Some time may have passed since the events recorded in verse 13.1-24, but in Hebrew this verse begins only with the waw conjunction (literally “And”). Revised Standard Version does not render this conjunction. However, Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version say “One day,” while New Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh begin with “Once,” both good models. Translators should look for an expression that can begin a new episode.

Samson went down to Timnah: Names rather than pronouns are often used in Hebrew at the beginning of episodes and paragraphs, thus Samson is mentioned by name. The Hebrew verb rendered went down (yarad) is a keyword in this section. Though Samson probably descended to Timnah, the direction is not very relevant to the story, so translators may use any verb that fits the context, for example, “went” (Contemporary English Version). Timnah was a Philistine town probably located between Zorah and Ekron, not far from Beth-shemesh (see verse 19.43). Since this is the first time this town is mentioned, translators may say “a town called Timnah” if necessary. Both this clause and the next one are independent clauses in Hebrew, but some translators may prefer to cast the first one as a dependent temporal clause, for example, “One day when Samson went to Timnah….”

And at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines is literally “and he saw a woman in Timnah from the daughters of the Philistines.” Revised Standard Version places the phrase at Timnah at the beginning of this clause. However, in Hebrew it is not in this emphatic position. The repetition of Timnah gives a folktale-like style to the story, but also puts emphasis on the fact that Samson is looking for a wife where he should not be looking. If the repetition is acceptable, translators can keep it. If not, at Timnah may be rendered “there” (New International Version, Revised English Bible). Here the verb saw means not just that Samson saw this woman, but that he “noticed” (Good News Translation) her. He found her attractive. Revised English Bible changes the order of this clause, saying “and there a woman, one of the Philistines, caught his notice.” More idiomatically in English, we might say she “caught his eye.” The narrator does not say whether Samson actually met her or whether he noticed her from a distance. One of the daughters of the Philistines is literally “a woman … from the daughters of the Philistines,” which is an idiomatic way of referring to a Philistine woman, who here is a young woman of marriageable age. Translators can refer to “a young Philistine woman” or “a Philistine girl,” according to uses in the target language. For the Philistines, see verse 3.3.

Translation models for this verse are:

• Once Samson went down to Timnah. There he saw a young Philistine woman.

• One day, when Samson went to the town of Timnah, a Philistine girl caught his eye.

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 .