Judges 15:16 BSB — MannaFest

Judges 15:16

Then Samson said: “With the jawbone of a donkey I have piled them into heaps. With the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men.”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men.

KJV

And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

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Commentary

4 voices

Ambrose of Milan

Letter 19: To Vigilius (397)

And I would that his moderation in victory had been equal to his courage against the enemy. But as is frequently the case, with mind unused to prosperity, he ascribed to himself the issue of the battle, which was due to the Divine favour and protection, saying, "With the jaw bone of an ass have I slain a thousand men." Nor did he build an altar to God, nor offer a victim, but neglecting sacrifice and assuming to himself the glory, to immortalize his triumph by a memorial name he called the place, The slaying of the jaw bone.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

The same word in Hebrew ( chamor ) signifies both an ass and a heap, so that this is an elegant paronomasia, and represents the Philistines falling as tamely as asses.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

There is a play upon the word, three times repeated, which means both “an ass” and also “a heap.” The spirit of riddle-making Jdg 14:12, Jdg 14:18 is apparent in this song of triumph (compare Jdg 5:1; Exo 15:1; 1Sa 18:6-7).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Then the Philistines went up--to the high land of Judah. and spread themselves in Lehi--now El-Lekieh, abounding with limestone cliffs; the sides of which are perforated with caves. The object of the Philistines in this expedition was to apprehend Samson, in revenge for the great slaughter he had committed on their people.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

11 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	vai.Yo.mer	and he said	H559 →
שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן	shim.Shon	Samson	H8123 →
בִּלְחִ֣י	bil.Chi	with [the] jawbone of	H3895 →
הַחֲמ֔וֹר	ha.cha.Mor	the donkey	H2543 →
חֲמ֖וֹר	cha.Mor	a heap	H2565 →
חֲמֹרָתָ֑יִם	cha.mo.ra.Ta.yim	two heaps	H2565 →
בִּלְחִ֣י	bil.Chi	with [the] jawbone of	H3895 →
הַחֲמ֔וֹר	ha.cha.Mor	the donkey	H2543 →
הִכֵּ֖יתִי	hi.Kei.ti	I struck down	H5221 →
אֶ֥לֶף	'E.lef	a thousand	H505 →
אִֽישׁ׃	'Ish	man	H376 →