[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/riddle.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / riddle

[← R](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/R/)

# riddle

«riddle» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (riddle, riddles); verb (riddle, riddles, riddled, riddling)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A riddle is a puzzle question that needs clever thinking to answer, often a play on words. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#m1)

2) A riddle is something hard to understand, a mystery. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#m2)

3) Riddled with means full of: «a wall riddled with holes». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: A hard saying or puzzle; Samson's riddle at his wedding, and Ezekiel's riddle about the eagles. Interpretation: Prophets sometimes taught in riddles and parables to make the listeners think, and the sages see Samson's riddle as a test of cleverness and trust. In the primary lessons: a puzzle about a number: clues tell what number is meant; in reading and stories: riddles test cleverness (a sphinx asks a riddle); in everyday life: telling riddles and jokes with friends; phrases: «solve a riddle», «tell a riddle», «talk in riddles» (speak in a way hard to understand)

### examples

- And they could not in three days declare the riddle. (Prophets JDG.14.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x1)
- 'Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel, (Prophets EZK.17.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x2)
- And he said unto them: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. (Prophets JDG.14.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x3)
- Solve the riddle: I am a number, and 5 more than me is 12. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x4)
- Each riddle in the book gives 3 clues. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x5)
- She solved 7 riddles in 10 minutes. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x6)
- Number riddle: I am between 20 and 30 and I am 4 × 6. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x7)
- Riddle: What has hands but cannot clap? A clock! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x8)
- The troll asked a riddle before he let them cross. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x9)
- Why the old car stopped is a riddle to me. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x10)
- The old tree was riddled with holes. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x11)
- "Here's a riddle for you, Prince Ivan! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/#x12)

### note

A riddle about a number is an equation in words; work backwards from the clues. Trap: «5 more than me is 12» – take 5 from 12, do not add. Check every clue with your answer.

### In the corpora

- [And they could not in three days declare the riddle.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/JDG.439/)
- [And he said unto them: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/JDG.444/)
- ['Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/EZK.377/)
- [So play, laugh and enjoy beating the bot at your own riddles, and check anything that matters.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/4-stories-jokes-and-riddles/4/)
- [Knowing the answer to a famous riddle is not the same as solving a new one.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/4-stories-jokes-and-riddles/8/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «riddle» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/riddle/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.