Judges 15:6
New International Version
When the Philistines asked, “Who did this?” they were told, “Samson, the Timnite’s son-in-law, because his wife was given to his companion.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.

New Living Translation
“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “Samson,” was the reply, “because his father-in-law from Timnah gave Samson’s wife to be married to his best man.” So the Philistines went and got the woman and her father and burned them to death.

English Standard Version
Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.

Berean Standard Bible
“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite,” they were told. “For his wife was given to his companion.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.

King James Bible
Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

New King James Version
Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they answered, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.

New American Standard Bible
Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And some said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father to death with fire.

NASB 1995
Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.

NASB 1977
Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.

Amplified Bible
Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And they were told, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took Samson’s wife and gave her to his [chief] companion [at the wedding feast].” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the Philistines asked, “Who did this? ” They were told, “It was Samson, the Timnite’s son-in-law, because he took Samson’s wife and gave her to his companion.” So the Philistines went to her and her father and burned them to death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the Philistines asked, “Who did this?” They were told, “It was Samson, the Timnite’s son-in-law, because he has taken Samson’s wife and given her to another man.” So the Philistines went to her and her father and burned them to death.

American Standard Version
Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he hath taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

Contemporary English Version
Some of the Philistines started asking around, "Who could have done such a thing?" "It was Samson," someone told them. "He married the daughter of that man in Timnah, but then the man gave Samson's wife to one of the men at the wedding." The Philistine leaders went to Timnah and burned to death Samson's wife and her father.

English Revised Version
Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they said, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he hath taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some Philistines asked, "Who did this?" They were told, "Samson! He's the son-in-law of the man at Timnah. Samson did it because the man at Timnah took Samson's wife and gave her to his best man." So the Philistines burned Samson's wife and her father to death.

Good News Translation
When the Philistines asked who had done this, they learned that Samson had done it because his father-in-law, a man from Timnah, had given Samson's wife to a friend of Samson's. So the Philistines went and burned the woman to death and burned down her father's house.

International Standard Version
Then the Philistines demanded, "Who did this?" Someone said, "Samson, son-in-law of the Timnite, because his father-in-law took Samson's wife and gave her to the best man at Samson's wedding." In retaliation, the Philistines came up and burned her and her father to death.

Majority Standard Bible
“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite,” they were told. “For his wife was given to his companion.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.

NET Bible
The Philistines asked, "Who did this?" They were told, "Samson, the Timnite's son-in-law, because the Timnite took Samson's bride and gave her to his best man." So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father.

New Heart English Bible
Then the Philistines said, "Who has done this?" They said, "Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife, and given her to his companion." The Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father's house with fire.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

World English Bible
Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” They said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” The Philistines came up, and burned her and her father with fire.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the Philistines say, “Who has done this?” And they say, “Samson, son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken away his wife, and gives her to his companion”; and the Philistines go up, and burn her and her father with fire.

Young's Literal Translation
And the Philistines say, 'Who hath done this?' And they say, 'Samson, son-in-law of the Timnite, because he hath taken away his wife, and giveth her to his companion;' and the Philistines go up, and burn her and her father with fire.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Philisteim will say, Who did this? and they will say, Samson, son-in-law of the Timnite, for he took his wife and he will give her to his companion. And Philisteim will go up and will burn her and her father with fire.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then the Philistines said: Who hath done this thing? And it was answered: Samson the son in law of the Thamnathite, because he took away his wife, and gave her to another, hath done these things. And the Philistines went up and burnt both the woman and her father.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Philistines said, “Who has done this thing?” And it was said: “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took away his wife, and gave her to another. He has done these things.” And the Philistines went up and burned the woman as well as her father.

New American Bible
When the Philistines asked, “Who has done this?” they were told, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because his wife was taken and given to his best man.” So the Philistines went up and destroyed her and her family by fire.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the Philistines asked, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken Samson’s wife and given her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up, and burned her and her father.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the Philistines said, Who has done this? And they said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife and given her to his groomsman. And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father's family with fire.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Philistines were saying: “Who has done this?” They said Samson, son in law of the Tamnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his Groomsman.” And Philistines came up and they burned her and her household father in fire
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the Philistines said: 'Who hath done this?' And they said: 'Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he hath taken his wife, and given her to his companion.' And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Philistines said, Who has done these things? and they said, Sampson the son-in-law of the Thamnite, because he has taken his wife, and given her to one of his friends; and the Philistines went up, and burnt her and her father's house with fire.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samson's Revenge
5Then he lit the torches and released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines, burning up the piles of grain and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves. 6“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite,” they were told. “For his wife was given to his companion.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death. 7And Samson told them, “Because you have done this, I will not rest until I have taken vengeance upon you.”…

Cross References
Judges 14:15
So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”

Judges 14:19
Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,

Judges 16:5
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.”

Judges 16:28
Then Samson called out to the LORD: “O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, so that with one vengeful blow I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Judges 14:4
(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)

Judges 16:30
Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people in it. So in his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.

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 16:1-3
One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her. / When the Gazites heard that Samson was there, they surrounded that place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They were quiet throughout the night, saying, “Let us wait until dawn; then we will kill him.” / But Samson lay there only until midnight, when he got up, took hold of the doors of the city gate and both gateposts, and pulled them out, bar and all. Then he put them on his shoulders and took them to the top of the mountain overlooking Hebron.

