Lexical Summary Timni: Timnite Original Word: תִּמְנִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Timnite Patrial from Timnah; a Timnite or inhabitant of Timnah -- Timnite. see HEBREW Timnah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Timnah Definition inhab. of Timnah NASB Translation Timnite (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תִּמְנִי adjective, of a people ׳הַתּ Judges 15:6 the Timnite. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Timnah occupied a strategic position in the Shephelah, the low-lying hills that bridge Israel’s coastal plain and central highlands. Archaeological work at Tel Batash—widely accepted as biblical Timnah—confirms continuous occupation during the Late Bronze and early Iron Ages, the very era in which Samson lived. Control of this border town shifted between Israelite tribes (notably Dan and Judah) and the expanding Philistine confederation, a tug-of-war reflected in the Judges narrative. Timnah’s fertile vineyards, wheat fields, and access to the Sorek Valley trade route explain its economic value and the Philistines’ determination to hold it. Appearance in Scripture “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite” is the lone occurrence of the title (Judges 15:6). Here the Timnite is the unnamed Philistine father of Samson’s wife. His identity provides the Philistine elders with both motive and target as they seek to avenge the loss of their grain and vineyards. By focusing on this single figure, the text underlines the relational threads—marriage, honor, vengeance—binding Samson to his Philistine adversaries. Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Civic Standing. Philistine elders deem the Timnite’s household central enough to interrogate after Samson’s destruction of their crops (Judges 15:5-6). This suggests he was a leading citizen of Timnah, able to host an elaborate wedding feast (Judges 14:10-11). Theological Reflections • Covenant Boundaries. The Timnite’s link to Samson illustrates the peril of alliances across covenant lines. Israel had been warned, “You shall not intermarry with them… for they will turn your sons away from following Me” (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Samson’s desire overrode that warning, and the Timnite’s household became the flashpoint of resulting turmoil. Ministry and Discipleship Applications 1. Marriage Discernment. The Timnite episode speaks to the necessity of spiritually aligned marriages (2 Corinthians 6:14). Related Passages for Study Genesis 38:12-14; Joshua 15:10; Judges 14:1–15:20; 2 Chronicles 28:18; Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Romans 12:17-21 Forms and Transliterations הַתִּמְנִ֔י התמני hat·tim·nî hattimNi hattimnîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 15:6 HEB: שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ חֲתַ֣ן הַתִּמְנִ֔י כִּ֚י לָקַ֣ח NAS: the son-in-law of the Timnite, because KJV: the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken INT: Samson the son-in-law of the Timnite because took 1 Occurrence |
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