Judges 15:2 "I was sure that you thoroughly hated her," said her father, "so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead."

◄ Judges 15:2 ►

New International Version
“I was so sure you hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.”

New Living Translation
“I truly thought you must hate her,” her father explained, “so I gave her in marriage to your best man. But look, her younger sister is even more beautiful than she is. Marry her instead.”

English Standard Version
And her father said, “I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.”

Berean Standard Bible
“I was sure that you thoroughly hated her,” said her father, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.”

King James Bible
And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

New King James Version
Her father said, “I really thought that you thoroughly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister better than she? Please, take her instead.”

New American Standard Bible
Her father said, “I really thought that you hated her intensely; so I gave her to your companion. Is her younger sister not more beautiful than she? Please let her be yours instead.”

NASB 1995
Her father said, “I really thought that you hated her intensely; so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please let her be yours instead.”

NASB 1977
And her father said, “I really thought that you hated her intensely; so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please let her be yours instead.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And her father said, “I really thought that you hated her intensely; so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister better than she? Please let her be yours instead.”

Amplified Bible
Her father said, “I really thought you utterly hated her; so I gave her to your companion. Is her younger sister not more beautiful than she? Please take her [as your wife] instead.”

Christian Standard Bible
“I was sure you hated her,” her father said, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Isn’t her younger sister more beautiful than she is? Why not take her instead? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I was sure you hated her,” her father said, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Isn’t her younger sister more beautiful than she is? Why not take her instead?”

American Standard Version
And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

Contemporary English Version
"When you left the way you did, I thought you were divorcing her. So I arranged for her to marry one of the young men who were at your party. But my younger daughter is even prettier, and you can have her as your wife."

English Revised Version
And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Her father said, "I thought you hated her. So I gave her to your best man. Isn't her younger sister better looking? Marry her instead!"

Good News Translation
He told Samson, "I really thought that you hated her, so I gave her to your friend. But her younger sister is prettier, anyway. You can have her, instead."

International Standard Version
Her father said, "Because I honestly thought that you hated her deeply, I gave her in marriage to your best man. Isn't her younger sister better than she? Please then, let her be yours instead."

Majority Standard Bible
“I was sure that you thoroughly hated her,” said her father, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.”

NET Bible
Her father said, "I really thought you absolutely despised her, so I gave her to your best man. Her younger sister is more attractive than she is. Take her instead!"

New Heart English Bible
Her father said, "I most certainly thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Isn't her younger sister more beautiful than she is? Please take her, instead."

Webster's Bible Translation
And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

World English Bible
Her father said, “I most certainly thought that you utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please, take her instead.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and her father says, “I certainly said that you surely hated her, and I give her to your companion; is her younger sister not better than she? Please let her be to you instead of her.”

Young's Literal Translation
and her father saith, I certainly said, that thou didst certainly hate her, and I give her to thy companion; is not her sister -- the young one -- better than she? Let her be, I pray thee, to thee, instead of her.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And her father will say, Saying, I said that hating, thou didst hate her, and I will give her to thy companion: is not her small sister good above her? Now she shall be to thee in her stead.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
I thought thou hadst hated her, and therefore I gave her to thy friend: but she hath a sister, who is younger and fairer than she, take her to wife instead of her.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“I thought that you would hate her, and therefore I gave her to your friend. But she has a sister, who is younger and more beautiful than she is. And she may be a wife for you, instead of her.”

New American Bible
He said, “I thought you hated her, so I gave her to your best man. Her younger sister is better; you may have her instead.”

New Revised Standard Version
Her father said, “I was sure that you had rejected her; so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister prettier than she? Why not take her instead?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And her father said, I surely thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your groomsman; behold, her younger sister, who is fairer than she, take her to wife instead.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And her father said: I had thought that you hated her, and I gave her to your Groomsman. Behold, her younger sister who is better than she will be yours in her place”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And her father said: 'I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion; is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And her father spoke, saying, I said that thou didst surely hate her, and I gave her to one of thy friends: is not her younger sister better than she? let her be to thee instead of her.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Samson's Revenge
1Later on, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. “I want to go to my wife in her room,” he said. But her father would not let him enter. 2“I was sure that you thoroughly hated her,” said her father, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.” 3Samson said to them, “This time I will be blameless in doing harm to the Philistines.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Judges 14:20
and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.

Judges 14:1-3
One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman. / So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.” / But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”

Judges 16:4-5
Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. / The lords of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice him and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him to tie him up and subdue him. Then each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.”

