Judges 14:20
ESV
And Samson 's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.
NIV
And Samson’s wife was given to one of his companions who had attended him at the feast.
NASB
But Samson’s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend.
CSB
and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.
NLT
So his wife was given in marriage to the man who had been Samson’s best man at the wedding.
KJV
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
NKJV
And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.
What does Judges 14:20 mean?
Scholars differ about whether Samson ever consummated the wedding to his Philistine wife (Judges 14:1–3). Some suggest the consummation would have happened after the first night of the feast, while others say it would be reserved for the final night. Most likely, Samson left Timnah in a rage (Judges 14:16–19) without completing his marriage to the woman.What is clear is that the woman's father interprets Samson's angry departure as a divorce (Deuteronomy 24:3). What appears to be abandonment leaves the woman in a state of dishonor. If Samson did, in fact, consummate the marriage before leaving, this would have made her even more socially shamed. Seemingly to protect her interests, the father instead gave her as a wife to one of the thirty men who made a wager with Samson (Judges 14:10–15). Scripture does not say how soon this decision was made. However, the next verse (Judges 15:1) indicates that Samson will come back "after some days," so the father might have only acted after taking time to be convinced Samson was not coming back.
Judges 14:10–20 explains the disastrous outcome of Samson's attempted marriage to a Philistine woman. As was the custom, a weeklong wedding feast is held. Thirty Philistines companions are assigned to Samson. He makes an exorbitant bet with them, making a riddle about his killing of the young lion (Judges 14:5–6). The men threaten the future bride, who pesters Samson until he tells her the secret, which she gives to the groomsmen. Enraged at her betrayal, and empowered by the Lord's Spirit, Samson assaults thirty Philistine men in another town (Judges 14:4). He takes their clothes as the payment for the wager. Because Samson angrily abandons the wedding feast, his bride is given to another man.
Samson (Judges 13:24–25) is now old enough to marry. He demands his parents arrange marriage to a Philistine woman with whom he is infatuated. When attacked by a lion, Samson rips the animal apart with his bare hands, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Later, he finds a beehive and honey in the lion's carcass. At the wedding feast, Samson proposes a wager based on this secret. His thirty Philistine companions become frustrated when they can't solve it. They threaten Samson's bride, and she manipulates him to get the secret. Samson attacks thirty Philistines in another town to pay the wager.
