Judges 14 in the early church

36 passages quote, allude to, or echo Judges 14, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 10 · 14 · 15 · 18 · 19 · 20

Judges 14:1

One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:1–3Fragment 63 on John 9:16 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 226-254
Judg 14:1–5Judges, lines 524–547 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Judg 14:1–3Part 2, chapter 22 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Judges 14:5

Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:5–8Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.32 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Judg 14:5–15Judges, lines 548–573 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Judg 14:5–9Part 2, chapter 22 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Judges 14:6

and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:6On Rebaptism 15 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 250–258 (disputed)
Judg 14:6Catechetical Lecture 16.28 · Cyril of Jerusalemallusion, high confidenceca. 350
Judg 14:6Letters to Serapion 1.5 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 357–360
Judg 14:6Homilies 2.4 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 363-378
Judg 14:6Question 43, section 4 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–384
Judg 14:6Letter 78.27 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Judg 14:6Second Apology of David 16 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 384-397
Judg 14:6Apology of the Prophet David 16 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 384-390
Judg 14:6On the Duties of the Clergy 2.26 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386–390
Judg 14:6Poem 24, lines 541–568 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 393–431
Judg 14:6Letters 23.11 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413

Judges 14:8

When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:8–9Demonstration 15.5 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
Judg 14:8Letter 78.27 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Judg 14:8Sermon 364.2 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
Judg 14:8Poem 24, lines 541–568 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 393–431
Judg 14:8Letters 23.16 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413

Judges 14:10

Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:10–18Part 2, chapter 22 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 445-450

Judges 14:14

So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:14Homilies on the Psalms 14.9 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-378
Judg 14:14On Tobit 53 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 380-390
Judg 14:14On Elijah and Fasting 39 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Judg 14:14Sermon 364.1 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 391-430
Judg 14:14Sermon 364.2 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 391-430
Judg 14:14Letters 23.16 · Paulinus of Nolaquotation, high confidenceca. 394–413

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?”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:15–18Sermon 364.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
Judg 14:15–20Judges, lines 574–600 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Judges 14:18

Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:18Eleven Tractates 1.31 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385
Judg 14:18Sermon 364.2 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 391-430

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,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:19Part 2, chapter 22 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Judges 14:20

and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Judg 14:20Sermon 138.7 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
Judg 14:20Sermon 364.3 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430