Genesis 29:23-25
But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. / And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant. / When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

1 Samuel 18:19
So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

Matthew 19:8
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.

Deuteronomy 24:1-4
If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ...

Matthew 5:31-32
It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ / But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Mark 10:4-5
They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.” / But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

Hosea 2:2
Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.

Jeremiah 3:1
“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.

Malachi 2:14-16
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

Matthew 19:3-9
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” / Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? ...

Luke 16:18
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Treasury of Scripture

And her father said, I truly thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray you, instead of her.

I verily

Judges 14:16,20
And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee? …

Acts 26:9
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

gave

Judges 14:20
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Genesis 38:14
And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

take her.

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Beautiful Companion Hadst Hate Hated Her Instead Intensely Please Really Seemed Sister Sure Thoroughly Thought Utterly Verily Young Younger

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Judges 15

1. Samson is denied his wife
3. He burns the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands
6. His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines
8. Samson smites them hip and thigh
9. He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines
14. He kills them with a jawbone
18. God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi

Berean Study Bible

I was sure you thoroughly hated her
This phrase reflects the father of Samson's wife speaking to Samson. The Hebrew root for "sure" (אָמַר, 'amar) implies a strong conviction or assumption. The father assumed Samson's feelings without direct communication, highlighting a breakdown in relationships and the dangers of assumptions. This reflects a broader biblical theme of misunderstanding and miscommunication leading to conflict, as seen throughout the Judges narrative.

he said
The phrase "he said" (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayomer) is a common Hebrew narrative device, indicating direct speech. It emphasizes the personal nature of the communication and the importance of dialogue in resolving or escalating conflicts. In the context of Judges, it often introduces pivotal moments where human decisions intersect with divine plans.

so I gave her to your companion
The act of giving Samson's wife to his companion (רֵעֶה, re'eh) underscores the cultural practices of marriage and property rights in ancient Israel. Women were often treated as property, and this action reflects the patriarchal society of the time. It also sets the stage for Samson's subsequent actions, illustrating how personal grievances can lead to larger conflicts.

Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she?
This rhetorical question highlights the cultural emphasis on physical beauty and the practice of offering a younger sister in marriage, which was not uncommon in ancient times. The comparison between sisters (יָפָה, yaphah) underscores societal values and the objectification of women, which is a recurring issue in the narrative of Judges.

Please take her instead
The plea "please take her" (קַח־נָא, qach-na) is an attempt at reconciliation, albeit through means that reflect the cultural norms of the time. The father's offer is pragmatic, aiming to appease Samson and avoid further conflict. This reflects the human tendency to seek peace through compromise, even when it involves morally questionable decisions.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Verily thought . . . utterly hated.--In the emphatic simplicity of the Hebrew style it is, Saying I said that hating, thou hatest her. As Samson had left his wife in anger immediately after the wedding feast, the father might have reasonably supposed that he meant finally to desert her.

I gave her.--This must mean I have betrothed her, for otherwise she would not have still been living in her father's house. But if the father had been an honourable man he could not under these circumstances have done less than restore the dowry which Manoah had given for her.

To thy companion.--See on Judges 14:20.

Her younger sister.--The father sought in this way to repair the wrong he had inflicted, and to offer some equivalent for the dower which he had wrongly appropriated.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - Is not her younger sister, etc. Samson's father-in-law might well have thought that Samson had forsaken his wife, and would never forgive her treachery. Possibly too he was a covetous man, and glad to get a second dower. Anyhow, his answer was conciliatory; but Samson was not in a mood to accept excuses, or be softened by conciliation.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“I was sure
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

you thoroughly hated her,”
שָׂנֹ֣א (śā·nō)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 8130: To hate

said
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

“so I gave
וָאֶתְּנֶ֖נָּה (wā·’et·tə·nen·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

her to one of the men who accompanied you.
לְמֵרֵעֶ֑ךָ (lə·mê·rê·‘e·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4828: Friend, companion

Is not
הֲלֹ֨א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

her younger
הַקְּטַנָּה֙ (haq·qə·ṭan·nāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

sister
אֲחֹתָ֤הּ (’ă·ḥō·ṯāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

more beautiful
טוֹבָ֣ה (ṭō·w·ḇāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

than she?
מִמֶּ֔נָּה (mim·men·nāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

Please
נָ֥א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

take
תְּהִי־ (tə·hî-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

her instead.”
תַּחְתֶּֽיהָ׃ (taḥ·te·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

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OT History: Judges 15:2 Her father said I most certainly thought (Jd Judg. Jdg)