The answer is: A young lion

Judges 14:5

In Judges 14:5, when daring young Samson sets off on his journey to Timnah, he’s not just thrilled about a bride-to-be; he also encounters something much more unexpected—a ferocious young lion. Now, picture that scene: Here comes Samson, probably dreaming of love or future feats, and suddenly he’s face-to-face with an imposing beast!

What’s fascinating about this encounter is how it sets the stage for Samson’s legendary status. Lions symbolize strength, power, and danger, so crossing paths with one would put anyone on edge. It's a “jaw-dropping” moment, if you will take the wordplay literally! The fact that Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands not only illustrates incredible physical strength but also foreshadows his troubling ambivalence towards his personal sources of power.

Samson's extraordinary feats against the lion also needle our imagination. In ancient cultures, encounters with lions represented tests of bravery and proof of divine backing. For Samson, such a moment could be seen as a turning point, iron-welded into his identity as a judge—not entirely unlike other heroes in folklore who face monstrous beasts.

Adding another layer to this dramatic tale, it’s interesting to note that after this lion encounter, Samson later finds a swarm of bees in the lion’s carcass, leading to the well-known "riddle at the feast" where he declares, "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet." Isn’t that a fun twist? Through this riddle, we can see how moments of courage blossom into clever wordplay, creating rich layers of meaning through the narrative of his life.