The Meaning of Judges 13:14 Explained

Judges 13:14

KJV: She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.

YLT: of anything which cometh out from the wine-vine she doth not eat, and wine and strong drink she doth not drink, and any unclean thing she doth not eat; all that I have commanded her she doth observe.'

Darby: She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe."

ASV: She may not eat of anything that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

She may not eat  of any [thing] that cometh  of the vine,  neither let her drink  wine  or strong drink,  nor eat  any unclean  [thing]: all that I commanded  her let her observe. 

What does Judges 13:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Judges 13:1-14 - The Promise Of A Nazarite Champion
The secret of Samson's strength was a puzzle to his contemporaries. Even Delilah could not account for it, Judges 16:5-6. Clearly, then, it did not depend on his great height, nor his brawny chest and arms, nor his muscular development. It was due, as Hebrews 11:32 explains, to his faith, which opened his nature to the Spirit of God. See Judges 14:6; Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14. But faith is always in direct proportion to consecration. The soul cannot give itself in two directions nor serve two masters; and if it draws its energy from the eternal God, there must be strict discipline exercised on the gateways of sense.
This was the intention of the Nazarite vow, which was generally taken for a limited period, but in this case for life. Its three particulars are enumerated in Numbers 6:4-9. Modern physiology has laid heavy emphasis on the necessity for a mother's careful regimen. How blessed it would be if not mothers only, but fathers and indeed all who influence young life, would, for the sake of Christ and the children, abstain from alcohol! Is this price too much for love to give? See Mark 9:42. [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 13

1  Israel is delivered into the hands of Philistines
2  An angel appears to Manoah's wife
8  The angel appears to Manoah
15  Manoah's sacrifices, whereby the angel is discovered
24  Samson is born

What do the individual words in Judges 13:14 mean?

Anything that comes from the vine wine not she may eat and wine nor may she drink or [similar] drink and anything unclean nor eat all I commanded her let her observe
מִכֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־ יֵצֵא֩ מִגֶּ֨פֶן הַיַּ֜יִן לֹ֣א תֹאכַ֗ל וְיַ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ אַל־ תֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וְכָל־ טֻמְאָ֖ה אַל־ תֹּאכַ֑ל כֹּ֥ל צִוִּיתִ֖יהָ תִּשְׁמֹֽר

מִכֹּ֣ל  Anything 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יֵצֵא֩  comes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מִגֶּ֨פֶן  from  the  vine 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common singular construct
Root: גֶּפֶן  
Sense: vine, vine tree.
הַיַּ֜יִן  wine 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַיִן  
Sense: wine.
תֹאכַ֗ל  she  may  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וְיַ֤יִן  and  wine 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַיִן  
Sense: wine.
וְשֵׁכָר֙  nor  may  she  drink 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁכָר  
Sense: strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor.
תֵּ֔שְׁתְּ  [similar]  drink 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וְכָל־  and  anything 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
טֻמְאָ֖ה  unclean 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: טֻמְאָה  
Sense: uncleanness.
אַל־  nor 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תֹּאכַ֑ל  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
צִוִּיתִ֖יהָ  I  commanded  her 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
תִּשְׁמֹֽר  let  her  observe 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.