Judges 13 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Judges 13 meaning explained in AI Summary

Samson's Birth and Call: This chapter introduces Samson, a judge set apart from birth by God with superhuman strength.

This chapter sets the stage for the story of Samson, one of the most famous Judges of Israel.

1. Israel's Sin and Oppression (v. 1): The Israelites are once again under Philistine oppression due to their unfaithfulness to God. This cycle of sin and oppression is a recurring theme in the book of Judges.

2. Manoah and his Wife (v. 2-7): An angel of the Lord appears to an Israelite woman from the tribe of Dan who is barren. He announces that she will conceive and give birth to a son who will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. This son will be a Nazirite from birth, meaning he will be dedicated to God and follow specific vows, including abstaining from alcohol and never cutting his hair.

3. Manoah's Request and the Angel's Instructions (v. 8-14): Manoah, the woman's husband, prays for the angel to return and provide instructions on how to raise the child. The angel reappears and reiterates the Nazirite vow, emphasizing the importance of the woman's adherence to these rules during her pregnancy.

4. The Angel's Departure and Manoah's Realization (v. 15-23): Manoah offers a burnt offering to the Lord, and the angel ascends to heaven in the flame. It is then that Manoah realizes he has seen the Angel of the Lord, a theophany or appearance of God himself. He fears for their lives, believing that seeing God face-to-face means death. However, his wife reassures him that if God intended to harm them, He wouldn't have accepted their offering or revealed such things.

5. The Birth of Samson (v. 24-25): The woman gives birth to a son and names him Samson. The Spirit of the Lord begins to stir within him, foreshadowing his future strength and exploits.

Key Themes:

God's Grace and Deliverance: Even in their unfaithfulness, God hears the cries of the Israelites and provides a deliverer in their time of need.
The Importance of Obedience: The angel stresses the importance of following God's commands, particularly regarding the Nazirite vow, highlighting the link between obedience and God's blessing.
Divine Sovereignty: God's plan for Samson's life is evident from the beginning, demonstrating His control over even the most challenging situations.

Chapter 13 serves as a prelude to the exciting and tragic story of Samson, a man chosen by God but ultimately undone by his own flaws.

Judges 13 bible study ai commentary

Judges 13 details God's sovereign and gracious initiative to deliver Israel despite their unrepentant sin. The chapter centers on the miraculous annunciation of Samson's birth to a barren woman by the "Angel of the LORD," a divine figure who reveals his nature as "Wonderful." It establishes Samson's unique status as a lifelong Nazirite from the womb, setting the stage for his divinely empowered, yet deeply flawed, career as a judge who would begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines.

Judges 13 Context

The events occur during the late period of the Judges, a time of political and spiritual anarchy characterized by the refrain, "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 21:25). Israel is under the oppressive rule of the Philistines, a technologically superior seafaring people who controlled iron smelting, giving them a significant military advantage. This chapter deviates from the established Judges cycle (sin-oppression-cry-deliverance); here, Israel is so steeped in apostasy they do not even cry out to God for help. The deliverance is initiated entirely by God's sovereign grace, highlighting His faithfulness to His covenant people even when they are unfaithful.

Judges 13:1

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

In-depth-analysis

Again: The word wayyōsīp̄û (and they added/continued) emphasizes the persistent, cyclical nature of Israel's apostasy. This is the sixth such cycle recorded in Judges.
Did not cry out: Unlike previous cycles, the text omits any mention of Israel crying out to God. Their spiritual apathy is at a new low, making God's intervention an act of pure, unprompted grace.
Philistines: A new and more formidable enemy than those prior. They were a persistent threat to Israel for centuries, not being fully subdued until the time of King David.
Forty years: A significant period representing a full generation of judgment and suffering, underscoring the severity of both Israel's sin and God's patience before intervening.

Bible references

Jdg 2:11-14: "Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD... In his anger against Israel the LORD gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them..." (The pattern of sin and consequence).
Deut 28:15, 47-48: "However, if you do not obey the LORD your God... you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty." (Prophetic warning of curses for disobedience).
Neh 9:28: "But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before you... so you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies..." (Summarizes the recurring cycle).

Cross references

Jer 2:19 (sin brings its own punishment); Lev 26:18 (consequences of persistent sin); 1 Sam 4:1-11 (Philistine victory over Israel).

