Judges 1:14
New International Version
One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

New Living Translation
When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?”

English Standard Version
When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

Berean Standard Bible
One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

New King James Version
Now it happened, when she came to him, that she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?”

New American Standard Bible
Then it happened that when she came to him, she incited him to ask her father for a field. Then later, she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

NASB 1995
Then it came about when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. Then she alighted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

NASB 1977
Then it came about when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. Then she alighted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that when she came to him, she enticed him to ask her father for the field. Then she alighted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

Amplified Bible
When she came to Othniel, she persuaded him to [allow her to] ask her father [Caleb] for a field. Then she [rode up to Caleb and] dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

Christian Standard Bible
When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?”

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

Contemporary English Version
Right after the wedding, Achsah started telling Othniel that he ought to ask her father for a field. She went to see her father, and while she was getting down from her donkey, Caleb asked, "What's bothering you?"

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted down from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When she came to Othniel, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What do you want?"

Good News Translation
On the wedding day Othniel urged her to ask her father for a field. She got down from her donkey, and Caleb asked her what she wanted.

International Standard Version
Later on, after she had arrived, she urged Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What do you want for yourself?"

Majority Standard Bible
One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?”

NET Bible
One time Acsah came and charmed her father so she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, "What would you like?"

New Heart English Bible
It happened, when she came to him, that she got him to ask her father for a field. And she got off from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What would you like?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said to her, What wilt thou?

World English Bible
When she came, she got him to ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey; and Caleb said to her, “What would you like?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass in her coming in, that she persuades him to ask from her father the field, and she comes down off the donkey, and Caleb says to her, “What do you [want]?”

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass in her coming in, that she persuadeth him to ask from her father the field, and she lighteth from off the ass, and Caleb saith to her, 'What -- to thee?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be in her coming she will stimulate him to ask from her father a field: and she will descend from off the ass; and Caleb will say to her, What to thee?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And as she was going on her way her husband admonished her to ask a field of her father. And as she sighed sitting on her ass, Caleb said to her: What aileth thee?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And as she was traveling on a journey, her husband admonished her, so that she would request a field from her father. And since she had sighed while sitting on her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What is it?”

New American Bible
When she came to him, she induced him to ask her father for some land. Then, as she alighted from the donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?”

New Revised Standard Version
When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass, when she entered the city, she desired to ask of her father a field; and she alighted from her ass; and Caleb said to her, What troubles you, my daughter?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when she entered, she desired to ask from her father a field, and she came down from the donkey, and Kalab said to her, “What is with you, my daughter?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field; and she alighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her: 'What wouldest thou?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass as she went in, that Gothoniel urged her to ask a field of her father; and she murmured and cried from off her ass, Thou hast sent me forth into a south land: and Chaleb said to her, What is thy request?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jerusalem and Hebron Captured
13So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage. 14One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?” 15“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.…

Cross References
Joshua 15:18-19
One day Acsah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you desire?” / “Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.

Numbers 27:1-11
Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached / the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said, / “Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons. ...

Numbers 36:1-12
Now the family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, one of the clans of Joseph, approached Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families and addressed them, / saying, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, He also commanded him to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. / But if they marry any of the men from the other tribes of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the portion of our fathers and added to the tribe into which they marry. So our allotted inheritance would be taken away. ...

Deuteronomy 1:16-17
At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. / Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”

Deuteronomy 21:15-17
If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, / when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. / Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

1 Samuel 25:23-31
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him. / She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant. / My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent. ...

1 Kings 2:19
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.

1 Chronicles 2:49
She was also the mother of Shaaph father of Madmannah, and of Sheva father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Acsah.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Proverbs 31:10-31
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. / The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. / She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life. ...

Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. / Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ...

Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 11:9-13
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. / What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ...

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said to her, What will you?

And it came

Joshua 15:18,19
And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? …

and she lighted.

Jump to Previous
Alighted Ass Caleb Donkey Idea Lighted Mind Moved Othniel Persuaded Persuadeth Requesting Urged Want Wilt Wish Wouldest
Jump to Next
Alighted Ass Caleb Donkey Idea Lighted Mind Moved Othniel Persuaded Persuadeth Requesting Urged Want Wilt Wish Wouldest
Judges 1
1. The acts of Judah and Simeon
4. Adonibezek justly requited
8. Jerusalem taken
10. Hebron taken
11. Othniel has Achsah to wife for taking of Debir
16. The Kenites dwell in Judah
17. Hormah, Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron taken
21. The acts of Benjamin
22. Of the house of Joseph, who take Bethel
30. Of Zebulun
31. Of Asher
33. Of Naphtali
34. Of Dan














One day
This phrase sets the scene for a specific event, indicating a moment of significance in the narrative. In the Hebrew context, "one day" often marks a turning point or a moment of divine intervention. It suggests that what follows is not just a mundane occurrence but a pivotal moment in the unfolding account of God's people.

when she came to Othniel
The mention of Othniel, who later becomes Israel's first judge, is significant. His name means "God is my strength," reflecting his role as a deliverer. The relationship between Othniel and the woman, Achsah, is rooted in familial and covenantal ties, emphasizing the importance of family and divine purpose in the biblical narrative.

she urged him
The Hebrew root for "urged" conveys a sense of persistence and determination. Achsah's action here is proactive and assertive, highlighting her wisdom and influence. In a patriarchal society, her initiative is noteworthy, demonstrating that God often works through unexpected channels and individuals.

to ask her father for a field
Land ownership in ancient Israel was a sign of blessing and inheritance. By asking for a field, Achsah is seeking to secure her family's future and fulfill God's promise of land to His people. This request reflects the broader biblical theme of God's provision and the importance of faith in claiming His promises.