Judges 13:5
For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 13:24-25
So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him. / And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges 16:21
Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.

Judges 16:23-24
Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.” / And when the people saw him, they praised their god, saying: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy who destroyed our land and multiplied our dead.”

Judges 16:17
Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

Judges 16:18-19
When Delilah realized that he had revealed to her all that was in his heart, she sent this message to the lords of the Philistines: “Come up once more, for he has revealed to me all that is in his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came to her, bringing the money in their hands. / And having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him.

Judges 16:6-9
So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” / Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man.” / So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Then the Philistines said, Who has done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

and burnt

Judges 12:1
And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.

Judges 14:15
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?

Proverbs 22:8
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

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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














Who did this?
This phrase reflects the Philistines' immediate reaction to the destruction of their crops, which Samson had set on fire. The Philistines, a seafaring people known for their conflicts with Israel, were quick to seek the source of their misfortune. The question underscores the tension and hostility between the Philistines and the Israelites during this period. Historically, the Philistines were a dominant force in the region, often oppressing the Israelites, which sets the stage for the cycle of vengeance seen in the narrative.

the Philistines demanded
The Philistines' demand for answers indicates their authority and control over the region at the time. The Hebrew root for "demanded" suggests a forceful inquiry, reflecting their aggressive nature. This demand also highlights the Philistines' reliance on retribution as a means of maintaining power and control, a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures.

It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite
Samson, a judge of Israel, is identified here as the perpetrator. His designation as "the son-in-law of the Timnite" ties him to the Philistine community through marriage, illustrating the complex personal and political relationships of the time. The mention of the "Timnite" refers to a man from Timnah, a Philistine city, indicating the intermingling of Israelite and Philistine lives despite their enmity. This relationship becomes a catalyst for the ensuing conflict.

they were told
This passive construction suggests that the information was relayed to the Philistines, possibly by someone within their own ranks or an Israelite informant. It reflects the communication networks of the time and the spread of information, which often fueled conflicts. The phrase also implies a sense of inevitability, as the Philistines are now armed with the knowledge needed to exact revenge.

For his wife was given to his companion
This phrase reveals the personal betrayal that motivated Samson's actions. His wife being given to another man, likely a friend or associate, was a grave insult and breach of trust. In the cultural context, marriage alliances were significant, and such a betrayal would have been seen as a deep personal and social affront. This act of giving Samson's wife to another man underscores the lack of respect the Philistines had for Samson, further inflaming tensions.

So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death
The Philistines' response is brutal and swift, reflecting the harsh realities of ancient justice and retribution. The act of burning is significant, as fire was often used in the ancient world as a means of punishment and purification. This violent retribution highlights the cycle of vengeance that characterizes much of the narrative in Judges. It also serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of personal and political conflicts, illustrating the destructive nature of sin and the need for divine intervention and justice.

(6) They answered.--The phrase is impersonal; but Samson had quite openly threatened vengeance in speaking to the Timnites, and is not likely to have done his work unaided or to have been very reticent about it; nor would the poor oppressed Israelites be inclined to keep his secret when they were confronted with the fury of the Philistines.

Burnt her and her father with fire.--Was this meant as a way of revenging themselves on Samson, or of avenging him for the wrongs which he had received from the Timnite? The latter seems to be most unlikely. Looking with despair and fury at the blackened fields which but a few days before had been thick with golden corn, it is inconceivable that the Philistines would be in a mood to perform an act of justice for the sake of the deadly enemy who had inflicted this loss upon them. Their motive is clear enough. They wished to insult and injure Samson, and, at the same time, vent their fierce spleen on the man whose family and whose conduct had led to all these troubles. That they thought about "burning as the punishment of adultery among the Jews" (Genesis 38:24, &c.) is still more improbable. To burn a person, and his house and his family, seems to have been the ordinary revenge of these barbarous days. (See Judges 12:1; Judges 14:15.)

Verse 6. - And the Philistines... burnt her and her father with fire. See Judges 14:15. It appears from Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 20:14; Leviticus 21:9; Joshua 7:15, 25, that burning with fire was a judicial punishment among the Hebrews. Possibly the Philistines, in their fear of Samson, and perhaps also from a rude sense of justice, inflicted this punishment upon the Thimnathite and her father as the real authors of the destruction of their corn-fields, by giving Samson so unheard-of provocation. Note the fact of the identical fate overtaking Samson's wife which she had sought to escape by base treachery (cf. John 11:48 with what actually happened).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Who
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

did
עָ֣שָׂה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this?”
זֹאת֒ (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

the Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּים֮ (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

demanded.
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“It was Samson,
שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ (šim·šō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8123: Samson -- a deliverer of Israel

the son-in-law
חֲתַ֣ן (ḥă·ṯan)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2860: A relative by marriage, a circumcised child

of the Timnite,”
הַתִּמְנִ֔י (hat·tim·nî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8554: Timnite -- inhabitant of Timnah

they were told.
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“For
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

his wife
אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ (’iš·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

was given
וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ (way·yit·tə·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to his companion.”
לְמֵרֵעֵ֑הוּ (lə·mê·rê·‘ê·hū)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4828: Friend, companion

So the Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

went up
וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (way·ya·‘ă·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

and burned
וַיִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ (way·yiś·rə·p̄ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

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

to death.
בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (bā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire


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OT History: Judges 15:6 Then the Philistines said Who has done (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 15:5
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