Surprising details
Riddles in the Bible
15 passages of the Berean Standard Bible, line by line, from Nave’s Topical Bible.
Samson's riddle
- Samson found bees and honey in the lion he had killedJudg 14:5–9
The verses
Judg 14:5–9Then 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, 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. Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes. 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. So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
- The wager: thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothesJudg 14:12–13
The verses
Judg 14:12–13“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”
- 'Out of the eater came something to eat'Judg 14:14
The verses
Judg 14:14So 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.
- His wife pressed him for seven days, then told her peopleJudg 14:15–17
The verses
Judg 14:15–17So 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?” Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?” She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people.
- 'What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?'Judg 14:18
The verses
Judg 14:18Before 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!”
Other riddles
- The queen of Sheba tested Solomon with difficult questions1 Kgs 10:1–3, 2 Chr 9:1–2
The verses
1 Kgs 10:1–3Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.
2 Chr 9:1–2Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain.
- God speaks with Moses clearly, not in riddlesNum 12:8
The verses
Num 12:8I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”
- A psalmist expresses his riddle with the harpPs 49:4
The verses
Ps 49:4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
- Proverbs are for understanding the riddles of the wiseProv 1:6
The verses
Prov 1:6by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
- Daniel could explain riddles and solve difficult problemsDan 5:12
The verses
Dan 5:12did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”
- Ezekiel is told to pose a riddle about a great eagleEzek 17:2–3
The verses
Ezek 17:2–3“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.
- Agur's sayings: three things, four thingsProv 30:15–16, Prov 30:18–19, Prov 30:24–28
The verses
Prov 30:15–16The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’
Prov 30:18–19There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
Prov 30:24–28Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise: The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks; the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation; and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
Sources
From Nave’s Topical Bible (Orville J. Nave, 1896; public domain): subjects chosen, lines shortened and put into modern words, lines of interpretation left out; each verse checked.
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain