There are two prominent words in the opening part of this verse, each of which occurs twice in Hebrew: riddle and tell. The sh sound in Hebrew occurs eight times!
And Samson said to them …: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And introduces the next event in the narrative. It can be translated “Then” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Samson speaks to his thirty companions. It is hard to know if he is just having a good time or if he is trying to provoke the Philistines. The use of the name Samson may indicate a slight break here in Hebrew, so Contemporary English Version has a paragraph break. Translators can decide whether this is a good strategy in the target language.
Let me now put a riddle to you is literally “Let me riddle please to you a riddle.” Now renders the Hebrew politeness marker naʾ. Put a riddle translates an emphatic construction in Hebrew, since it is composed of a verb and a noun from the same root. The Hebrew verb here occurs only in this subsection (also verse 14.13, 16) and in Ezek 17.2. A riddle is a short saying whose meaning is hidden. It is a puzzle requiring a person to work out its meaning. In Hebrew the term seems to be related to the idea of being “sharp.” The purpose of a riddle is to show how clever a person is (see verse 1 Kgs 10.1, where the Hebrew noun for riddle is rendered “hard questions”). Most cultures and languages will have a word for this kind of word game. If not, translators may call it a “test” or a “puzzle,” or they may simply say “See if you can guess my meaning!”
If you can tell me what it is renders another emphatic construction in Hebrew, which is literally “If telling you can tell it to me.” This wordplay is probably meant to amuse the listeners. If possible, translators should keep it, but if this is not possible, they may say “If you can give me the right answer” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “If you can solve it” (Revised English Bible), or “If you can solve it for me successfully” (similarly New American Bible). The pronoun it refers to the riddle, which New Living Translation makes explicit by saying “If you solve my riddle.”
Within the seven days of the feast: The normal period for a groom’s party was seven days. The word seven in Hebrew begins with the sh sound, and it adds to the wordplay. For feast see verse 14.10. This phrase may be rendered “before the seven-day celebration is over.”
And find it out means figure out the answer to the riddle. The pronoun it, which refers to the riddle or its meaning, does not occur in Hebrew, but Revised Standard Version adds it for clarity. Some languages speak of the meaning of a riddle in an idiomatic way, such as “the key of the riddle” or “the bottom of the riddle.” This clause and the previous one may be reordered by saying “If you can figure out the meaning of the riddle and tell me it before the seven days of the party are over.” Contemporary English Version says “This party will last for seven days … and if you can tell me the right answer before the party is over.”
Then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments: If Samson’s companions can solve the riddle, he promises to give each one a set of expensive clothes. Then, which renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, introduces well the consequence of the condition. I will give you may be translated “I promise to give you.” The pronoun you is plural in Hebrew, referring to Samson’s thirty companions. The Hebrew number for thirty is sheloshim. Since this number occurs twice here, the sh sound is prominent. Some languages may prefer to use the number thirty only once by combining the phrases thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments (see models below).
The Hebrew word for linen garments refers to a rectangular piece of cloth that was wrapped around the body. It may have been an outer garment (New American Bible “linen tunics”), but often was the only piece of clothing worn. Though there is only one word in Hebrew for this garment, Revised Standard Version specifies it was made of linen, a very expensive material made from flax. Good News Translation says “a piece of fine linen.” Many languages have a special word for a piece of cloth that serves as clothing. In some West African countries it is called a “wrapper.” Linen is becoming known throughout the world, so a borrowed term may be appropriate here. Contemporary English Version says “shirt” but this word does not fit the cultural setting of that time.
Festal garments is literally “changes of clothing” (Revised English Bible). Good News Translation suggests “a change of fine clothes.” The Hebrew word for “clothing” may have been chosen because it sounds like the verb for tell.
Samson is promising one set of garments to each of his thirty companions. He is not promising to give thirty sets of garments to each person. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version introduce the notion of betting here, which is actually what is happening. If this practice is common in the target culture, then it may be appropriate here.
Translation models for this verse are:
• Samson said to them, “Riddle! I’m going to tell you a riddle. If you can figure it out before our seven-day party is over, I promise to give each one of you a fine wrapper and a change of clothes.
• Then Samson challenged them, “I’ll tell you a riddle, and if you can solve it within our seven days of celebration, I’ll give all thirty of you a piece of fine cloth and a change of clothes.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .