Riddle — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Word puzzle widely used and esteemed in the ancient world, both as an everyday amusement and as a test of wisdom at a more serious level. The point of a riddle was the discovery of a concealed meaning. Riddles, therefore, may be broadly distinguished from fables, which, like Jotham’s celebrated plant fable (Jgs 9:7-15), contained an easily discerned significance. Obviously, there is an intermediate area where there is no sharp differentiation. For instance, Ezekiel’s riddle (Ez 17) has sometimes been classified as a plant fable.

Show passage in OET: JDG 9:7–15

OET-RV JDG 9:7

7 When they told Yotam (Jotham), he went and stood on the top of Mt. Gerizim and shouted out to them all in a loud voice, “Listen to me, citizens of Shekem, so God will listen to all of you.

OET-RV JDG 9:8

8 Once the trees went about in order to appoint a king for themselves, So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

OET-RV JDG 9:9

9 But the olive tree replied to them, ‘Have I stopped producing my valuable oil used to honour gods and men, that I should go to sway above the other trees?’

OET-RV JDG 9:10

10 So the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’

OET-RV JDG 9:11

11 But the fig tree answered them, ‘Have I stopped producing my sweetness and my good fruit, that I should go to sway above the other trees?’

OET-RV JDG 9:12

12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘You come and reign over us.’

OET-RV JDG 9:13

13 But the vine replied, ‘Have I stopped producing my new wine, which cheers gods and man, that I should go to sway over the other trees?’

OET-RV JDG 9:14

14 Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You come and reign over us!’

OET-RV JDG 9:15

15 The thornbush told the trees, ‘If you all are really wanted to anoint me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade. But if you all don’t, may the thornbush send out fire to burn up Levanon’s cedar forests.’

OET-LV JDG 9:7

7 And_people _told to_Yōtām and_he/it _went and_he _stood on_the _top _of the _mountain _of Gərizīm and_he _lifted _up voice _of_his and_he/it _called and_he/it _said to/for_them listen to_me Oh _citizens _of Shəkem so_that _he _may _listen to_you(pl) god.

OET-LV JDG 9:8

8 Indeed _(go) the_trees they _went to_anoint over_them a _king and_they _said to_tree mmm over_us.

OET-LV JDG 9:9

9 And_he/it _said to/for_them the _olive_tree will_I _cease DOM fatness _of_my which by_me people _honour gods and_men and_will _I _go to_sway over the_trees.

OET-LV JDG 9:10

10 And_ the_trees _they _said to_tree you come reign over_us.

OET-LV JDG 9:11

11 And_she/it _said to/for_them the _fig_tree will_I _cease DOM sweetness _of_my and_DOM fruit _of_my (the)_good and_will _I _go to_sway over the_trees.

OET-LV JDG 9:12

12 And_ the_trees _they _said to_vine you come reign over_us.

OET-LV JDG 9:13

13 And_she/it _said to/for_them the_vine will_I _cease DOM wine _of_my _new which_makes_glad gods and_men and_will _I _go to_sway over the_trees.

OET-LV JDG 9:14

14 And_ all _of the_trees _they _said to the _thorn_bush you come reign over_us.

OET-LV JDG 9:15

15 And_ the _thorn_bush _he/it _said to the_trees if in_truth you(pl) are_anointing DOM_me to_king over_you(pl) come take _refuge in_shade _of_my and_if not a _fire let _it _go _out from the _thorn_bush and_let _it _consume DOM the _cedars _of (the)_Ləⱱānōn.

Jump to OET JDG 9:7–15 section.

Samson’s riddle at his wedding feast is the best-known biblical riddle (Jgs 14). Probably it was a form of diversion used on such occasions (vv 12-13). The riddle took the form of a couplet: “From the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet” (v 14). Samson’s 30 young men threatened his betrothed, who wheedled the secret from him: “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” (v 18).

Show passage in OET: JDG 14:12–13

OET-RV JDG 14:12

12 Shimshon said to them, “Let me suggest a riddle for you all. If you’re able to explain it to me during the seven days of the party and you’ve worked it out correctly, I’ll give you all thirty linen coats and thirty sets of clothes.

OET-RV JDG 14:13

13 But if you all can’t explain it to me, then you yourselves must give me thirty linen coats and thirty sets of clothes.”
¶ “Okay, we’re listening. Tell us the riddle.” they answered.

OET-LV JDG 14:12

12 And_he/it _said to/for_them Shimshvōn/(Samson) let _me _ask _a _riddle please to/for_you(pl) a _riddle if actually _(tell) you(pl)_will _tell it to_me the _seven _of the _days _of the _feast and_you(pl)_will _find_it_out and_I _will _give to/for_you(pl) thirty linen _garments and_thirty changes _of garments.

OET-LV JDG 14:13

13 And_if not you(pl)_will _be _able to_announce to_me and_ you(pl) _you(pl)_will _give to_me thirty linen _garments and_thirty changes _of garments and_they _said to_him/it ask_the _riddle riddle _of_your so_that_we _may _hear _it.

Show passage in OET: JDG 14:14

OET-RV JDG 14:14

14 So he said,
⇔ “Food came out of the eater,
⇔ ≈ and sweetness came out of the strong one.”
§ But three days later, they still couldn’t solve his riddle.

OET-LV JDG 14:14

14 And_he/it _said to/for_them from_eater food it _came _out and_from_a _strong_one a _sweet_thing it _came _out and_not they _were _able to_announce the_riddle three _of days.

Show passage in OET: JDG 14:18

OET-RV JDG 14:18

18 Then the men of the city said to Shimshon before the sun went down on the seventh day,
⇔ “What is sweeter than honey?
⇔ And what’s stronger than a lion?”
§ So he said to them,
⇔ “If you all hadn’t ploughed with my heifer,
⇔ you wouldn’t have been able to solve my riddle.”

OET-LV JDG 14:18

18 And_they _said to_him/it the _men _of the_city in _the_day the_seventh before_before (to)_the_sun it _went what is_sweet more_than _honey and_what is_strong more_than _a _lion and_he/it _said to/for_them if _not you(pl)_had _plowed with_heifer _of_my not you(pl)_found _out riddle _of_my.

Jump to OET JDG 14:12–13 section.

Jump to OET JDG 14:14 section.

Jump to OET JDG 14:18 section.

Solomon’s wisdom was demonstrated in his ability to answer the “hard questions” (lit., “riddles”) of the queen of Sheba (1 Kgs 10:1-4). His reputation for this kind of wisdom is further demonstrated by Ben Sirach: “Your soul covered the earth, and you filled it with parables and riddles” (Ecclus 47:15).

Show passage in OET: KI1 10:1–4

OET-RV KI1 10:1

10 Now the queen from Sheva had heard a report about how Yahweh had blessed Shelomoh (Solomon), and she came to test him with difficult questions.

OET-RV KI1 10:2

2 She came to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) with lots of her top people, camels carrying spices and gemstones and a lot of gold. Then she went to Shelomoh and started asking him everything that had been on her mind.

OET-RV KI1 10:3

3 He answered all her questions—there wasn’t any topic that he wasn’t able to shed light on.

OET-RV KI1 10:4

4 When the queen from Sheva saw the extent of Shelomoh’s wisdom, the palace that he’d built,

OET-LV KI1 10:1

10 And_the _queen _of Shəⱱāʼ was_hearing DOM the _report _of Shəlomoh to_the _name _of YHWH and_she _came to_put_him _to _the _test by_difficult _matters.

OET-LV KI1 10:2

2 And_she _came to_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) with_a _retinue numerous very camels which _were_carrying spices and_gold much very and_stone _of precious and_she _came to Shəlomoh/(Solomon) and_she _spoke to_him/it DOM all _of that it _was with heart _of_her.

