At this climax of the episode, pronouns are used in Hebrew instead of full nouns to refer to Samson. This is typical of such high points. Also there is a series of short clauses describing the action. Many languages will use similar stylistic devices to mark a climax. Much is implicit in this narration between 15.14 and this verse. Samson breaks free of his bonds and certainly must have moved about before the next action.

And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may also be translated “Then” (Good News Translation) or omitted (Contemporary English Version, New International Version). Here it introduces the first thing Samson did after he was free of his bonds. He saw a donkey jawbone lying on the ground. He found may be rendered “he happened to see” (similarly NET Bible) or “he noticed.” A fresh jawbone of an ass refers to the jawbone of a recently killed donkey. Such a jawbone is a triangular-shaped bone, which would have made a good weapon in the hand of a strong person. Most languages will have a word for this body part of a domestic animal. Fresh renders a rare word in Hebrew, occurring elsewhere only in Isa 1.6, where it is translated “bleeding.” This detail is crucial to the narrative since rather than being a dried-out bone, this one was raw and probably full of blood. Once again Samson openly breaks his Nazirite vow by touching part of a dead body. For ass see verse 1.14.

And put out his hand: Put out renders the Hebrew verb meaning “send” (shalach), which is used often in the judges’ stories, especially at moments of victory over Israel’s enemies (see, for example, verse 4.6; verse 6.35; verse 7.24). The reference to his hand is yet another occurrence of this key term. Here it reinforces the idea that Samson is breaking his vow by touching a part of a dead body.

And seized it: Samson grabbed the jawbone with his hand. Seized is an important word, since it puts special emphasis on how Samson violated his Nazirite vow. This short clause and the previous one are typical of story climaxes in Hebrew. They slow down the action before the high point. In some languages these clauses may not be appreciated, but translators should still look for means to emphasize Samson’s act of picking up the jawbone. Good News Translation says “He reached down and picked it up,” which is acceptable but somewhat flat. A word such as “grabbed” (Contemporary English Version) might be more effective here.

And with it he slew a thousand men is literally “and he struck with it a thousand man.” For the Hebrew verb rendered slew (nakah), see the comments on verse 1.4. There it is translated “defeated,” but here it certainly means “killed” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or “slaughtered.” A thousand men refers to Philistine men rather than men of Judah, despite the fact that the latter were the ones who handed him over to the enemy. New Living Translation says “1,000 Philistines” for clarity.

Translation models for this verse are:

• He noticed nearby the jawbone of a donkey that had recently died. He picked it up in his hand and beat to death a thousand men with it.

• Then Samson found a jawbone of a donkey that was not yet dried out. He reached out and grabbed it in his hand and with it slaughtered a thousand Philistine men.

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 .