Judges 13:2-5

A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. Because you will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

In-depth-analysis

Barren woman: Her sterility (aqar) is a common biblical motif for significant births, highlighting that the child is a miraculous gift from God and not a product of human strength. It demonstrates God's power in hopeless situations.
Angel of the LORD: Mal'ak YHWH. This is no ordinary angel. He speaks with divine authority ("you are going to become pregnant") and is later identified as God (v. 22). This is widely seen as a Theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son of God.
Nazirite from the womb: This is a unique command. The standard Nazirite vow in Numbers 6 was voluntary, temporary, and for adults. Samson's consecration is divinely initiated, permanent, and lifelong. It defines his very existence. His mother must also observe the restrictions during her pregnancy.
Begin the deliverance: This is a crucial qualifier. Samson's work is preparatory and incomplete. He will strike blows against the Philistines, but he will not achieve final victory. This foreshadows a greater deliverer—first David, and ultimately, the Messiah.

Bible references

Gen 16:7, 13: "The angel of the Lord found Hagar... she gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me...'" (Angel of the LORD identified as God).
Num 6:2-5: "...concerning the vow of a Nazirite... they must abstain from wine... no razor may be used on their head..." (The Law of the Nazirite).
Lk 1:13-15: "But the angel said to him... he will be great in the sight of the Lord... He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born." (Annunciation of John the Baptist, another lifelong Nazirite).

Cross references

Gen 11:30 (Sarah was barren); 1 Sam 1:5, 11 (Hannah was barren, dedicates Samuel); Isa 7:14 (prophecy of virgin birth); Heb 11:32 (Samson listed in the hall of faith).

Judges 13:6-7

Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he was from, and he didn’t tell me his name. But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.’”

In-depth-analysis

Man of God ... angel of God: She uses human and divine categories to describe the visitor, conveying both his appearance ("man") and his awe-inspiring presence (nôrā’ - terrible, dreadful, awesome). She rightly perceives his divine authority.
Faithful report: The woman recounts the message accurately and without embellishment. She shows immediate faith and obedience, becoming the first and primary recipient of the divine promise. Her spiritual perception appears sharper than her husband's.

Bible references

1 Sam 2:27: "Now a man of God came to Eli..." (A title for a prophet or divine messenger).
Dan 10:5-6: "...a man dressed in linen... His body was like topaz, his face like lightning... his voice like the sound of a multitude." (Description of a glorious angelic being).
Lk 1:38: "‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” (Parallel response of faith to an angelic annunciation).

Cross references

1 Ki 17:24 (the word of the Lord is truth); 2 Ki 4:9 (Elisha called a 'holy man of God').

Judges 13:8-14

Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how we are to raise the boy.” ... The angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field... she ran to tell her husband... The angel answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her. She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I command her.”

In-depth-analysis

Manoah's prayer: He shows piety by praying to the LORD and humility in asking for instruction. However, there's a subtext of needing personal validation; he asks the angel to appear again to them.
Appearance to the woman: God pointedly sends the angel back to the woman first. This affirms her testimony and her role as the primary channel of revelation in this narrative. Manoah is a secondary participant.
Reiteration: The angel does not provide new information but simply repeats and reinforces the original instructions given to the wife. The emphasis is on the mother's obedience, which is foundational to Samson's consecrated status.

Bible references

Gen 18:3: "He said, 'If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.'" (Abraham's prayerful intercession).
Prov 22:6: "Start children off on the way they should go..." (Manoah's desire to raise the child correctly).

Cross references

2 Chron 20:20 (have faith in his prophets); Joh 4:48 (unless you see signs you will not believe); Eph 6:4 (bring children up in the discipline of the Lord).

Judges 13:15-18

Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.” ... “If you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.) Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?” He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding [or wonderful].”

In-depth-analysis

Hospitality/Offering: Manoah offers a meal, a sign of hospitality that often verged on worship. The angel redirects this act of worship away from himself and toward YHWH, clarifying his role as a messenger, not the object of worship.
What is your name?: A request for identity is a request for a person's essence and power. It echoes Jacob's encounter at Peniel.
Name is wonderful: The Hebrew word is pil’î (or pelî’), meaning "wonderful, incomprehensible, marvelous." This is not a refusal but a revelation of his nature. He is declaring his essence to be divine and beyond human grasp. This exact word is used for the Messiah.

Bible references

Gen 32:29: "Jacob said, 'Please tell me your name.' But he replied, 'Why do you ask my name?'" (The same question and evasive, revelatory answer given to Jacob).
Isa 9:6: "For to us a child is born... And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (The same root word pele' is used as a title for the Messiah).
Rev 19:12: "He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself." (The transcendent, unknowable name of Christ).

Cross references

Ex 3:13-14 (Moses asks God's name); Acts 10:25-26 (Peter refuses worship); Rev 22:8-9 (angel refuses worship).

