Judges 13:15 kjv
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.
Judges 13:15 nkjv
Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, "Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You."
Judges 13:15 niv
Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you."
Judges 13:15 esv
Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you."
Judges 13:15 nlt
Then Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "Please stay here until we can prepare a young goat for you to eat."
Judges 13 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 16:7-13 | The Angel of the LORD found her... "I will increase your descendants..." | Angel of the LORD appearing, a divine manifestation. |
| Gen 18:1-8 | The LORD appeared to Abraham... He offered them a meal... | Hospitality to divine visitors; misunderstanding identity. |
| Ex 3:2-6 | The Angel of the LORD appeared to him... "I am the God of your father..." | Angel of the LORD is identified with God Himself. |
| Judg 6:11-22 | The Angel of the LORD came... Gideon offered a kid and unleavened bread... | Parallel divine encounter; offerings; Angel vanishes. |
| Judg 13:3-5 | The Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said... | Initial appearance and message to Manoah's wife. |
| Judg 13:20 | For as the flame went up from the altar toward heaven, the Angel of the LORD ascended in it... | Climax of the narrative; Angel's divine ascension. |
| Judg 13:22 | Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have seen God!" | Manoah's realization of the divine identity of the visitor. |
| Lev 7:15-16 | The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings... eaten on the day... | Meals often part of fellowship or peace offerings. |
| Heb 13:2 | Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. | Direct teaching on entertaining divine messengers unknowingly. |
| Rom 12:13 | Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. | General call to hospitality. |
| 1 Pet 4:9 | Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. | Importance of hospitality in the New Testament. |
| Lk 24:28-31 | He acted as though he would go farther. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us..." | Disciples unknowingly invite resurrected Jesus for a meal. |
| Matt 25:35 | For I was hungry and you gave me food... a stranger and you welcomed me... | Kingdom principles, showing care to those in need. |
| 2 Sam 3:25 | "You know Abner... came to deceive you." | Use of "detain" (asar) in other contexts, holding back. |
| Deut 23:4 | ...they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt... | Emphasizes the importance of providing food to visitors. |
| Gen 22:11-12 | But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven... | The Angel of the LORD acting as God's direct voice. |
| Jos 5:13-15 | The Commander of the army of the LORD... holy ground. | Another manifestation of divine commander, pre-incarnate Christ. |
| Jn 1:1,14 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh... | Underpins the possibility of divine manifestation as "the Word." |
| Isa 9:6 | For to us a child is born... Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | Attributes given to Messiah, resonating with pre-incarnate appearances. |
| Phil 2:6-7 | Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself... | Jesus's pre-existence and temporary veil of glory, explaining pre-incarnate appearances. |
Judges 13 verses
Judges 13 15 Meaning
Judges 13:15 describes Manoah, the father of Samson, humbly inviting the angel of the Lord (whom he still perceives as merely a "man of God") to stay, so that he and his wife might show hospitality by preparing a meal. Specifically, he offers a "young goat," which in the ancient Near East was a significant gesture, symbolizing honor and willingness to provide a substantial repast, possibly with sacrificial connotations. Manoah's intent is to extend interaction, express gratitude for the miraculous announcement of Samson's birth, or perhaps gain further guidance.
Judges 13 15 Context
Judges chapter 13 serves as the narrative introduction to Samson, a central figure in Israel's history as recorded in the Book of Judges. This chapter begins with Israel's familiar cycle of apostasy, divine judgment through oppression, and then crying out to God, who raises up a deliverer. However, uniquely for Samson, his birth and role as a deliverer are announced before his conception.
The immediate context of Judges 13:15 follows the Angel of the Lord's second appearance to Manoah and his wife, confirming the instructions for their Nazirite son. Manoah, eager for confirmation and perhaps further teaching from this "man of God" (as he initially perceives the Angel), expresses his desire for the visitor to stay. This act is rooted in ancient Israelite hospitality customs, where offering food to a respected guest was paramount. The mention of "a young goat" highlights the value of the offering and the sincerity of Manoah's intentions. The unfolding events in subsequent verses (v. 16-20) reveal Manoah's misapprehension of his guest's true identity, culminating in the Angel's dramatic ascent in the flame, a powerful manifestation of his divine nature and the revelation of God's presence.
Judges 13 15 Word analysis
- And Manoah said: A common narrative connector. Establishes Manoah as the speaker. He acts proactively.
- to the angel of the Lord: (Hebrew: el mal'akh YHWH - אֶל מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה). Mal'akh means "messenger" or "angel." YHWH (the divine name, typically translated as "LORD") indicates a direct divine association. Manoah, at this point, does not fully comprehend the identity of his guest. He thinks he is speaking to a human prophet or a "man of God." This title, "Angel of the Lord," often denotes a pre-incarnate manifestation of God Himself (a Christophany) in the Old Testament, whose actions and speech often align with God.
- Please let us detain you: (Hebrew: na'atserah na' otakh - נַעֲצְרָה נָּא אוֹתָךְ). The word na'atserah comes from the root asar (עָצַר), meaning to "hold back," "detain," or "restrain." The na' is a polite request particle ("please"). This indicates Manoah's earnest desire to prolong the interaction and possibly receive more revelation or confirm the existing message. It also highlights the expectation of receiving a blessing from such a divine messenger.
- that we may prepare: (Hebrew: wena'aseh lefanekha - וְנַעֲשֶׂה לְפָנֶיךָ). The verb asah (עָשָׂה) means "to make" or "to do." In this context, it signifies "to prepare" a meal. The phrase "lefanekha" means "before you" or "for your presence," emphasizing the act of hospitality.
- a young goat for you: (Hebrew: gedi izzim - גְּדִי עִזִּים). A "young goat" or "kid" was a common and valuable animal for food and sacrifice in ancient Israel. Offering this indicated high respect for the guest and generosity on Manoah's part. It implies a substantial meal, going beyond minimal provision. Its significance also foreshadows the transformation of this hospitable gesture into a burnt offering unto the LORD, connecting to the later events in the chapter.
- Word-Group Analysis:
- Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord: The dramatic irony lies here, as the reader (and the Angel) knows the true identity, but Manoah does not yet. This builds narrative tension.
- Please let us detain you, that we may prepare: This phrase captures the essence of ancient hospitality combined with an earnest desire for more of God's presence or blessing. Manoah's politeness ("please") and willingness to go to great lengths ("prepare a young goat") highlight his piety and reverence for divine messengers.
Judges 13 15 Bonus section
The narrative here, particularly Manoah's hospitality, echoes Abraham's encounter with the three "men" in Genesis 18, one of whom is revealed to be the Lord. Both instances underscore the biblical teaching to be hospitable to strangers, as one may unknowingly entertain divine beings. This theme of disguised divinity tests faith and attentiveness. Furthermore, the selection of a "young goat" connects to Levitical offerings, where such an animal was prescribed for peace offerings (Lev 3) and sin offerings (Lev 4), subtly preparing the reader for the Angel's redefinition of the intended meal into a sacrificial burnt offering to YHWH, highlighting His demand for direct worship. The entire exchange between Manoah and the Angel in chapter 13 demonstrates God's patient yet firm revelation of His presence and instructions to His people.
Judges 13 15 Commentary
Judges 13:15 reveals Manoah's initial human perspective when confronted with the divine. He understands the visitor as a prophet and, according to custom, seeks to honor him through hospitality. His offer of a "young goat" is significant, not merely as food, but also hints at sacrificial meals or fellowship offerings common in Israelite worship. The immediate concern is to extend the visitor's stay, reflecting Manoah's spiritual eagerness to understand and acknowledge God's work. This verse beautifully sets the stage for the crucial clarification of the Angel's divine identity that unfolds in subsequent verses. The Angel will refuse to eat a regular meal, directing Manoah to make the offering to the Lord instead (Judg 13:16), transforming a common hospitable gesture into a powerful theological statement about His nature and the proper worship due only to God.