OET-LV KI1 10:3

3 And_he _told to/for_her/it Shəlomoh DOM all _of words/messages _of_her not it _was anything concealed from the_king which not he _told to/for_her/it.

OET-LV KI1 10:4

4 And_ the _queen _of Shəⱱāʼ _she/it _saw DOM all _of the _wisdom _of Shəlomoh and_the_house which he _had _built.

Show passage in OET: SIR 47:15

OET-RV SIR 47:15

15 Your influence covered the earth,
⇔ and you filled it with parables and riddles.

OET-LV SIR 47:15

15 earth ⟦ἐπεκάλυψεν⟧ the/this/who soul you, and ⟦ἐνέπλησας⟧ in/on/among parable ⟦αἰνιγμάτων⟧.

Jump to OET KI1 10:1–4 section.

Jump to OET SIR 47:15 section.

Josephus notes a contest of wits between Solomon and Hiram, with riddles being exchanged. Solomon won the earlier exchanges, but Hiram finally outwitted him by enlisting outside help (Antiquities 8.5.5). Such wisdom to solve riddles was, understandably, claimed by Israel’s wise men (e.g., Ps 49:4; Prv 1:6). In Daniel 8:23-24 there is the apocalyptic vision of “a master of intrigue [who] will rise to power” (lit. “one who understands riddles”). Daniel himself possessed the same ability to “interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems” (Dn 5:12).

Show passage in OET: PSA 49:4

OET-RV PSA 49:4

4 I’ll listen to a proverb.
⇔ I’ll introduce my riddle with a harp piece.

OET-LV PSA 49:5

5  I _will _incline to_a _proverb ear _of_my I _will _open with_a _harp riddle _of_my.

Show passage in OET: PRO 1:6

OET-RV PRO 1:6

6 understanding proverbs and parables—
⇔ the words of wise people plus their challenges.

OET-LV PRO 1:6

6 To_understand a _proverb and_a _parable the_words/messages _of learned _ones and_parables _of_their.

Show passage in OET: DAN 8:23–24

OET-RV DAN 8:23

23 At the latter end of their rule, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a defiant king who understands riddles, will come to power.

OET-RV DAN 8:24

24 His power will increase, but it won’t be his own power. He bring about horrific destruction, and he’ll succeed in what he does. He’ll destroy powerful men and some of God’s people.

OET-LV DAN 8:23

23 And_at_the _end _of their _reign _of_their just_ the_rebels _as _are _completed a _king strong _of face and_understanding intrigue(s) he _will _arise.

OET-LV DAN 8:24

24 And_ power _of_his _it _will _be _mighty and_not by_his _own _of_power and_extraordinary_things he _will _destroy and_he _will _succeed and_he _will _act and_he _will _destroy mighty_ones and_a _people _of holy_ones.

Show passage in OET: DAN 5:12

OET-RV DAN 5:12

12 because this Daniyel had an excellent spirit, knowledge, and insight for interpreting dreams, explaining riddles, and solving problems. So summon Daniyel who the king named Belteshatsar (Belteshazzar) and he’ll tell you the interpretation.”

OET-LV DAN 5:12

12 As_to because that a _spirit extraordinary and_understanding and_insight an _interpreter _of dreams and_declaring riddles and_loosening _of knots it _was _found in_him in_Dāniyy^ʼēl whom Oh/the_king he _made his/its_name Bēləţəshaʼʦʦar now Dāniyy^ʼēl let _him _be _summoned and_the_interpretation he _will _declare.

Jump to OET PSA 49:4 section.

Jump to OET PRO 1:6 section.

Jump to OET DAN 8:23–24 section.

Jump to OET DAN 5:12 section.

In the NT riddles figure infrequently. The various “hard sayings” of Jesus (e.g., Jn 6:60) are difficult to accept and are equally as hard to understand. Possibly the only true riddle is the number of the beast, 666 (Rv 13:18). Various attempts have been made to identify a person, after the pattern of numerical references in contemporary literature. Of these, the emperor Nero is the most plausible candidate.