strength.
λέοντοςof a lionGenitivegenitive (defining: 'a young one of a lion')λέων (gen. λέοντος): 'lion'; the genitive specifies the species; the lion will become the answer to the riddle — 'the strong' / 'the eater' from which sweetness comes (vv. 14, 18).
ὠρυόμενοςroaringPres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ὠρύομαιattributive/circumstantial participle (modifying σκύμνος)→ durative present participle (continuous roaring)ὠρύομαι: 'roar / howl'; the present participle conveys the ongoing, threatening roar of the lion as it charges; cf. the same verb of a roaring lion at Ps 21:14 LXX and the imagery of 1 Pet 5:8.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (purpose/direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
συνάντησινa meeting / to meetAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'to meet')συνάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῦ ('to meet him') renders the Hebrew idiom לִקְרָאתוֹ; here the 'meeting' is hostile — the lion lunges to attack.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobjective genitive (with συνάντησιν: 'meeting of him')αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
6

καὶ ἥλατο ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου καὶ συνέτριψεν αὐτόν ὡσεὶ συντρίψει ἔριφον καὶ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ ὃ ἐποίησεν

And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and he tore it apart as one would tear apart a kid, with nothing in his hands; and he did not tell his father and his mother what he had done.

Climactic deed: Spirit-empowerment (main narrative)καὶ ἥλατο
The first Spirit-rushing of the chapter (ἥλατο ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου, repeated at v. 19) inaugurates Samson's charismatic feats. The simile ὡσεὶ συντρίψει ἔριφον ('as one would tear a kid') measures his strength — a full-grown lion dispatched as easily as a young goat — and the note 'nothing in his hands' underlines that the deed is by Spirit-power, not weaponry. The concealment from the parents (οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν) sets up the secret of the honey (v. 9).
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἥλατοrushed / leapedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἅλλομαιmain verb (of the Spirit's onset)→ ingressive aorist (sudden onrush)ἅλλομαι (aor. ἥλατο): 'leap / spring / rush'; renders צָלַח ('rush upon'); the vivid verb depicts the Spirit's sudden, forceful onset upon Samson (cf. 14:19; 15:14); ἥλατο ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου is the signature formula of Samson's empowerment.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel; direction)ἐπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the one rushed upon)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πνεῦμαSpiritNominativesubject (of ἥλατο)πνεῦμα: 'spirit / breath / wind'; πνεῦμα κυρίου renders רוּחַ יהוה ('the Spirit of the LORD'); in Judges the Spirit comes upon the deliverers (Othniel 3:10; Gideon 6:34; Jephthah 11:29; Samson 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14), enabling extraordinary acts of deliverance.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with πνεῦμα)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive identifies the Spirit's divine origin — it is YHWH's own Spirit that empowers the slaying, tying the feat to the providential purpose of v. 4.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνέτριψενtore apart / crushedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντρίβωmain verb (the deed)→ effective aorist (completed act of destruction)συντρίβω: 'shatter / crush / break in pieces'; renders שִׁסַּע ('tear apart'); the compound συν- intensifies — Samson rends the lion utterly; the verb's repetition in the simile (συντρίψει) heightens the violence.
αὐτόνitAccusativedirect object (the lion)αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὡσεὶas / as ifcomparative particle (introducing simile)ὡσεί: 'as / like / as if'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the measuring simile — the lion crushed as effortlessly as a kid.
συντρίψειone would tear apartFut Act Indic 3 Sg · συντρίβωverb of the comparative clause (gnomic/potential)→ gnomic future (what one would customarily do)συντρίβω (fut. συντρίψει): the future within the ὡσεί-comparison expresses what one would typically do — 'as one would crush a kid'; the cognate repetition (συνέτριψεν … συντρίψει) hammers the ease of the feat; the Hebrew has the infinitive 'as one tears a kid' (כְּשַׁסַּע הַגְּדִי).
ἔριφονa kid / young goatAccusativedirect object of συντρίψειἔριφος: 'kid / young goat'; renders גְּדִי; the smallest, most easily handled of domestic animals — the simile's point is that a savage lion was no more to Samson than a kid.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (circumstantial)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐδὲνnothingNominativesubject (of ἦν: 'nothing was')οὐδείς (neut. οὐδέν): 'no one / nothing'; the emphatic statement οὐδὲν ἦν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ ('nothing was in his hands') makes explicit that the slaying was weaponless — a sheer feat of Spirit-given strength.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there was')→ stative imperfect (descriptive circumstance)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): the descriptive imperfect notes the abiding circumstance — his hands were empty throughout.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῖςtheDativearticleταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χερσὶνhandsDativedative of place (locative: 'in his hands')χείρ (dat. pl. χερσίν): 'hand'; renders יָד; 'nothing in his hands' is the narrator's proof of the miraculous; the same hands will later scoop out the honey (εἰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, v. 9).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἀπήγγειλεν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπήγγειλενtoldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (with negative)→ constative aoristἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / tell'; the keyword of concealment — Samson tells no one of the lion, a secrecy that becomes the hidden ground of the riddle and the leverage the Philistines will exploit (vv. 9, 12–17).
τῷthe / hisDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὶfatherDativeindirect object (dative)πατρὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῇthe / hisDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρὶmotherDativeindirect object (dative)μητρὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
whatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀπήγγειλεν / ἐποίησεν: 'what he had done')ὅς (neut. ὅ): the relative pronoun introduces the content withheld — 'what he had done'; the unspoken deed becomes the riddle's secret.
ἐποίησενhe had doneAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the completed deed)ποιέω: 'do / make'; refers back to the slaying of the lion — the concealed act that the riddle will later encode.
7

καὶ κατέβησαν καὶ ἐλάλησαν τῇ γυναικί καὶ ηὐθύνθη ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαμψων

And they went down and spoke to the woman, and she was right in the eyes of Samson.

Resumptive narrative: betrothal negotiation (main narrative)καὶ κατέβησαν
A terse summary verse: the journey resumes (κατέβησαν, plural) and the marriage talk is concluded. The passive ηὐθύνθη ('she was right [in his eyes]') echoes εὐθεῖα of v. 3, closing the loop on Samson's choice and confirming the betrothal is sealed on the same basis — his eyes.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβησανthey went downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb (plural: Samson with his parents)→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the plural resumes the descent of v. 5 after the lion-interlude, now bringing the whole party to the betrothal interview.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάλησανthey spokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak / talk'; renders דִּבֶּר; here the formal speaking with the bride (and her family) that concludes the marriage arrangement.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικίwomanDativeindirect object (dative: 'to the woman')γυνή (dat. γυναικί): 'woman'; the Philistine bride, the object of all the speaking; the marriage is now contracted.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ηὐθύνθηshe was right / pleasingAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · εὐθύνωmain verb (passive: 'she was found right')→ constative aorist passive (resultant approval)εὐθύνω: 'make straight / set right'; the passive ηὐθύνθη ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαμψων ('she was right in Samson's eyes') is the verbal counterpart to the adjective εὐθεῖα (v. 3), rendering יָשַׁר בְּעֵינֵי; the repetition seals the cycle's refrain — the woman is approved on the sole ground of Samson's sight.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative idiom)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative (locative idiom: 'in the eyes of')ὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαμψων repeats the Hebraism of v. 3, binding Samson's approval to sight.
ΣαμψωνSamsongenitive in sense (indeclinable: 'of Samson')Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
8

καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας λαβεῖν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐξέκλινεν ἰδεῖν τὸ πτῶμα τοῦ λέοντος καὶ ἰδοὺ συναγωγὴ μελισσῶν ἐν τῷ στόματι τοῦ λέοντος καὶ μέλι

And he returned after some days to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the mouth of the lion, and honey.

