Revised Standard Version omits the Hebrew waw conjunction at the beginning of this verse, but it might be rendered “So” (New Living Translation) or “Then.”

She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted: For wept before him, see verse 14.16. Good News Translation says “wept about it,” which is a helpful model. Time reference in this story is still a problem. The text here states that Samson’s bride cried for the whole seven days of the party, while the previous verse suggests that she used this tactic only for the last four days. Translators need to render the text as it stands. For feast see verse 14.10. The pronoun their certainly refers to the groom and those who participated in the feast, but in most languages it will not be necessary to make this explicit. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit this pronoun, which is an acceptable solution.

And on the seventh day he told her is literally “and it was on the seventh day and he told her.” On the last day of the groom’s party, Samson gives in and tells his bride the solution to of the riddle. The Hebrew expression wayehi (literally “and it was”) marks this important moment in the story. We might say “So, finally, on the seventh day….” The number seven is important in this episode, but if necessary, translators may say “So, finally, on the last day….” The short clause he told her occurs at this high point in the story with no full nouns. The verb told appears once again.

Because she pressed him hard: The Hebrew particle ki rendered because introduces the reason Samson gave in to his bride. Evidently he could no longer stand her crying. Pressed … hard renders a Hebrew verb meaning “oppress” or “put pressure on.” We might say “pestered” (Revised English Bible) or even “nagged” (Good News Translation). However, though the woman might appear to be nagging, it must be remembered that her own life and that of her family are in danger. Contemporary English Version reverses the order of this clause and the previous one, saying “But that seventh day she put so much pressure on Samson that he finally gave in and told her the answer.” For some languages this will be a helpful model.

Then she told the riddle to her countrymen: Samson’s bride goes immediately to tell the Philistines what the riddle meant. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered Then might be translated “As soon as Samson told her.” The riddle refers rather to the answer to the riddle and in many languages, this will need to be made explicit. For her countrymen (literally “the sons/children of her people”), see verse 14.16.

Translation models for this verse are:

• She pleaded with him throughout the seven days of the celebration. Finally, on the last day he told her the meaning of the riddle, because she had put so much pressure on him. Then she went and told her people the answer.

• She cried throughout the seven days of the party, and she had pestered him so much that finally on the last day, he gave in and told her what the riddle meant. Then she went and told her own people.

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 .