Polemics

This exchange is a direct polemic against paganism. Pagan gods were often "tamed" or manipulated by learning their names and offering them food. The Angel of the LORD refuses food and declares his name/nature to be beyond human categories, asserting YHWH's utter transcendence and sovereignty.

Judges 13:19-23

Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground... “We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!” But his wife answered, “If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor would he have shown us all these things or told us this.”

In-depth-analysis

Sacrifice on a rock: The rock becomes a makeshift altar. The sacrifice, intended for the LORD, becomes the very vehicle for the angel's miraculous departure.
Ascended in the flame: A dramatic, supernatural confirmation of his divine nature. Fire is a common biblical symbol of God's presence, judgment, and holiness (e.g., the burning bush, pillar of fire).
We have seen God: Manoah now understands he has seen not just an angel, but a manifestation of God (Elohim) Himself. His conclusion, based on a general understanding of scripture (Exod 33:20), is one of terror.
Wife's superior logic: His wife displays profound theological wisdom. She argues from God's character and recent actions: A God who accepts an offering and gives a promise is a God of grace, not a God of destruction. Her faith triumphs over fear. She is the unsung hero of the chapter.

Bible references

Lev 9:24: "Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering... And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." (Fire from heaven consuming an offering).
Exod 33:20: "But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." (The basis for Manoah's fear).
Gen 32:30: "So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.'" (Precedent for seeing God and living).

Cross references

2 Ki 2:11 (Elijah ascends); Isa 6:5 (Isaiah's fearful reaction to seeing God); 1 Jn 4:18 (perfect love drives out fear).

Judges 13:24-25

The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

In-depth-analysis

Samson: Shimshon, derived from the Hebrew word for sun, shemesh. The name might be ironic, given that he brings a period of violent turmoil, not enlightenment.
LORD blessed him: God's favor was on the child from birth, fulfilling the promise.
Spirit of the LORD began to stir him: ruach YHWH. This is the source of Samson's supernatural strength. His power was not inherent in his muscles or his hair; it was a divine enablement from God's Spirit for the purpose of deliverance. The hair was merely the external sign of his covenant vow.

Bible references

Lk 1:80: "And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel." (Parallels John the Baptist's youth).
Jdg 14:6: "The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands..." (The Spirit as the source of his power).
1 Sam 16:13: "...and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David." (The Spirit anointing God's chosen leader).

Cross references

Jdg 3:10 (Spirit on Othniel); Matt 3:16 (Spirit on Jesus); Lk 2:52 (Jesus grew in wisdom and stature).

Judges 13 analysis

A Breaking of the Mold: This chapter presents a significant break in the Judges cycle. God acts not in response to Israel’s repentance, but in spite of their silence and apathy. This underscores that salvation is always rooted in God's grace and initiative.
Christophany: The "Angel of the LORD" is a central theological figure. His actions (speaking as God), His reception of the name "God" (v. 22), and His self-declared name "Wonderful" (peli') provide strong evidence that this is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. He points away from himself as a messenger only to reveal His divine essence in a way no created angel would.
The Unnamed Woman's Faith: Manoah's wife, though nameless, is a paradigm of faith and spiritual discernment. She receives the message, believes it, reports it accurately, and exhibits greater theological insight than her husband. God often works through the overlooked and marginalized to accomplish His purposes.
Samson as a Flawed Type: Samson is set up to be a savior, born miraculously to a barren woman and dedicated to God. In this, he is a "type" or foreshadowing of Christ. However, the qualifier "he will begin to deliver" is critical. Samson’s life will be a story of squandered potential, where divine power is used for personal vengeance. He is a flawed savior who points to the need for a perfect, ultimate Savior.

Judges 13 summary

In response to forty years of Philistine oppression, God unilaterally initiates Israel's deliverance. The divine "Angel of the LORD" appears to a barren woman, announcing she will bear a son, Samson. This child is to be a lifelong Nazirite, consecrated to God from the womb to "begin" the deliverance of Israel. Through a miraculous sacrifice, the angel reveals his "Wonderful" nature, confirming his divinity to the boy's parents, Manoah and his wife, setting the stage for Samson's divinely-empowered mission.