Time-lapse and discovery (main narrative; sets up the riddle)καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν
After an interval (μεθ᾽ ἡμέρας), Samson returns for the wedding and turns aside (ἐξέκλινεν) to the lion's carcass. The presentational καὶ ἰδού again freezes the scene on the marvel — bees and honey in the dead lion — the concrete datum that will be encoded in the riddle (the sweet from the strong, vv. 14, 18).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑποστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristὑποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; Samson returns after the betrothal interval to consummate the marriage and take the bride home.
μεθ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal, elided before vowel)μετά + acc.: 'after'; μεθ᾽ ἡμέρας ('after [some] days') denotes the customary interval between betrothal and wedding; renders מִיָּמִים.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of time (with μεθ᾿: 'after days')ἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the plural with μετά marks an indefinite lapse of time before the wedding.
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωinfinitive of purpose (with ὑπέστρεψεν)→ aorist infinitiveλαμβάνω (aor. inf. λαβεῖν): the infinitive of purpose — he returned 'to take her', i.e., to marry and bring home the bride (cf. vv. 2–3).
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖναὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέκλινενturned asideAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb→ constative aoristἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / deviate'; renders סוּר; Samson turns off the road to inspect the lion's remains — the curiosity that yields the honey and, with it, the riddle.
ἰδεῖνto seeAor Act Inf · ὁράωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐξέκλινεν)→ constative aoristὁράω (aor. inf. ἰδεῖν): 'to see / look at'; the infinitive of purpose — he turned aside 'to see' the carcass; the sight-motif persists.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πτῶμαcarcass / corpseAccusativedirect object of ἰδεῖνπτῶμα: 'fallen body / corpse / carcass'; from πίπτω ('fall'); renders מַפֶּלֶת / נְבֵלָה; contact with a carcass carries a Nazirite/purity overtone (cf. Num 6:6, the Nazirite shall not approach a dead body) — Samson again brushes against his vow.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέοντοςlionGenitivegenitive of possession ('the lion's carcass')λέων: 'lion'; the slain lion of v. 6, now a carcass; its mouth — once roaring — now holds honey, the paradox the riddle will exploit.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (presentational)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentational particle (deictic)ἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; presents the marvel — bees and honey where one expects only carrion.
συναγωγὴswarm / gatheringNominativesubject (of the presentational clause)συναγωγή: 'gathering / assembly / swarm'; here 'a swarm (of bees)'; the ordinary LXX word for an assembly (rendering עֵדָה) is applied to the colony of bees — a homely use of a weighty term.
μελισσῶνof beesGenitivegenitive (defining: 'a swarm of bees')μέλισσα (gen. pl. μελισσῶν): 'bee'; renders דְּבוֹרָה; the bees' nesting in the carcass yields the honey — the natural marvel behind the riddle's paradox of sweetness from the strong.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόματιmouthDativedative of place (locative: 'in the mouth')στόμα: 'mouth'; renders פֶּה; the honey 'in the mouth of the lion' (also v. 9) makes the paradox concrete — the devouring mouth of the strong now holds sweetness.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέοντοςlionGenitivegenitive of possession ('the lion's mouth')λέοντος: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μέλιhoneyNominativesubject (second presentational item: 'and honey')μέλι: 'honey'; renders דְּבַשׁ; the sweet substance that is the riddle's answer ('out of the strong, sweetness', v. 14; 'sweeter than honey', v. 18); also a Nazirite-relevant detail — the carcass-honey raises the question of ritual defilement Samson disregards.
9

καὶ ἐξεῖλεν αὐτὸ εἰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπορεύετο πορευόμενος καὶ ἐσθίων καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ἀπὸ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ λέοντος ἐξεῖλεν τὸ μέλι

And he scooped it out into his hands and went on, walking and eating; and he went to his father and his mother and gave to them, and they ate; and he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion's mouth.

Continued action: taking and sharing the honey, with renewed concealment (main narrative)καὶ ἐξεῖλεν
The verse details the honey's taking and sharing, and twice underscores the secret: the cognate participles πορευόμενος καὶ ἐσθίων ('walking and eating') paint Samson's casual progress, and the closing οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς … ('he did not tell them …') reasserts the concealment of v. 6 — the parents unknowingly eat honey from a carcass, and the source remains the buried secret the riddle will encode.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξεῖλενscooped out / took outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb→ constative aoristἐξαιρέω: 'take out / remove / deliver'; renders רָדָה ('scrape out'); Samson extracts the honeycomb with his bare hands — the same hands that held 'nothing' against the lion (v. 6); the verb recurs at the verse's end (ἐξεῖλεν τὸ μέλι), framing the action.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object (the honey)αὐτὸ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς ('into his hands')χείρ (acc. pl. χεῖρας): 'hand'; the honey scooped 'into his hands' deliberately recalls the empty hands of v. 6 — the hands that killed now carry sweetness.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύετοhe went / kept goingImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (durative)→ progressive imperfect (continuous going)πορεύομαι (impf. ἐπορεύετο): 'go / journey'; the imperfect sets the ongoing movement that the following cognate participle intensifies — Samson walks along eating as he goes.
πορευόμενοςwalking / as he wentPres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · πορεύομαιcognate/complementary participle (Hebraism with ἐπορεύετο)→ durative present participle (manner of going)πορεύομαι (pres. ptcp.): the cognate participle ἐπορεύετο πορευόμενος renders the Hebrew idiom of continuous action (הָלוֹךְ + verb, 'went on going'); together with ἐσθίων it depicts unhurried progress — 'he went along walking and eating'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining participles)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐσθίωνeatingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἐσθίωcircumstantial participle (manner: 'eating as he went')→ durative present participle (concurrent action)ἐσθίω: 'eat'; the participle conveys Samson eating the honey on the road; his casual consumption of carcass-honey again touches the Nazirite question, and ἐσθίω links to the riddle's βρωτόν / βιβρώσκοντος ('food' / 'the eater', v. 14).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηhe wentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (narrative aorist)→ constative aorist (deponent passive form)πορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep. ἐπορεύθη): 'go'; the aorist (passive in form, active in sense) marks the completed arrival at his parents — distinct from the durative ἐπορεύετο above.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνthe / hisAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςπατήρ (acc. πατέρα): 'father'; the parents are rejoined — the audience for the unwitting sharing of the honey.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνthe / hisAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητέραmotherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (parallel to πατέρα)μήτηρ (acc. μητέρα): 'mother'; joined to the father as the recipient of the honey.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; Samson shares the honey with his parents — the verb δίδωμι recurs in the wager (δώσω, δώσετε, ἔδωκεν, vv. 12, 13, 19) but here it is an innocent gift masking a secret.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔφαγονthey ateAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb→ constative aoristἐσθίω (aor. ἔφαγον): 'eat'; the parents eat the honey in ignorance of its source — an unwitting participation that the closing clause makes pointed.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἀπήγγειλεν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπήγγειλενtoldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (with negative)→ constative aoristἀπαγγέλλω: 'tell / report'; the renewed concealment (cf. v. 6) — Samson keeps the honey's origin secret, preserving the riddle's hidden key.
αὐτοῖςthemDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of ἀπήγγειλεν)ὅτι: introduces the withheld fact — the honey's source in the carcass.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόματοςmouthGenitivegenitive of source (with ἀπό)στόμα (gen. στόματος): 'mouth'; the source-phrase ἀπὸ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ λέοντος ('from the mouth of the lion') restates the paradox of v. 8 — sweetness drawn from the maw of the slain strong one.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέοντοςlionGenitivegenitive of possession ('the lion's mouth')λέοντος: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐξεῖλενhe had taken outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωverb of the ὅτι-clause (frames the verse with the opening ἐξεῖλεν)→ constative aoristἐξαιρέω: 'take out'; the repetition of ἐξεῖλεν (cf. verse-opening) forms an inclusio around the honey episode and names precisely the secret withheld — that he had scooped it from the lion.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέλιhoneyAccusativedirect object of ἐξεῖλενμέλι: 'honey'; the secret substance, now named as the thing taken from the lion's mouth — the concealed datum of the coming riddle.
10

καὶ κατέβη ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ ἐποίησεν ἐκεῖ Σαμψων πότον ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ὅτι οὕτως ποιοῦσιν οἱ νεανίσκοι

And his father went down to the woman, and Samson made there a drinking-feast for seven days, for so the young men do.