When she got off her donkey
The act of dismounting from a donkey is symbolic of respect and readiness to engage in serious conversation. In the ancient Near East, donkeys were common means of transportation, and getting off one signified a transition from travel to interaction. This gesture sets the stage for the ensuing dialogue with Caleb.

Caleb asked her
Caleb, a man of faith and one of the original spies who trusted in God's promise, is portrayed as a wise and discerning leader. His willingness to listen to Achsah reflects a culture of mutual respect and the value of seeking counsel. Caleb's question opens the door for Achsah to express her desires, illustrating the importance of communication and understanding in relationships.

'What do you want?'
This question is both direct and open-ended, inviting Achsah to articulate her needs and desires. It reflects a biblical principle of seeking and asking, as seen in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you." Caleb's inquiry encourages believers to approach God with their requests, trusting in His willingness to provide according to His will.

(14) When she came to him.--When she first reached his house as a bride.

She moved him.--He was too modest to ask for himself, and he declined her request; but she will not enter till she has gained her way.

A field.--Rather, the field. In the passage in Joshua 15:18 there is no definite article, but by the time this book was written the field then obtained by Achsah had become historical.

Lighted.--Not merely in sign of reverence (like Rebecca in Genesis 24:64, and Abigail in 1Samuel 25:25), but "leaped off" with eager impetuosity. The Hebrew verb tsanach here used occurs in Judges 4:21, where it is rendered "fastened," i.e., "drove it firmly by a blow." The LXX. render it "screamed" or "shouted from the ass;" the Vulg., "sighed as she was sitting on the ass;" but they probably had a different reading. "Suddenly," says Ewald, "as if some accident had happened to her, she fell from her ass, and on being embraced by her anxious father, she adjured him as if in words of inspiration" (Hist. Isr. ii. 366). . . .

Verse 14. - She moved him, etc. There is some obscurity in this verse, which seems to tell us that Achsah, on her wedding-day, when she was going to her husband s house, persuaded him to ask of her father the field, viz. that in which the springs of water were, and which were not included in her original dower; and then goes on to tell us that Achsah herself made the request. The Septuagint reads, "Othniel urged her to ask the field of her father," and the Vulgate has, "Her husband told her to ask her father," and then it follows naturally, "and she lighted from off her ass," etc. But the Hebrew reading may be right, and it may be that when her husband, brave in storming a city, but timid in asking a favour, hung back, she, with the tenacious will of a woman, sprang off the ass herself, and successfully preferred her request. Dean Stanley identifies (though not with absolute certainty) the "field thus obtained by Achsah with an unusually green valley amidst the dry, barren hills of the south country, lying south or west of Hebron, called Wady Nuukur, through which Caleb and Achsah must have ridden on their way from Hebron to Debir, or Kirjath-sepher. This valley breaks into a precipitous and still greener ravine, and both the upper and lower pastures are watered by a clear, bubbling rivulet, which rises in the upper meadow, and flows to the bottom of the ravine below. The name of a village, Dewir, seems to represent the ancient Debir.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
One day
וַיְהִ֣י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

[Acsah] came [to Othniel]
בְּבוֹאָ֗הּ (bə·ḇō·w·’āh)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and urged him
וַתְּסִיתֵ֙הוּ֙ (wat·tə·sî·ṯê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5496: To prick, stimulate, to seduce

to ask
לִשְׁא֤וֹל (liš·’ō·wl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

her father
אָבִ֙יהָ֙ (’ā·ḇî·hā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1: Father

for a field.
הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

When she got off
וַתִּצְנַ֖ח (wat·tiṣ·naḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6795: To alight, to cause to descend, drive down

her donkey,
הַחֲמ֑וֹר (ha·ḥă·mō·wr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2543: A male ass

Caleb
כָּלֵ֖ב (kā·lêḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3612: Caleb -- a son of Jephunneh and sent by Moses to spy out the land

asked her,
וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ (way·yō·mer-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“What
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

do you desire?”
לָּֽךְ׃ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew


Links
Judges 1:14 NIV
Judges 1:14 NLT
Judges 1:14 ESV
Judges 1:14 NASB
Judges 1:14 KJV

Judges 1:14 BibleApps.com
Judges 1:14 Biblia Paralela
Judges 1:14 Chinese Bible
Judges 1:14 French Bible
Judges 1:14 Catholic Bible

OT History: Judges 1:14 It happened when she came to him (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 1:13
Top of Page
Top of Page