Judges 14:20
 Judges 14:20 
New International Version (©2011)
And Samson's wife was given to one of his companions who had attended him at the feast.

New Living Translation (©2007)
So his wife was given in marriage to the man who had been Samson's best man at the wedding.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But Samson's wife was given to his companion who had been his friend.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.

International Standard Version (©2012)
and Samson's wife went to the best man at his wedding.

NET Bible (©2006)
Samson's bride was then given to his best man.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Samson's wife was given to his best man.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his best man.

American King James Version
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

American Standard Version
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But his wife took one of his friends and bridal companions for her husband.

Darby Bible Translation
And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.

English Revised Version
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

World English Bible
But Samson's wife was [given] to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Young's Literal Translation
and Samson's wife becometh his companion's, who is his friend.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:10-20 Samson's riddle literally meant no more than that he had got honey, for food and for pleasure, from the lion, which in its strength and fury was ready to devour him. But the victory of Christ over Satan, by means of his humiliation, agonies, and death, and the exaltation that followed to him, with the glory thence to the Father, and spiritual advantages to his people, seem directly alluded to. And even death, that devouring monster, being robbed of his sting, and stripped of his horror, forwards the soul to the realms of bliss. In these and other senses, out of the eater comes forth meat, and out of the strong, sweetness. Samson's companions obliged his wife to get the explanation from him. A worldly wife, or a worldly friend, is to a godly man as an enemy in the camp, who will watch every opportunity to betray him. No union can be comfortable or lasting, where secrets cannot be intrusted, without danger of being divulged. Satan, in his temptations, could not do us the mischief he does, if he did not plough with the heifer of our corrupt nature. His chief advantage against us arises from his correspondence with our deceitful hearts and inbred lusts. This proved an occasion of weaning Samson from his new relations. It were well for us, if the unkindness we meet with from the world, and our disappointments in it, obliged us by faith and prayer to return to our heavenly Father's house, and to rest there. See how little confidence is to be put in man. Whatever pretence of friendship may be made, a real Philistine will soon be weary of a true Israelite.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - His companion - no doubt his "best man," the "friend of the bridegroom." The parents of the Thimnathite, having no doubt obtained Samson's dower, and supposing him to have finally broken with his treacherous wife, proceeded to give her in marriage to the Philistine young man who had been Samson's friend - perhaps the man to whom she had told the riddle. The sad end of this unhappy alliance fully justified the opposition of Samson's parents to it in ver. 3.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But Samson's wife was given to his companion,.... By her father, and with her consent, both being affronted and provoked by Samson leaving her, who judged her not only to be injured, but hereby discharged from him, and free to marry another:

and whom he had used as his friend; though there were thirty of them that were his companions, yet there was one of them that was the principal of them, and was the most intimate with him, whom he used in the most friendly manner, and admitted to a more free conversation than the rest, the same that is called the friend of the bridegroom, John 3:29 while the others were called the children of the bridechamber, Matthew 9:15. It is not unlikely that this person had too much intimacy with Samson's wife before, and so had the secret of the riddle from her, and so very readily married her, as soon as Samson departed; and all this furnished out an occasion and opportunity, which Samson sought for, to be revenged on the Philistines, as in the following chapter.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend—that is, "the friend of the bridegroom," who was the medium of communicating during the festivities between him and his bride. The acceptance of her hand, therefore, was an act of base treachery, that could not fail to provoke the just resentment of Samson.


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Samson's Riddle
18And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? and he said to them, If you had not plowed with my heifer, you had not found out my riddle. 19And the Spirit of the LORD came on him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments to them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house. 20But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Judges 15:2 "I was so sure you hated her," he said, "that I gave her to your companion. Isn't her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead."
Song of Solomon 5:1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Friends Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.