Scene-shift to the wedding feast (main narrative; sets the riddle's stage)καὶ κατέβη
The wedding-feast scene opens: the father goes down to the bride's house, and Samson hosts a seven-day πότος ('drinking-feast'). The explanatory ὅτι οὕτως ποιοῦσιν οἱ νεανίσκοι ('for so the young men do') notes the custom; for a Nazirite, the 'drinking-feast' is again an ironic brush with the vine (Num 6:3). The seven days will become the deadline of the riddle (vv. 12, 17).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the father descends to the bride's home in Timnah to conduct the wedding arrangements — the verb resumes the down/up rhythm of the chapter.
the / hisNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubjectπατήρ: 'father'; he conducts the formal visit to the bride's family that initiates the wedding feast.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςγυνή: 'woman / bride'; the Philistine bride, at whose home the feast is held.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενmade / heldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / do'; ποιεῖν πότον ('make a feast') is the idiom for hosting a banquet (cf. עָשָׂה מִשְׁתֶּה); Samson is the host of the wedding celebration.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the feast at Timnah, the bride's town — among the Philistines, where the thirty companions will be present.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πότονdrinking-feastAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησενπότος: 'drinking-bout / banquet / feast'; from πίνω ('drink'); renders מִשְׁתֶּה; the seven-day wedding feast centered on drinking — for the Nazirite Samson, a charged setting given his vow against wine (Num 6); the riddle-wager unfolds here.
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (indeclinable, with ἡμέρας)ἑπτά: 'seven'; indeclinable numeral; the customary length of a wedding feast (cf. Gen 29:27); the seven days set the riddle's countdown (vv. 12, 17).
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('for seven days')ἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the accusative of duration measures the feast's length.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the narrator's explanatory note on custom.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of mannerοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; οὕτως ποιοῦσιν ('so they do') marks the feast as conventional youthful practice — the narrator normalizes Samson's hosting.
ποιοῦσινdoPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of causal clause→ customary present (habitual practice)ποιέω (pres.): the gnomic/customary present states the regular practice — 'so the young men customarily do'.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίσκοιyoung menNominativesubject of ποιοῦσιννεανίσκος: 'young man / youth'; renders בָּחוּר; the bridegrooms of the age-class who host such feasts; their custom frames the thirty companions (κλητοί, v. 11) to be assigned to Samson.
11

καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε εἶδον αὐτόν καὶ ἔλαβον τριάκοντα κλητούς καὶ ἦσαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ

And it happened, when they saw him, that they took thirty companions, and they were with him.

Circumstantial setup: the thirty companions (main narrative)καὶ ἐγένετο
The formulaic καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass', rendering וַיְהִי) introduces the assigning of thirty companions (κλητοί, 'invited ones') to attend the bridegroom — ostensibly festal escorts, but in this hostile Philistine setting likely a guard set over the Israelite stranger. These thirty become the contestants of the riddle and, ultimately, the thirty slain at Ashkelon (v. 19).
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-frame formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι (aor. ἐγένετο): 'become / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο is the stereotyped LXX narrative-frame rendering וַיְהִי, introducing a new circumstantial episode; followed here by a ὅτε-clause.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when'; introduces the temporal clause fixing the moment of the companions' assignment — upon the Philistines' seeing Samson.
εἶδονthey sawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aoristὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see'; the subject is the impersonal 'they' (the townsfolk/Philistines); their sight of Samson prompts the assigning of the escort — the sight-motif now operating on the Philistine side.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of εἶδοναὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶand / thatconjunction (apodosis after καὶ ἐγένετο ... ὅτε, Hebraizing)καί: the 'apodotic καί' that introduces the main clause after the καὶ ἐγένετο … ὅτε frame — a Hebraism (rendering the waw after the temporal clause), best left untranslated or rendered 'that'.
ἔλαβονthey tookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβον): 'take / get'; here 'they brought/assigned' the thirty companions to attend Samson; the subject remains the impersonal Philistine hosts.
τριάκονταthirtynumeral (indeclinable, modifying κλητούς)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; indeclinable numeral; the recurring number of the chapter — thirty companions, thirty garments, thirty robes, thirty men slain (vv. 12, 13, 19) — binding feast, wager, and reprisal into one count.
κλητούςcompanions / invited onesAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβονκλητός: 'called / invited'; here substantival, 'invited guests / companions' (the wedding party / groomsmen, rendering מֵרֵעִים); in the hostile Philistine context they function as much as watchers over Samson as festal friends; they become the riddle's contestants.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (durative)→ stative imperfect (ongoing attendance)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): 'be'; the imperfect describes the companions' continuing presence with Samson throughout the feast — 'they were with him'.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of μετ᾿ (accompaniment)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
12

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψων πρόβλημα ὑμῖν προβάλλομαι ἐὰν ἀπαγγέλλοντες ἀπαγγείλητε αὐτὸ ἐν ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἡμέραις τοῦ πότου καὶ εὕρητε δώσω ὑμῖν τριάκοντα σινδόνας καὶ τριάκοντα στολὰς ἱματίων

And Samson said to them, 'I will put to you a riddle; if you indeed tell it to me within the seven days of the feast and find it out, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.'

Riddle-challenge proposed (direct speech; pivot of the chapter)καὶ εἶπεν ... Σαμψων
The riddle-wager is laid down. The cognate construction πρόβλημα … προβάλλομαι ('a riddle I propose') and the figura etymologica ἀπαγγέλλοντες ἀπαγγείλητε ('if telling you tell', = 'if you really tell') are emphatic Hebraisms calquing the infinitive-absolute. The stake — thirty σινδόνας and thirty στολὰς ἱματίων — matches the thirty companions, and the seven-day limit binds the contest to the feast.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing speech)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Samson's proposal of the riddle — the speech that launches the central contest.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (the thirty companions)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρόβλημαriddle / problemAccusativedirect object of προβάλλομαι (cognate accusative)πρόβλημα: lit. 'something thrown forward'; 'riddle / problem / enigma'; renders Hebrew חִידָה ('riddle'); the cognate accusative with προβάλλομαι ('I propose a proposition') is a figura etymologica; πρόβλημα is the keyword of vv. 12–19, the contested enigma of the eater and the strong (synonymous with αἴνιγμα, the classic Greek term for a riddle).
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object / dative of disadvantageὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
προβάλλομαιI propose / put forwardPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · προβάλλωmain verb of direct speech→ futuristic/performative present (the act of posing)προβάλλω (mid. προβάλλομαι): 'put forward / propose'; the middle 'I propose for myself / I pose'; cognate with πρόβλημα; renders חוּד ('propound a riddle'); the present is performative — by uttering it Samson sets the contest.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if'; introduces the protasis of a future-more-vivid condition, governing the subjunctives ἀπαγγείλητε and εὕρητε.
ἀπαγγέλλοντεςtelling / indeedPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · ἀπαγγέλλωcognate participle (Hebraism: emphatic with ἀπαγγείλητε)→ intensifying present participle (rendering the infinitive absolute)ἀπαγγέλλω (pres. ptcp.): the cognate participle ἀπαγγέλλοντες ἀπαγγείλητε ('telling you may tell') is the LXX's standard device for the Hebrew infinitive absolute (הַגֵּד תַּגִּידוּ), expressing emphasis/certainty — 'if you really/indeed tell it'.
ἀπαγγείλητεyou tellAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἀπαγγέλλωverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (contingent future)ἀπαγγέλλω (aor. subj.): 'tell / declare'; the main verb of the condition — to 'tell / solve' the riddle within the seven days; with the cognate participle it forms the emphatic 'if you really tell'.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object (the riddle)αὐτὸ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwithin / inpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῖςtheDativearticleταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (indeclinable, with ἡμέραις)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the feast's duration is the riddle's deadline (cf. v. 10).
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (within which)ἡμέρα (dat. pl. ἡμέραις): 'day'; the dative of time-within-which sets the window for solving the riddle.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πότουfeastGenitivegenitive (defining: 'the days of the feast')πότος (gen. πότου): 'drinking-feast'; the wedding banquet of v. 10; its seven days bound the contest.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εὕρητεfind outAor Act Subj 2 Pl · εὑρίσκωverb of the protasis (second subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (contingent future)εὑρίσκω (aor. subj. εὕρητε): 'find / discover'; renders מָצָא; the second condition — not merely to tell but to 'find out / solve' the riddle; the verb recurs in Samson's accusation that they 'found out' his riddle dishonestly (ἔγνωτε, v. 18).
δώσωI will giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of the apodosis→ predictive future (the wager's payout)δίδωμι (fut. δώσω): 'give'; the future states Samson's side of the wager — the prize for solving; balanced by the companions' obligation in v. 13 (δώσετε).
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object (dative)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τριάκονταthirtynumeral (indeclinable, with σινδόνας)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; the wager's count matches the thirty companions (v. 11).
σινδόναςlinen garmentsAccusativedirect object of δώσωσινδών: 'fine linen / linen garment / sheet'; renders סָדִין; a costly fine-linen wrap (cf. the σινδών of Mark 14:51; 15:46); the first half of the wedding-wager's stake.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τριάκονταthirtynumeral (indeclinable, with στολὰς)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; the repeated count for the second item of the stake.
στολὰςrobesAccusativedirect object of δώσω (second item)στολή: 'robe / festal garment'; renders חֲלִיפוֹת (with ἱματίων, 'changes of clothing'); a fine outer robe, the more valuable festal attire; the wager's second component.
ἱματίωνof clothing / garmentsGenitivegenitive (defining: 'robes of garments / changes of clothing')ἱμάτιον (gen. pl. ἱματίων): 'garment / cloak'; στολὰς ἱματίων ('robes of clothing') is a Hebraism for 'sets/changes of garments' (חֲלִיפוֹת בְּגָדִים, cf. Gen 45:22); the genitive specifies the festal robes that form the prize.
13

