Judges 13:16 kjv
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.
Judges 13:16 nkjv
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.)
Judges 13:16 niv
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.)
Judges 13:16 esv
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.)
Judges 13:16 nlt
"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.)
Judges 13 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 3:2 | ...the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire... | Angel of Lord is God's manifestation |
| Gen 16:7-13 | ...the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain... spoke as God. | Angel speaks as God; Hagar worships God. |
| Gen 22:11-18 | ...the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven... by myself have I sworn... | Angel halts Abraham, God swears by Himself. |
| Exod 14:19-20 | ...the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel... | God's presence through His angel for guidance. |
| Josh 5:13-15 | ...the captain of the host of the Lord was come... | Commander of God's army accepts reverence due God. |
| Zech 1:11-12 | ...the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts... | Angel interceding on behalf of God's people. |
| Mal 3:1 | ...Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me... | Prophecy of a messenger preceding the Lord. |
| Acts 7:30-38 | ...the angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush... | Stephen’s sermon identifies Angel of Lord as God. |
| Heb 13:2 | Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. | Hospitality toward unknown messengers. |
| 1 Kgs 19:5-8 | ...the angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat... | Angel provides food, yet does not partake. |
| Gen 18:8 | And he took butter, and milk, and the calf... and set it before them; and they did eat. | God/angels previously ate with Abraham (contrast). |
| Matt 4:10 | Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. | Worship exclusively due to God alone. |
| Luke 4:8 | And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. | Affirmation of worship to God alone. |
| Rev 19:10 | ...I fell before his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not... worship God... | Angels explicitly refuse human worship. |
| Rev 22:8-9 | ...I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel... worship God. | Angel instructs John to worship God only. |
| Lev 1:9 | ...the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice... for a sweet savour unto the Lord. | Burnt offerings are wholly for the Lord. |
| Deut 12:6 | Thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices... to the Lord. | Offerings to be made in the designated place to the Lord. |
| Ps 50:14 | Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: | Emphasizes worship of God with thanks and vows. |
| Rom 12:1 | ...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God... | Believers' lives as spiritual sacrifices to God. |
| Heb 9:13-14 | ...how much more shall the blood of Christ... offer himself without spot to God... | Christ's perfect, complete sacrifice to God. |
| Heb 10:4-10 | ...it is not possible that the blood of bulls... should take away sins... Then said he, Lo, I come... to do thy will, O God. | Old Covenant sacrifices insufficient; Christ fulfills God's will. |
Judges 13 verses
Judges 13 16 Meaning
Judges 13:16 elucidates the divine nature of the messenger who appeared to Manoah and his wife, emphasizing that while he bears divine authority, he is not the object of worship or earthly sustenance. The angel's refusal of food and redirection of any sacrifice from himself to the Lord God (Yahweh) establishes proper boundaries for human interaction with divine messengers and underscores that all true offerings and worship are to be directed exclusively to the Most High God, Yahweh alone. This served as a crucial lesson for Manoah concerning God's distinctiveness and His sole claim to complete devotion.
Judges 13 16 Context
Judges chapter 13 introduces Manoah and his barren wife, highlighting Israel's dire state under Philistine oppression and God's initiative to raise a deliverer—Samson. The appearance of "the angel of the Lord" to Manoah's wife (and later Manoah himself) is an annunciation of Samson's miraculous birth and the Nazirite vow. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, hospitality was a sacred duty, often including offering food. Manoah, upon the angel's second appearance, desires to show honor by preparing a meal. The angel's refusal of this common courtesy, coupled with the clear instruction to direct any burnt offering exclusively to the Lord, is a profound theological statement. It prevents Manoah from mistaking the messenger for the Giver of the message or the ultimate object of worship, thus upholding monotheism against the pervasive polytheism of surrounding cultures and preventing any misdirection of worship.
Judges 13 16 Word analysis
- And the angel of the Lord: (וּמַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - u-mal’akh YHVH). Mal’akh means "messenger" or "angel." YHVH (Yahweh) is the personal covenant name of God. This phrase frequently refers to a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ (a Christophany) or a divine manifestation, acting and speaking with God's authority. Here, the emphasis on redirection to YHVH clarifies the divine yet distinct role of the messenger.
- said unto Manoah: Direct address. Establishes the authority of the message.
- Though thou detain me: (אִם תַּעְצְרֵנִי - im ta'atzreniy). "If you urge/restrain/compel me." This shows Manoah's persistent desire to offer hospitality, common in ancient Near Eastern culture.
- I will not eat of thy bread: (לֹא אֹכַל בְּלַחְמֶךָ - lo okhal b'lachmeka). A definitive refusal. This marks the messenger as distinct from ordinary humans, not bound by human sustenance. It hints at a divine or supernatural nature that does not require earthly provision, distinguishing this specific appearance from instances where angels or God in human form did partake of food (e.g., with Abraham in Gen 18).
- and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering: (וְאִם תַּעֲשֶׂה עֹלָה - v'im ta'aseh 'olah). 'Olah signifies a burnt offering, a sacrifice entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication and atonement, offered solely to God. Manoah likely considered this a grander gesture of hospitality or honor to such an impressive messenger.
- thou must offer it unto the Lord. (לַיהוָה תַּעֲלֶנָּה - la-YHVH ta'alenah). This is the core instruction. It firmly directs any act of worship, especially a burnt offering, exclusively to Yahweh. This statement serves as a polemic against the temptation to deify the messenger or to attribute divine honors to anyone other than the true God. It establishes God's unique sovereignty over all forms of worship.
Judges 13 16 Bonus section
- This verse provides an important principle for interpreting appearances of the "angel of the Lord" throughout the Old Testament: while they possess divine authority, they consistently redirect worship to the Lord, maintaining the uniqueness of God as the ultimate object of worship.
- The angel's response foreshadows his miraculous departure (v. 20), emphasizing his non-human nature and solidifying that the honor must be directed towards the One who alone can ascend in the flame.
- The emphasis on "unto the Lord" (לַיהוָה) in this verse safeguards against syncretism or the elevation of any created being to a status rivaling God, a vital lesson given the pagan influences in Judges.
Judges 13 16 Commentary
Judges 13:16 delivers a crucial theological truth concerning the nature of divine encounters and the exclusive prerogative of God in worship. The angel of the Lord, while manifesting divine presence and authority, unequivocally refuses to be treated as a human recipient of hospitality or the object of sacred offerings. His deliberate rejection of Manoah's food offering and his precise instruction to redirect any "burnt offering"—a symbol of total dedication—"unto the Lord" alone serves as a sharp theological correction. This action establishes a clear boundary: the messenger is a conduit of God's will, not the recipient of divine honor. It reinforces that all true worship, reverence, and sacrifice belong solely to Yahweh, preventing any misdirection of devotion towards a creature, no matter how glorious. It upholds monotheism, protecting Manoah and Israel from idolatry and reminding them that God's plan involves Him alone as the source and recipient of all glory.