Thematic Bible: Riddle
Thematic Bible
Riddle » By agur
"The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; four that do not say, 'Enough:' Sheol, the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that doesn't say, 'Enough.'
"There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent on a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden. "So is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, 'I have done nothing wrong.' read more.
"For three things the earth tremble, and under four, it can't bear up: For a servant when he is king; a fool when he is filled with food; for an unloved woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress. "There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer. The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks. The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks. You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces. "There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going: The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn't turn away for any; the greyhound, the male goat also; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
"For three things the earth tremble, and under four, it can't bear up: For a servant when he is king; a fool when he is filled with food; for an unloved woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress. "There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer. The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks. The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks. You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces. "There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going: The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn't turn away for any; the greyhound, the male goat also; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
Riddle » Used as a test of wit: at samson's feast
Samson said to them, "Let me now put forth a riddle to you. If you can explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, and figure it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. But if you can't explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing." And they said to him, "Propose your riddle, we want to hear it." He said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food. Out of the strong came forth sweetness." They couldn't in three days declare the riddle. read more.
And it happened on the fourthth day, that they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband, that he may tell us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Is it not so?" Samson's wife wept before him, and said, "You just hate me, and do not love me. You have put forth a riddle to the children of my people, and haven't told it me." And he said to her, "Behold, I haven't told it to my father or my mother, and shall I tell you?" She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it happened on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him hard; and she told the riddle to the children of her people. The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you hadn't plowed with my heifer, you wouldn't have found out my riddle."
And it happened on the fourthth day, that they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband, that he may tell us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Is it not so?" Samson's wife wept before him, and said, "You just hate me, and do not love me. You have put forth a riddle to the children of my people, and haven't told it me." And he said to her, "Behold, I haven't told it to my father or my mother, and shall I tell you?" She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it happened on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him hard; and she told the riddle to the children of her people. The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you hadn't plowed with my heifer, you wouldn't have found out my riddle."