καὶ ἐὰν μὴ δύνησθε ἀπαγγεῖλαί μοι δώσετε ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ τριάκοντα ὀθόνια καὶ τριάκοντα ἀλλασσομένας στολὰς ἱματίων καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ προβαλοῦ τὸ πρόβλημα καὶ ἀκουσόμεθα αὐτό

'But if you are not able to tell me, then you shall give me thirty linen cloths and thirty changes of robes of clothing.' And they said to him, 'Put forward your riddle, and we will hear it.'

Counter-stake + the companions' acceptance (direct speech)καὶ ἐὰν μὴ
The wager's reverse clause: if the companions fail, they pay Samson the same thirty-for-thirty. The emphatic pronouns ὑμεῖς ἐμοί ('you to me') sharpen the reciprocity. Their reply προβαλοῦ τὸ πρόβλημα ('propose your riddle') — again the cognate construction — accepts the terms and demands to hear it.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶand / butconjunction (introducing reverse condition)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if'; introduces the protasis of the reverse wager.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive δύνησθε)μή: the negative used with the subjunctive in the conditional clause.
δύνησθεyou are ablePres Mid Subj 2 Pl · δύναμαιverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν μή)→ present subjunctive (contingent inability)δύναμαι: 'be able / can'; renders יָכֹל; the condition of failure — 'if you cannot tell'; sets up the companions' liability.
ἀπαγγεῖλαίto tellAor Act Inf · ἀπαγγέλλωcomplementary infinitive (with δύνησθε)→ purpose infinitiveἀπαγγέλλω (aor. inf. ἀπαγγεῖλαι): 'tell / declare'; complements δύνησθε — 'able to tell/solve'; the keyword of solving the riddle.
μοιto meDativeindirect object (dative)μοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb of the apodosis→ predictive future (the obligation)δίδωμι (fut. δώσετε): 'give'; the companions' reciprocal obligation, mirroring Samson's δώσω (v. 12) — the wager is symmetrical.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)σύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic 'you' (plural) stresses the reversal — now they owe him; paired with ἐμοί for pointed reciprocity.
ἐμοὶto meDativeindirect object (emphatic dative)ἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): the emphatic dative 'to me'; the pairing ὑμεῖς ἐμοί heightens the contrast of the reversed obligation.
τριάκονταthirtynumeral (indeclinable, with ὀθόνια)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; the same count, now owed to Samson.
ὀθόνιαlinen clothsAccusativedirect object of δώσετεὀθόνιον: 'linen cloth / fine linen'; diminutive of ὀθόνη; here synonymous with the σινδόνας of v. 12 — linen garments; the term elsewhere denotes burial linens (John 19:40).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τριάκονταthirtynumeral (indeclinable, with στολὰς)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; repeated for the second item.
ἀλλασσομέναςchanging / changes ofPres Mid Ptcp Acc Pl Fem · ἀλλάσσωattributive participle (modifying στολὰς: 'changing robes')→ durative present participle (used adjectivally)ἀλλάσσω (mid. ptcp. ἀλλασσομένας): 'change / exchange'; the participle 'changing/exchangeable' renders the Hebrew חֲלִיפוֹת ('changes [of garments]') — i.e. fresh, alternate sets of clothing; describes the festal robes as 'changes of raiment'.
στολὰςrobesAccusativedirect object of δώσετε (second item)στολή: 'robe / festal garment'; as in v. 12, the more valuable festal attire.
ἱματίωνof clothingGenitivegenitive (defining: 'robes of clothing')ἱμάτιον (gen. pl. ἱματίων): 'garment'; στολὰς ἱματίων repeats the Hebraism of v. 12 ('changes of clothing').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing reply)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. 3 pl. εἶπαν): the Koine/LXX first-aorist form (εἶπαν for εἶπον); introduces the companions' acceptance of the wager.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
προβαλοῦput forward / proposeAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · προβάλλωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (demand to begin)προβάλλω (aor. mid. impv. προβαλοῦ): 'put forward / propose'; cognate with πρόβλημα (the figura etymologica again — 'propose the proposition'); the companions accept the challenge and demand the riddle be stated.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβλημαriddleAccusativedirect object of προβαλοῦπρόβλημα: 'riddle / problem'; the enigma to be propounded; the keyword recurs throughout vv. 12–19.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀκουσόμεθαwe will hearFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (future)→ predictive/volitive future ('let us hear it')ἀκούω (fut. mid. ἀκουσόμεθα): 'hear / listen'; the deponent future middle (classical form) — 'we will hear it'; the companions invite the riddle, confident of solving it.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object (the riddle)αὐτό: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
14

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί βρωτὸν ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ βιβρώσκοντος καὶ ἀπὸ ἰσχυροῦ γλυκύ καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο ἀπαγγεῖλαι τὸ πρόβλημα ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας

And he said to them, 'What food came out of the eater, and out of the strong, something sweet?' And they could not tell the riddle for three days.

The riddle itself + its three-day stalemate (direct speech + narrative)καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς
The riddle proper, a tight two-line antithetical couplet: 'out of the eater (βιβρώσκοντος) — food (βρωτόν); out of the strong (ἰσχυροῦ) — sweetness (γλυκύ)'. The paronomasia βρωτόν/βιβρώσκοντος (food/eater) and the antithesis strong/sweet make the riddle insoluble without inside knowledge of the lion and the honey. The narrator notes the three-day deadlock, which precipitates the threat to the wife (v. 15).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing speech)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the riddle itself.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of ἐξῆλθεν)τίς (neut. τί): 'what?'; the interrogative opens the riddle; the implied answer (honey from the lion) is withheld — the puzzle is precisely 'what?'.
βρωτὸνfood / edible thingNominativepredicate / appositional to τί ('what edible thing')βρωτός: 'eatable / food'; verbal adjective of βιβρώσκω ('eat'); renders מַאֲכָל ('food'); the paronomastic pairing βρωτόν … βιβρώσκοντος ('food … eater') is the riddle's verbal sport — food coming out of the eater.
ἐξῆλθενcame outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of the riddle's first line→ gnomic/constative aorist (riddle's enigmatic statement)ἐξέρχομαι (aor. ἐξῆλθεν): 'come/go out'; renders יָצָא; the riddle's verb — food 'came out of' the eater (the honey from the lion's carcass).
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
βιβρώσκοντοςthe eater / one who eatsPres Act Ptcp Gen Sg Masc · βιβρώσκωsubstantival participle (object of ἐκ: 'out of the eater')→ durative present participle (used substantivally)βιβρώσκω (pres. ptcp. βιβρώσκοντος): 'eat / devour'; the substantival participle 'the eater / devourer' renders Hebrew הָאֹכֵל; it denotes the lion (the devourer), out of whose carcass the food (honey) came; the root-play with βρωτόν is the riddle's wit.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the riddle's two lines)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπὸout of / frompreposition + genitive (source, parallel to ἐκ)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἰσχυροῦthe strongGenitivesubstantival adjective (object of ἀπό: 'out of the strong')ἰσχυρός: 'strong / mighty'; substantival 'the strong one'; renders עַז; denotes the lion as 'the strong'; the antithesis strong/sweet (ἰσχυροῦ/γλυκύ) parallels eater/food, doubling the riddle's paradox; picked up in the men's counter-question ἰσχυρότερον λέοντος (v. 18).
γλυκύsomething sweetNominativepredicate / subject of implied verb (second line of riddle)γλυκύς (neut. γλυκύ): 'sweet'; substantival 'sweetness / something sweet'; renders מָתוֹק; denotes the honey; the antithesis 'out of the strong — sweetness' encodes the honey-in-the-lion; echoed in γλυκύτερον μέλιτος (v. 18).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (shift to outcome)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἠδύναντο)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἠδύναντοthey couldImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (with negative: 'were unable')→ progressive imperfect (sustained inability)δύναμαι (impf. ἠδύναντο): 'be able'; the imperfect depicts their ongoing failure across the days — 'they kept being unable' to solve it; the augmented form ἠδύναντο (alongside ἐδύναντο) is standard.
ἀπαγγεῖλαιto tellAor Act Inf · ἀπαγγέλλωcomplementary infinitive (with ἠδύναντο)→ aorist infinitive (the act feared)ἀπαγγέλλω (aor. inf. ἀπαγγεῖλαι): 'tell / solve'; complements ἠδύναντο — they could not tell/solve the riddle.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβλημαriddleAccusativedirect object of ἀπαγγεῖλαιπρόβλημα: 'riddle'; the unsolved enigma.
ἐπὶforpreposition + accusative (extent of time)ἐπί + acc.: here temporal extent, 'for / over the course of'; ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας = 'for three days'.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativenumeral (with ἡμέρας)τρεῖς: 'three'; the declinable numeral (acc. τρεῖς); the three days of deadlock (the first half of the feast) that prompt the Philistines' resort to coercion (v. 15).
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the duration of the failed attempts.
15