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Judges chapter 13 kjv

¹ And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
² And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
³ And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
⁴ Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
⁵ For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
⁶ Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
⁷ But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
⁸ Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
⁹ And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
¹⁰ And the woman made haste, and ran, and showed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
¹¹ And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
¹² And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
¹³ And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
¹⁴ She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
¹⁵ And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
¹⁶ And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
¹⁷ And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor?
¹⁸ And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
¹⁹ So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
²⁰ For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
²¹ But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
²² And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
²³ But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.
²⁴ And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
²⁵ And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges chapter 13 nkjv

¹ Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
² Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children.
³ And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.
⁴ Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean.
⁵ For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."
⁶ So the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A Man of God came to me, and His countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name.
⁷ And He said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.' "
⁸ Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, and said, "O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born."
⁹ And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her.
¹⁰ Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, "Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!"
¹¹ So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, "Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?" And He said, "I am."
¹² Manoah said, "Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy's rule of life, and his work?"
¹³ So the Angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.
¹⁴ She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe."
¹⁵ Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, "Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You."
¹⁶ And the Angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD." (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the LORD.)
¹⁷ Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, "What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?"
¹⁸ And the Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?"
¹⁹ So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the LORD. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on?
²⁰ it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar?the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground.
²¹ When the Angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the LORD.
²² And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God!"
²³ But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have told us such things as these at this time."
²⁴ So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
²⁵ And the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges chapter 13 niv

¹ Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
² A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth.
³ The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.
⁴ Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean.
⁵ You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
⁶ Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name.
⁷ But he said to me, 'You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.'?"
⁸ Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."
⁹ God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her.
¹⁰ The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He's here! The man who appeared to me the other day!"
¹¹ Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the man who talked to my wife?" "I am," he said.
¹² So Manoah asked him, "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy's life and work?"
¹³ The angel of the LORD answered, "Your wife must do all that I have told her.
¹⁴ She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her."
¹⁵ Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you."
¹⁶ The angel of the LORD replied, "Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD." (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)
¹⁷ Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?"
¹⁸ He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."
¹⁹ Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched:
²⁰ As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground.
²¹ When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.
²² "We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!"
²³ But his wife answered, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this."
²⁴ The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him,
²⁵ and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges chapter 13 esv

¹ And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
² There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.
³ And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.
⁴ Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean,
⁵ for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines."
⁶ Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name,
⁷ but he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'"
⁸ Then Manoah prayed to the LORD and said, "O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born."
⁹ And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her.
¹⁰ So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, "Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me."
¹¹ And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to this woman?" And he said, "I am."
¹² And Manoah said, "Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?"
¹³ And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.
¹⁴ She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe."
¹⁵ Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you."
¹⁶ And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the LORD." (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the LORD.)
¹⁷ And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?"
¹⁸ And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?"
¹⁹ So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the LORD, to the one who works wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching.
²⁰ And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the LORD went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.
²¹ The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD.
²² And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have seen God."
²³ But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these."
²⁴ And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the LORD blessed him.
²⁵ And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges chapter 13 nlt

¹ Again the Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.
² In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children.
³ The angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah's wife and said, "Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son.
⁴ So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food.
⁵ You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines."
⁶ The woman ran and told her husband, "A man of God appeared to me! He looked like one of God's angels, terrifying to see. I didn't ask where he was from, and he didn't tell me his name.
⁷ But he told me, 'You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.'"
⁸ Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, saying, "Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born."
⁹ God answered Manoah's prayer, and the angel of God appeared once again to his wife as she was sitting in the field. But her husband, Manoah, was not with her.
¹⁰ So she quickly ran and told her husband, "The man who appeared to me the other day is here again!"
¹¹ Manoah ran back with his wife and asked, "Are you the man who spoke to my wife the other day?" "Yes," he replied, "I am."
¹² So Manoah asked him, "When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy's life and work?"
¹³ The angel of the LORD replied, "Be sure your wife follows the instructions I gave her.
¹⁴ She must not eat grapes or raisins, drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, or eat any forbidden food."
¹⁵ Then Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "Please stay here until we can prepare a young goat for you to eat."
¹⁶ "I will stay," the angel of the LORD replied, "but I will not eat anything. However, you may prepare a burnt offering as a sacrifice to the LORD." (Manoah didn't realize it was the angel of the LORD.)
¹⁷ Then Manoah asked the angel of the LORD, "What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honor you."
¹⁸ "Why do you ask my name?" the angel of the LORD replied. "It is too wonderful for you to understand."
¹⁹ Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a rock as a sacrifice to the LORD. And as Manoah and his wife watched, the LORD did an amazing thing.
²⁰ As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the LORD ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground.
²¹ The angel did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Manoah finally realized it was the angel of the LORD,
²² and he said to his wife, "We will certainly die, for we have seen God!"
²³ But his wife said, "If the LORD were going to kill us, he wouldn't have accepted our burnt offering and grain offering. He wouldn't have appeared to us and told us this wonderful thing and done these miracles."
²⁴ When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the LORD blessed him as he grew up.
²⁵ And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol.