Judges 13 19

Judges 13:19 kjv

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.

Judges 13:19 nkjv

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?

Judges 13:19 niv

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:

Judges 13:19 esv

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.

Judges 13:19 nlt

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.

Judges 13 verses

Judges 13 19 Meaning

Judges 13:19 describes Manoah's sacrificial act as instructed by the Angel of the Lord. Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and presented them as a burnt offering upon a rock to the Lord. As Manoah and his wife watched, the Angel of the Lord performed a miraculous sign, confirming His divine nature and the acceptance of the sacrifice. This act served as a dramatic confirmation of the angel's message regarding Samson's miraculous birth and special destiny.

Judges 13 19 Context

Judges 13 sets the stage for the birth of Samson, Israel's last major judge. For 40 years, Israel was under Philistine oppression (Judg 13:1). Into this despair, the Angel of the Lord appears to Manoah's barren wife, announcing that she will conceive a son who is to be a Nazirite from birth and will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Manoah, hearing the account from his wife, prays for the man of God to return to give them further instructions. The Angel reappears, reiterates the message, and when Manoah presses Him to identify himself and dine with them, the Angel responds by urging Manoah to prepare a burnt offering to the Lord, not a meal for Him. Verse 19 directly follows Manoah's obedience to this instruction, where the Angel reveals His identity not by name, but by a miraculous, "wondrous" act associated with the offering and the rock. This divine affirmation powerfully confirms the impossible birth prophecy and underscores the source of Samson's future strength and purpose.

Judges 13 19 Word analysis

• So Manoah took

  • Manoah: From Hebrew מָנוֹחַ (Manoach), meaning "rest" or "resting place." Ironically, his journey involved profound spiritual and parental challenges rather than immediate rest.
  • took: Hebrew לָקַח (lāqaḥ). A standard verb indicating receiving or acquiring. Here, it signifies his active obedience in preparing the offering, despite not fully understanding who he was dealing with. This highlights his faith in performing the act as instructed.

• a young goat with the grain offering

  • young goat: Hebrew גְּדִי עִזִּים (g'dî 'izzîm), literally "kid of goats." This was a common animal for burnt offerings (Lev 1:10), indicating a costly and complete dedication. It was part of the Levitical sacrificial system for atonement or dedication.
  • with: This conjunction (waw) links the animal sacrifice with the plant-based offering.
  • the grain offering: Hebrew מִנְחָה (minḥāh). This usually referred to an unbloody offering, often of flour, oil, and frankincense (Lev 2). It could be an offering of gratitude or tribute. Combined with the burnt offering, it forms a comprehensive sacrifice—representing both complete dedication and thanksgiving/tribute. The dual offering signifies Manoah's intent to fulfill all spiritual requirements.

• and offered it up upon a rock

  • offered it up: Hebrew וַיַּעַל (vayya'al), from the verb עלה ('ālāh), meaning "to go up" or "to ascend." In sacrificial contexts, it specifically refers to "causing to ascend" as a burnt offering, entirely consumed by fire. This implies total surrender and devotion to God.
  • upon a rock: Hebrew עַל־הַצּוּר (ʿal-haṣṣûr). Rocks often served as natural altars in early Israelite worship, especially before the construction of the Tabernacle and Temple (e.g., Judg 6:20; 1 Sam 7:17). A rock is firm, unchanging, and symbolic of strength or refuge (Ps 18:2). Here, it contrasts with pagan altars built by human hands, suggesting the direct, unmediated interaction with God on His own 'natural' ground. This might also subtly indicate a polemic against constructed pagan altars by emphasizing the raw, unadulterated divine presence.

• unto the Lord

  • unto the Lord: Hebrew לַיהוָה (laYHWH). This crucial phrase indicates the intended recipient of the offering. Manoah was genuinely offering it to YHWH, even if he wasn't yet fully aware that the one instructing him was the Divine Messenger Himself. It shows Manoah's genuine piety and submission to God's will. The sacrifice was not to the "man of God" (as Manoah perceived him) but explicitly to God Himself.

• and the angel did wondrously

  • and the angel: Hebrew מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה (mal'akh YHWH), the "Angel of the Lord." This term often denotes a special, divine manifestation, frequently interpreted as a Christophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ). The angel's actions confirm His divine authority.
  • did wondrously: Hebrew עָשָׂה לַפֶּלֶא (ʿāśâ lap'eleʾ), literally "did to wonder" or "acted wondrously/miraculously." The noun פֶּלֶא (peleʾ) signifies "wonder," "miracle," "marvel," particularly an act that only God can perform (Isa 9:6 speaks of the Messiah as "Wonderful Counselor," perhaps echoing this peleʾ attribute). This verb describes the manner of the angel's actions—supernaturally, defying natural explanation, serving as a powerful sign of God's presence and validation. This confirms Manoah's sacrifice was accepted and validated by divine means. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the event, distinct from typical human actions or pagan rites.

• while Manoah and his wife looked on

  • looked on: Hebrew מִתְבּוֹנְנִים (mitbôn'nîm), from the verb בִּין (bîn), meaning "to discern, understand, observe intently." It implies more than a casual glance; they were observing carefully, seeking to comprehend the unfolding events. Their direct witness adds to the veracity and impact of the miracle. Their deep concentration highlights the awe and tension they experienced.

Judges 13 19 Bonus section

The act of the Angel of the Lord performing a wonder in response to Manoah's offering draws a strong parallel to Judges 6:19-21, where the same Angel consumed Gideon's offering with fire from a rock, confirming His identity and Gideon's commission. These incidents establish a recurring pattern of divine confirmation of a miraculous calling through visible signs connected to sacrifice. The mysterious nature of the "wondrous" act and the Angel's refusal to give His name in verse 18 (stating it is pele or "wonderful") highlights the ineffability of the divine. This theme is echoed in Isaiah 9:6, where one of the Messiah's names is "Wonderful Counselor" (pele yoetz), further fueling the Christological interpretation of the Angel of the Lord in Judges. This verse powerfully illustrates that God initiates His plans (the birth of Samson), enables obedience (Manoah's offering), and unmistakably confirms His word through supernatural means.

Judges 13 19 Commentary

Judges 13:19 is the pivot point in the narrative of Samson's announcement. It brings together sacrifice, divine manifestation, and revelatory action. Manoah, still under the impression he is dealing with a mere prophet, prepares a traditional Israelite burnt offering for the Lord. This act demonstrates his faith and obedience, vital traits in those who would receive God's direct word. The setting, "upon a rock," emphasizes the primal, immediate nature of the divine encounter, hearkening back to early covenant signs like Gideon's offering on a rock (Judg 6). This also carries a subtle polemical jab against pagan worship; unlike Canaanite gods whose altars required human-made structures, the God of Israel validates His presence directly and supernaturally on a simple, natural surface.

The "Angel of the Lord" (often seen as a Christophany) doesn't just receive the offering; He performs a "wondrous" act. This wonder (related to pele, peleʾ in Hebrew) is intrinsically divine, echoing passages where only God performs "wonders." The method of consuming the offering, likely through fire (though not explicitly stated until the next verse, it's heavily implied by the "consuming fire" theme), is a hallmark sign of divine acceptance throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Lev 9:24, 1 Kgs 18:38). It wasn't Manoah's action but the Angel's "wondrous" intervention that caused the offering to be accepted, demonstrating God's sovereign initiative and confirmation. The intense observation of Manoah and his wife underscore the significance and overwhelming nature of the event for them. This spectacle left no doubt about the heavenly origin of the message concerning Samson and provided solid assurance that the impossible would indeed come to pass.