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τετάρτῃ καὶ εἶπαν τῇ γυναικὶ Σαμψων ἀπάτησον δὴ τὸν ἄνδρα σου καὶ ἀπαγγειλάτω σοι τὸ πρόβλημα μήποτε κατακαύσωμέν σε καὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός σου ἐν πυρί ἦ ἐκβιάσαι ἡμᾶς κεκλήκατε

And it happened on the fourth day that they said to Samson's wife, 'Coax your husband, and let him tell you the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us in order to dispossess us?'

Turning point: the threat against the wife (direct speech)καὶ ἐγένετο ... τῇ τετάρτῃ
On the fourth day the companions turn to coercion. The imperative ἀπάτησον ('deceive / coax') with the entreating δή, the death-threat μήποτε κατακαύσωμέν σε … ἐν πυρί ('lest we burn you … with fire'), and the bitter rhetorical question 'have you invited us to dispossess us?' expose the menace beneath the festal veneer. The fire-threat grimly foreshadows her actual death by fire in 15:6.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-frame formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι (aor. ἐγένετο): καὶ ἐγένετο, the narrative-frame formula (וַיְהִי) introducing the decisive fourth-day turn.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when)ἡμέρα (dat. ἡμέρᾳ): 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τετάρτῃ ('on the fourth day') marks the midpoint shift from failed guessing to coercion (the B-text reads 'fourth'; some witnesses 'seventh').
τῇtheDativearticle (with τετάρτῃ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τετάρτῃfourthDativeordinal adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)τέταρτος (fem. dat. τετάρτῃ): 'fourth'; the ordinal; the fourth of the seven feast-days, when, the riddle still unsolved, the companions threaten the wife.
καὶand / thatapodotic καί (Hebraism after καὶ ἐγένετο)καί: the apodotic καί following the καὶ ἐγένετο time-frame, introducing the main clause.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν): the companions address the wife with their threat.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικὶwifeDativeindirect object (dative: 'to the wife')γυνή (dat. γυναικί): 'wife / woman'; γυναικὶ Σαμψων ('Samson's wife') — now the pressured intermediary the Philistines exploit.
Σαμψωνof Samsongenitive in sense (indeclinable: 'Samson's')Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπάτησονcoax / deceiveAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀπατάωmain verb (imperative to the wife)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἀπατάω: 'deceive / beguile / coax'; renders פָּתָה ('entice'); the companions order the wife to wheedle the answer from Samson by feminine persuasion — the same verb-root underlies Delilah's later enticement (Judg 16).
δὴnow / pleaseentreating particle (with imperative)δή: an emphatic/entreating particle reinforcing the imperative — 'do coax him'; renders the Hebrew נָא.
τὸνthe / yourAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραhusbandAccusativedirect object of ἀπάτησονἀνήρ (acc. ἄνδρα): 'man / husband'; renders אִישׁ; here 'your husband' — Samson, the one to be coaxed.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possessionσου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπαγγειλάτωlet him tellAor Act Impv 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (third-person imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (let him disclose)ἀπαγγέλλω (aor. impv. 3 sg. ἀπαγγειλάτω): 'tell / declare'; the third-person imperative — 'let him tell you the riddle'; the intended fruit of her coaxing.
σοιto youDativeindirect object (dative)σοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβλημαriddleAccusativedirect object of ἀπαγγειλάτωπρόβλημα: 'riddle'; the answer they seek by coercion.
μήποτεlestconjunction of negative purpose/fear (with subjunctive)μήποτε: 'lest / otherwise'; introduces the threatened consequence (with the subjunctive κατακαύσωμεν) — a clause of warning/fear.
κατακαύσωμένwe burnAor Act Subj 1 Pl · κατακαίωverb of the μήποτε-clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (threatened action)κατακαίω: 'burn up / burn completely'; the intensive compound κατα- ('burn down'); renders שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ; the brutal threat — to burn the wife and her family — which she will in fact suffer at Philistine hands later (Judg 15:6); it lays bare the coercion behind the contest.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of κατακαύσωμενσε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouse / householdAccusativedirect object of κατακαύσωμεν (coordinate with σε)οἶκος: 'house / household / family'; renders בַּיִת; 'your father's house' — the threat extends to her whole family, magnifying the pressure on her.
τοῦof the / yourGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession ('your father's house')πατήρ (gen. πατρός): 'father'; her father, whose house is threatened with her.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possessionσου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)ἐν: here instrumental ('with / by'), a Hebraism (בְּ of instrument) — 'with fire'.
πυρίfireDativedative of instrument (with κατακαύσωμεν)πῦρ (dat. πυρί): 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the instrument of the threatened destruction; the fire-motif recurs ominously in the cycle (15:5–6, where the wife and her father are indeed burned).
or / is it thatinterrogative/disjunctive particle (introducing rhetorical question)ἦ: the disjunctive/interrogative particle 'or? / is it that?'; here introducing the bitter rhetorical question that follows — '[did you invite us] only to impoverish us?'
ἐκβιάσαιto dispossess / impoverishAor Act Inf · ἐκβιάζωinfinitive of purpose (with κεκλήκατε)ἐκβιάζω (aor. inf. ἐκβιάσαι): 'force out / extort / dispossess'; the compound ἐκ-βιάζω conveys forcible expropriation; the companions accuse the wife of inviting them to a feast designed to strip them of their goods (via the wager) — i.e. 'have you summoned us to ruin us?'
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἐκβιάσαιἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κεκλήκατεyou have invited / calledPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · καλέωmain verb of the rhetorical question (perfect)→ resultative perfect (the standing invitation)καλέω (perf. κεκλήκατε): 'call / invite / summon'; the perfect indicates the abiding fact of the invitation; the 2nd plural addresses the wife's household — 'have you (and yours) invited us [only] to despoil us?'; the perfect underlines that the invitation now stands as a grievance.
16

καὶ ἔκλαυσεν ἡ γυνὴ Σαμψων πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν πλὴν μεμίσηκάς με καὶ οὐκ ἠγάπησάς με ὅτι τὸ πρόβλημα ὃ προεβάλου τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ λαοῦ μου οὐκ ἀπήγγειλάς μοι καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Σαμψων εἰ τῷ πατρί μου καὶ τῇ μητρί μου οὐκ ἀπήγγελκα σοὶ ἀπαγγείλω

And Samson's wife wept before him and said, 'You only hate me and do not love me, because the riddle that you put to the sons of my people you have not told me.' And Samson said to her, 'If I have not told my father and my mother, shall I tell you?'

The wife's tearful complaint + Samson's refusal (dialogue)καὶ ἔκλαυσεν
The wife's strategy of tears begins. Her accusation reframes the withheld riddle as proof of unlove (μεμίσηκάς … οὐκ ἠγάπησάς, 'you hate … do not love'), pressing on the marital bond. Samson's a-fortiori refusal — 'if I have not told even my parents, [shall I tell] you?' — both rebuffs her and recalls his consistent concealment (vv. 6, 9); the deliberative ἀπαγγείλω voices his resistance, soon to crumble (v. 17).
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκλαυσενweptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλαίωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (burst into weeping)κλαίω (aor. ἔκλαυσεν): 'weep / cry'; renders בָּכָה; the wife's weeping (sustained over the days, v. 17) is her instrument of persuasion — emotional coercion answering the companions' threat.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativesubjectγυνή: 'wife'; 'Samson's wife' — caught between her own threatened people and her husband.
Σαμψωνof Samsongenitive in sense (indeclinable: 'Samson's')Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςbefore / topreposition + accusative (in his presence / against him)πρός + acc.: here 'before / upon / against' — she wept 'before/on' him, i.e. directing her tears at him.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of πρόςαὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing speech)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the wife's reproach.
πλὴνonly / surelyadverb/particle (restrictive-emphatic)πλήν: 'only / nevertheless / surely'; renders רַק; here an emphatic restrictive opening her complaint — 'you only hate me', i.e. 'all you do is hate me'.
μεμίσηκάςyou hatePerf Act Indic 2 Sg · μισέωmain verb of direct speech (perfect)→ resultative perfect (settled disposition)μισέω (perf. μεμίσηκας): 'hate / detest'; the perfect denotes a settled state — 'you have come to hate me / you hate me'; renders שָׂנֵא; the wife frames the secret as evidence of hostility, manipulating the marital relationship.
μεmeAccusativedirect objectμε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἠγάπησας)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἠγάπησάςyou loveAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb (with negative)→ constative aorist (with negation: 'you have not loved')ἀγαπάω (aor. ἠγάπησας): 'love'; renders אָהֵב; the antithesis μισέω/ἀγαπάω ('hate/love') is the rhetorical heart of her appeal — she casts the withheld riddle as proof of absent love.
μεmeAccusativedirect objectμε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; gives the ground of her charge — the unshared riddle.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβλημαriddleAccusativedirect object of ἀπήγγειλας (fronted)πρόβλημα: 'riddle'; fronted for emphasis — 'the riddle … you have not told me'.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of προεβάλου)ὅς (neut. ὅ): relative pronoun introducing the clause describing the riddle Samson posed to her people.
προεβάλουyou put forwardAor Mid Indic 2 Sg · προβάλλωverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristπροβάλλω (aor. mid. προεβάλου): 'put forward / propose'; cognate with πρόβλημα; recalls Samson's posing of the riddle (vv. 12–13) — she resents being excluded from what her own people were challenged with.
τοῖςto theDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativeindirect object (dative: 'to the sons')υἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): 'son'; υἱοὶ τοῦ λαοῦ μου ('the sons of my people') = her fellow Philistines, the companions; the Hebraism 'sons of my people' (בְּנֵי עַמִּי) stresses her ethnic solidarity with them over her husband.
τοῦof the / myGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive (defining: 'sons of my people')λαός: 'people'; here her Philistine kin — the word that in v. 3 named Israel now names the rival nation, underscoring the marriage's cross-grain.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possessionμου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἀπήγγειλας)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπήγγειλάςyou have toldAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb of the ὅτι-clause (with negative)→ constative aorist (with negation)ἀπαγγέλλω (aor. ἀπήγγειλας): 'tell'; the grievance — 'you have not told me'; the keyword of disclosure, here negated as the basis of her complaint.
μοιto meDativeindirect object (dative)μοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing reply)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Samson's a-fortiori refusal.
αὐτῇto herDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἰifconjunction (introducing a-fortiori protasis)εἰ: 'if'; introduces the a-fortiori argument — 'if [even] my parents I have not told …'; the apodosis ('shall I tell you?') is the deliberative ἀπαγγείλω.
τῷthe / myDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρίfatherDativeindirect object (dative)πατήρ (dat. πατρί): 'father'; Samson's appeal to his consistent secrecy — he told not even his closest kin (cf. vv. 6, 9).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possessionμου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῇthe / myDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρίmotherDativeindirect object (dative)μήτηρ (dat. μητρί): 'mother'; paired with the father in the a-fortiori — not even his parents know.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possessionμου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἀπήγγελκα)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπήγγελκαI have toldPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωverb of the protasis (perfect with negative)→ resultative perfect (settled non-disclosure)ἀπαγγέλλω (perf. ἀπήγγελκα): 'tell'; the perfect marks the abiding fact — 'I have not told [and so it stands]'; the perfect (vs. the wife's aorist ἀπήγγειλας) stresses the enduring secrecy.
σοὶto youDativeindirect object (emphatic dative, fronted)σύ (dat. σοί): the emphatic 'to you' fronted before the verb — 'shall I tell YOU?'; the contrast with his parents sharpens the rebuff.
ἀπαγγείλωshall I tell?Aor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb of apodosis (deliberative subjunctive)→ deliberative aorist subjunctive (rhetorical question)ἀπαγγέλλω (aor. subj. 1 sg. ἀπαγγείλω): 'tell'; the deliberative subjunctive — 'shall I [then] tell you?' — expects the answer 'no'; it voices Samson's refusal, which the relentless weeping of v. 17 will nonetheless overturn.
17

καὶ ἔκλαυσεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἃς ἦν αὐτοῖς ὁ πότος καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῇ ὅτι παρενώχλησεν αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτὴ ἀπήγγειλεν τοῖς υἱοῖς τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς

And she wept before him for the seven days during which their feast lasted; and it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him hard; and she told it to the sons of her people.

The wife's persistence breaks Samson; the betrayal (main narrative)καὶ ἔκλαυσεν
Her weeping persists the full seven days, until on the seventh Samson capitulates — the causal ὅτι παρενώχλησεν αὐτῷ ('because she harassed/pressed him') names the wearing-down that breaks his resolve (the same dynamic Delilah will exploit, 16:16). The secret kept from the lion's slaying to the honey is finally surrendered, and at once she relays it to 'the sons of her people' — the betrayal complete.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκλαυσενshe weptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλαίωmain verb→ constative aorist (summarizing the whole weeping)κλαίω (aor. ἔκλαυσεν): 'weep'; the renewed and sustained weeping (cf. v. 16) — now quantified as lasting the whole feast; emotional siege as the means of extraction.
πρὸςbefore / uponpreposition + accusative (directed at him)πρός + acc.: 'before / upon / at' — she wept 'at him', pressing her tears upon Samson.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of πρόςαὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐπὶfor / duringpreposition + accusative (extent of time)ἐπί + acc.: temporal extent, 'for / throughout'; ἐπὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας = 'for the seven days'.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (indeclinable, with ἡμέρας)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the full span of the feast (cf. vv. 10, 12); her weeping fills the whole period.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the duration of her tearful siege.
ἃςduring whichAccusativerelative pronoun (accusative of extent, antecedent ἡμέρας)ὅς (fem. acc. pl. ἃς): relative pronoun, here adverbial accusative of time — 'the days during which the feast was theirs'.
ἦνwas / lastedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the relative clause→ durative imperfect (the feast's ongoing duration)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; the imperfect describes the feast as ongoing through the seven days — 'during which the feast was theirs / lasted'.
αὐτοῖςfor them / theirsDativedative of possession (with ἦν: 'the feast was theirs')αὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): the dative of possession — 'the feast was to/for them', i.e. 'their feast lasted'.
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πότοςfeastNominativesubject of ἦνπότος: 'drinking-feast'; the wedding banquet (vv. 10, 12); its seven days frame the riddle-contest and the wife's weeping.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-frame formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι (aor. ἐγένετο): καὶ ἐγένετο, the frame-formula (וַיְהִי) marking the climactic seventh day.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when)ἡμέρα (dat. ἡμέρᾳ): 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ('on the seventh day') — the deadline, when Samson finally yields.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἑβδόμῃ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑβδόμῃseventhDativeordinal adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)ἕβδομος (fem. dat. ἑβδόμῃ): 'seventh'; the last feast-day, when the answer is at last extracted and (v. 18) delivered before sunset.
καὶand / thatapodotic καί (Hebraism after καὶ ἐγένετο)καί: the apodotic καί introducing the main clause after the time-frame.
ἀπήγγειλενhe toldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb→ constative aorist (the capitulation)ἀπαγγέλλω (aor. ἀπήγγειλεν): 'tell / disclose'; the long-guarded secret (vv. 6, 9, 16) is at last surrendered — the verb of concealment now becomes the verb of disclosure.
αὐτῇto herDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; gives the reason for his capitulation — her relentless pressure.
παρενώχλησενshe pressed hard / harassedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παρενοχλέωverb of the causal clause→ constative aorist (the wearing-down)παρενοχλέω: 'trouble / harass / press hard'; the compound (παρά + ἐν + ὀχλέω) conveys persistent, wearying pressure; renders הֵצִיק / צוּק ('press, distress'); the same dynamic of relentless nagging that breaks Samson again with Delilah (16:16, where similar verbs describe her daily pressing).
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of παρενώχλησεν (dative complement)αὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): the dative complement of παρενοχλέω — 'she pressed hard upon him'.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὴsheNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)αὐτός (fem. nom. αὐτή): the emphatic 'she' marks the swift hand-off — the moment she has it, she passes it on, sealing the betrayal.
ἀπήγγειλενtoldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb→ constative aoristἀπαγγέλλω: 'tell / report'; the wife relays the answer to her people — the same verb tracing the secret's whole path from concealment to disclosure to betrayal.
τοῖςto theDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativeindirect object (dative)υἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): 'son'; υἱοὶ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς ('the sons of her people') — her Philistine kin, the companions; echoes her own phrase in v. 16, confirming where her loyalty lay.
τοῦof the / herGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive (defining: 'sons of her people')λαός: 'people'; her Philistine nation — the betrayal crosses back to her own kin against her Israelite husband.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
18

καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ πρὸ τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι τὸν ἥλιον τί γλυκύτερον μέλιτος καὶ τί ἰσχυρότερον λέοντος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψων εἰ μὴ ἠροτριάσατε ἐν τῇ δαμάλει μου οὐκ ἂν ἔγνωτε τὸ πρόβλημά μου

And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day, before the sun rose, 'What is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than a lion?' And Samson said to them, 'If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.'

The riddle answered + Samson's exposing retort (dialogue; climax of the contest)καὶ εἶπαν ... οἱ ἄνδρες
Just before sunset (πρὸ τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι τὸν ἥλιον — lit. 'before the sun rose', here the deadline) the men deliver the answer in matching couplet form: 'sweeter than honey … stronger than a lion', the comparatives mirroring Samson's γλυκύ/ἰσχυρός (v. 14). Samson's reply is a proverb of detection: εἰ μὴ ἠροτριάσατε ἐν τῇ δαμάλει μου ('if you had not plowed with my heifer') — a contrary-to-fact condition (with ἂν … ἔγνωτε) charging them with using his wife to uncover what was his alone.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing speech)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν): introduces the townsmen's triumphant answer.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubjectἀνήρ (nom. pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως ('the men of the city') — the companions/townsfolk of Timnah who now answer; the phrase broadens the riddle's solvers from the thirty to the city.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive (defining: 'men of the city')πόλις (gen. πόλεως): 'city'; Timnah; 'the men of the city' identifies the riddle-solvers as the local Philistine townsmen.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of timeἡμέρα (dat. ἡμέρᾳ): 'day'; the seventh and final day — the answer comes at the very deadline.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἑβδόμῃ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑβδόμῃseventhDativeordinal adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)ἕβδομος (fem. dat. ἑβδόμῃ): 'seventh'; the deadline-day; the answer is rushed in before the day expires (πρὸ τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι τὸν ἥλιον).
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal: 'before')πρό + gen.: 'before'; with the articular infinitive (πρὸ τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι) it forms a temporal clause — 'before the sun rose/went down'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with infinitive ἀνατεῖλαι)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνατεῖλαιto rise (of the sun)Aor Act Inf · ἀνατέλλωarticular infinitive (temporal clause with πρό)→ ingressive aorist infinitive (the moment of first sprouting)ἀνατέλλω (aor. inf. ἀνατεῖλαι): 'rise / come up (of the sun)'; the articular infinitive πρὸ τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι τὸν ἥλιον ('before the sun rose') marks the precise moment of the answer; the Hebrew has 'before the sun went down' (i.e. before the seventh day ended) — the LXX renders with the verb of the sun's appearing.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιονsunAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἀνατεῖλαιἥλιος (acc. ἥλιον): 'sun'; the accusative subject of the infinitive; the solar reference resonates with Samson's own name (Shimshon, from 'sun').
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of implied verb)τίς (neut. τί): 'what?'; the men cast their answer itself as a counter-question, mirroring the form of Samson's riddle (v. 14).
γλυκύτερονsweeterNominativecomparative adjective (predicate: 'sweeter')γλυκύς (comp. γλυκύτερον): 'sweeter'; the comparative answers the riddle's γλυκύ (v. 14) — 'what is sweeter than honey?' names the honey as the riddle's 'sweet'; the genitive of comparison μέλιτος follows.
μέλιτοςthan honeyGenitivegenitive of comparison (with γλυκύτερον)μέλι (gen. μέλιτος): 'honey'; the genitive of comparison — 'sweeter than honey'; openly names the honey of vv. 8–9, exposing that they know the secret.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the answer's two lines)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of implied verb)τίς (neut. τί): 'what?'; the second line of the answering couplet, mirroring the riddle's antithesis.
ἰσχυρότερονstrongerNominativecomparative adjective (predicate: 'stronger')ἰσχυρός (comp. ἰσχυρότερον): 'stronger'; answers the riddle's ἰσχυροῦ (v. 14) — 'what is stronger than a lion?' names the lion as the riddle's 'strong'; the genitive of comparison λέοντος follows.
λέοντοςthan a lionGenitivegenitive of comparison (with ἰσχυρότερον)λέων (gen. λέοντος): 'lion'; the genitive of comparison — 'stronger than a lion'; openly names the lion of vv. 5–9, completing the solution and proving inside knowledge.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing reply)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Samson's accusing rejoinder.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (dative)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἰifconjunction (protasis of contrary-to-fact condition)εἰ: 'if'; with μή and the aorist indicative, introducing the contrary-to-fact protasis ('if you had not plowed …'); the apodosis has ἂν + aorist (οὐκ ἂν ἔγνωτε).
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἠροτριάσατε)μή: negates the protasis verb in the contrary-to-fact condition.
ἠροτριάσατεyou had plowedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀροτριάωverb of the protasis (aorist indicative, contrary-to-fact)→ aorist indicative (unreal past condition)ἀροτριάω: 'plow'; renders חָרַשׁ; the proverbial figure 'plow with my heifer' (ἐν τῇ δαμάλει μου) is a coarse double-entendre — to use someone's animal/wife to do one's work; Samson accuses the men of exploiting his wife to crack the riddle; a folk-proverb of illegitimate access.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)ἐν: here instrumental ('with'), Hebraism (בְּ of means) — 'plow with my heifer'.
τῇthe / myDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δαμάλειheiferDativedative of instrument (with ἠροτριάσατε)δάμαλις (dat. δαμάλει): 'heifer / young cow'; renders עֶגְלָה; the metaphor 'my heifer' = his wife — the men 'plowed with' her, i.e. used her to do what they could not; a barbed, demeaning figure exposing the betrayal.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possessionμου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἔγνωτε)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἂνwouldmodal particle (with aorist indicative: contrary-to-fact apodosis)ἄν: the modal particle marking the apodosis of the contrary-to-fact condition — 'you would not have found out'.
ἔγνωτεyou would have found outAor Act Indic 2 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb of the apodosis (aorist indicative with ἄν)→ aorist indicative + ἄν (unreal past result)γινώσκω (aor. ἔγνωτε): 'know / find out'; with οὐκ ἂν it forms the contrary-to-fact apodosis — 'you would not have known/solved [it]'; the verb of knowing closes the riddle's frame (cf. the parents' οὐκ ἔγνωσαν, v. 4).
τὸthe / myAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβλημάriddleAccusativedirect object of ἔγνωτεπρόβλημα: 'riddle'; 'my riddle' — Samson claims it as his own, illegitimately wrested from him; the keyword's final occurrence in the contest.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possessionμου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
19

καὶ ἥλατο ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου καὶ κατέβη εἰς Ἀσκαλῶνα καὶ ἐπάταξεν ἐξ αὐτῶν τριάκοντα ἄνδρας καὶ ἔλαβεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν καὶ ἔδωκεν τὰς στολὰς τοῖς ἀπαγγείλασιν τὸ πρόβλημα καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ Σαμψων καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ

And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck thirty men of them, and took their garments and gave the robes to those who had told the riddle; and Samson was enraged in anger and went up to his father's house.

Spirit-empowered reprisal: payment of the wager by slaughter (main narrative)καὶ ἥλατο
The second Spirit-rushing (ἥλατο ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου, as v. 6) turns the lost wager into bloody requital — the ἐκδίκησις of v. 4 begins. Samson goes down to Ashkelon, strikes thirty men, and pays the thirty companions with the stripped garments. His departure ὠργίσθη θυμῷ ('enraged in anger') and ascent to his father's house leave the marriage unconsummated and set up the rupture of chapter 15.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἥλατοrushedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἅλλομαιmain verb (of the Spirit's onset)→ ingressive aorist (sudden onrush)ἅλλομαι (aor. ἥλατο): 'leap / rush'; renders צָלַח; the second Spirit-empowerment of the chapter (cf. v. 6), here channeling Samson's anger into the providential ἐκδίκησις against the Philistines (v. 4).
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel)ἐπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πνεῦμαSpiritNominativesubject (of ἥλατο)πνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; πνεῦμα κυρίου, as v. 6 — the divine Spirit empowering the deed of deliverance/reprisal.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with πνεῦμα)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the Spirit's divine source — the slaughter at Ashkelon is, paradoxically, the working out of YHWH's purpose (v. 4).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; Samson descends to the Philistine coastal city — the down-movement now toward violence rather than marriage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἈσκαλῶναAshkelonAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (declinable place-name)Ἀσκαλών (acc. Ἀσκαλῶνα): 'Ashkelon'; renders אַשְׁקְלוֹן; one of the five Philistine cities (the Pentapolis), on the Mediterranean coast; declinable in Greek (hence 'n', acc.); Samson strikes there, away from Timnah, to despoil Philistines for the wager.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενstruck / killedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / smite / kill'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); the standard LXX verb for slaying in battle; Samson kills thirty men to obtain their garments — the first bloodshed of his career against the Philistines.
ἐξof / from amongpreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐκ (ἐξ before vowel): 'from among'; partitive — 'thirty men of them' (of the Ashkelonites).
αὐτῶνthemGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἐξ)αὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them' — the men of Ashkelon, from whom the thirty are struck down.
τριάκονταthirtynumeral (indeclinable, with ἄνδρας)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; the recurring count — thirty men slain to pay the thirty companions, closing the chapter's arithmetic of thirty (vv. 11–13).
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξενἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; the thirty Ashkelonite victims whose garments settle the wager.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take'; here 'stripped / seized' the garments of the slain — spoil to pay the riddle-debt.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενἱμάτιον (acc. pl. ἱμάτια): 'garment / cloak'; the clothing stripped from the slain Ashkelonites; renders חֲלִיצוֹת / בְּגָדִים; supplies the στολαί owed in the wager.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ constative aoristδίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): 'give'; Samson pays the wager (cf. δώσω, v. 12) — but with garments wrenched from the dead, turning the festal stake into the fruit of slaughter.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στολὰςrobesAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκενστολή (acc. pl. στολάς): 'robe / festal garment'; the wager-prize (vv. 12–13) now paid from the spoil of Ashkelon.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantizing the participle)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπαγγείλασινwho had toldAor Act Ptcp Dat Pl Masc · ἀπαγγέλλωsubstantival participle (indirect object: 'to those who told')→ aorist participle (antecedent action)ἀπαγγέλλω (aor. ptcp. ἀπαγγείλασιν): 'tell / solve'; substantival 'those who told/solved [the riddle]' — the thirty companions; the keyword of disclosure now identifies the wager's winners, ironically paid through the betrayal they engineered.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβλημαriddleAccusativedirect object of ἀπαγγείλασινπρόβλημα: 'riddle'; the contest's object, now resolved and paid for in blood.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὠργίσθηwas enragedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀργίζωmain verb (passive in form, intransitive in sense)→ ingressive aorist (flared into anger)ὀργίζω (aor. pass. ὠργίσθη): 'be angry / become enraged'; renders חָרָה אַף; the passive is intransitive ('grew angry'); ὠργίσθη θυμῷ ('was enraged in anger') is a cognate-dative Hebraism intensifying the fury — Samson's wrath drives him from the marriage.
θυμῷin angerDativedative of manner / cognate dative (with ὠργίσθη)θυμός (dat. θυμῷ): 'anger / wrath / passion'; the cognate/intensifying dative with ὠργίσθη ('was angry with anger') renders the Hebrew emphatic idiom (וַיִּחַר אַפּוֹ); marks the depth of Samson's rage at the betrayal.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; Samson ascends from the lowlands back to his father's house, abandoning the bride in his fury — the up-movement that closes the chapter (cf. vv. 2, 5) and leaves the marriage in rupture.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςοἶκος: 'house / household'; 'his father's house' — Samson returns home, leaving the unconsummated marriage behind, the breach that triggers chapter 15.
τοῦof the / hisGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession ('his father's house')πατήρ (gen. πατρός): 'father'; Samson's paternal home, the refuge to which he withdraws in anger.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
20

καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ γυνὴ Σαμψων ἑνὶ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ ὧν ἐφιλίασεν

And Samson's wife was given to one of his companions, whom he had befriended.

Closing notice: the wife given to the companion (main narrative; sets up ch. 15)καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ γυνὴ
The terse closing notice: in Samson's absence the wife 'became' (was given) to one of his companions — the very best man (ὧν ἐφιλίασεν, 'whom he had made his friend'). The double offence — bride lost, riddle betrayed — is the seed of the escalating vengeance of chapter 15 (the foxes, the burning, the slaughter at Lehi). The verb ἐγένετο here means 'became [the wife of]', a Hebraism for the transfer of the woman.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοbecame / was givenAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (with dative: 'became [the wife of]')→ constative aoristγίνομαι (aor. ἐγένετο): 'become'; with the dative ἑνὶ τῶν φίλων it is a Hebraism for marital transfer — 'the wife became [the wife] to one of his companions', i.e. was given to him (rendering הָיְתָה לְ); the marriage is dissolved and reassigned in Samson's absence.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativesubjectγυνή: 'wife'; Samson's bride, now transferred away — the loss that ignites his vengeance (Judg 15:1–6); the chapter that opened with his seeking her ends with her given to another.
Σαμψωνof Samsongenitive in sense (indeclinable: 'Samson's')Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἑνὶto oneDativeindirect object / dative of recipient (with ἐγένετο)εἷς (dat. ἑνί): 'one'; the numeral as dative recipient — 'to one of his companions'; declinable, hence 'n' with dative case.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φίλωνcompanions / friendsGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἑνί: 'one of his friends')φίλος (gen. pl. φίλων): 'friend / companion'; renders רֵעַ ('companion'); specifically the best man / groom's friend (cf. the מֵרֵעַ of Judg 15:2); the bitter irony is that the wife is given to Samson's own 'friend' — the closest of the thirty.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὧνwhomGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction; object of ἐφιλίασεν)ὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): relative pronoun, genitive by attraction to the antecedent φίλων; introduces the clause identifying the recipient as the friend Samson himself had cultivated.
ἐφιλίασενhe had befriendedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φιλιάζωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (antecedent friendship)φιλιάζω: 'be friendly / make a friend of / associate with'; cognate with φίλος (the figura etymologica φίλων … ἐφιλίασεν); renders רֵעָה ('be a friend'); the closing pun underlines the betrayal — the wife is handed to the very 'friend' Samson had 'befriended', i.e. his best man.