Judges 13 20

Judges 13:20 kjv

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.

Judges 13:20 nkjv

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.

Judges 13:20 niv

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.

Judges 13:20 esv

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.

Judges 13:20 nlt

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.

Judges 13 verses

Judges 13 20 Meaning

Judges 13:20 describes the climax of the divine revelation to Manoah and his wife, confirming the supernatural nature of the messenger they had encountered. As the sacrificial offering was consumed by fire and the flame ascended from the altar toward the heavens, the Angel of the Lord, who had delivered the news of Samson's miraculous birth, ascended mysteriously within that very flame. Witnessing this undeniable and awe-inspiring display of divine power and departure, Manoah and his wife instinctively prostrated themselves, falling on their faces to the ground in a posture of profound reverence, worship, and awe, acknowledging the sacred and transcendent presence they had just experienced. This event solidified their understanding that the messenger was not merely a human prophet but a divine being, truly a manifestation of the Lord Himself.

Judges 13 20 Context

Judges 13 provides the background for the birth of Samson, introducing his parents, Manoah and his barren wife. The chapter opens with Israel again doing evil in the sight of the Lord, leading to 40 years of Philistine oppression. Into this context, the Angel of the Lord appears twice to Samson's mother, announcing his miraculous birth and calling as a Nazirite from birth who would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Manoah, upon hearing of these visitations, pleads with the Lord for the messenger to return to provide more instructions. The Angel reappears, and Manoah prepares a kid for a burnt offering and a grain offering. In verse 19, the Angel performs a wonder as the fire consumes the sacrifice from the rock, not Manoah. Verse 20 describes the Angel's unique departure within the flame, solidifying their understanding of His divine identity and emphasizing the supernatural power at play, leaving Manoah and his wife in a state of reverent awe and worship. This event confirmed the divine origin of the message and the unique nature of their child, Samson, whose story unfolds in the subsequent chapters.

Judges 13 20 Word analysis

• For it came to pass: Introduces the significant, divinely orchestrated event that occurred immediately following the offering. This phrase often signals a moment of divine intervention or a key turning point.
• when the flame (לֶהָבָה - lehava): Refers to the intense, visible burning fire. In this context, it is not merely physical fire but a conduit or manifestation of divine presence and power, echoing instances like the burning bush (Ex 3) and consuming fire at Sinai (Ex 19). It also suggests immediate and full consumption of the sacrifice.
• went up toward heaven: Signifies the direction, confirming the fire's supernatural origin and purpose – directed towards God, implying divine acceptance and communication.
• from the altar: The place of sacrifice, typically symbolizing devotion and atonement. Here, the fire consuming the offering from the altar (specifically from the rock where the sacrifice was placed, per Jdg 13:19) acts as an irrefutable divine sign, not a human-kindled one.
• that the Angel of the Lord (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - malakh YHWH): A pivotal term. While "angel" typically means 'messenger,' this specific phrase in the Old Testament often denotes a special manifestation of God Himself, a Christophany. This "Angel" speaks with divine authority, receives worship, and demonstrates divine power, which points to His unique identity as Yahweh, or the pre-incarnate Christ. His departure is unlike a created being.
• ascended (עָלָה - alah): To go up, to rise. This verb is notably used for offerings "ascending" to God (Gen 8:20, Lev 1:9) and for the return of God's presence or messengers to heaven. Here, it takes on an added layer of meaning, signifying a celestial being returning to the divine realm, intertwined with the accepted sacrifice.
• in the flame of the altar: Not merely by the flame, but within or through the flame. This portrays an intimate connection between the Angel and the fiery manifestation of God's presence, indicating His mastery over it and identification with it, further underscoring His divine nature. It’s a direct departure, merging with the accepted offering.
• And Manoah and his wife looked on: Their direct observation of this extraordinary event is emphasized. It confirms their witnessing of a supernatural phenomenon.
• and fell on their faces (וַיִּפְּל וּ עַל-פְּנֵיהֶם - vaiyippelū al-penehem) to the ground: This is a consistent posture throughout the Bible signifying profound reverence, humility, worship, and overwhelming awe in the presence of divinity. It is not fear of destruction but reverence before the Holy. Their immediate and instinctual response validates the undeniable, divine identity of the messenger they had seen. It acknowledges YHWH's sovereign presence.

Words-group analysis

• "the flame went up toward heaven from the altar": This sequence of actions vividly depicts the acceptance of the sacrifice by God. The fire not only consumes but rises heavenward, directly linking the earthly act of worship with a divine response, signifying communication and affirmation from the transcendent realm. This is God consuming His own sacrifice as a demonstration of power and approval.
• "the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar": This powerful imagery connects the divine messenger with the essence of God's fiery presence and acceptance. The Angel's departure in this manner elevates the messenger beyond mere angelic status, associating Him directly with God's essence (often manifested in fire). It emphasizes that He is not merely observing the sacrifice but intrinsically part of its divine consumption and acceptance, returning to heaven by this very sign.
• "Manoah and his wife looked on, and fell on their faces to the ground": This phrase captures the immediate, overwhelming, and reverent response of those who genuinely encounter the manifest presence of God. Their act of prostration is the ultimate sign of acknowledging divine authority and glory, confirming that they fully understood the extraordinary nature of what they had just witnessed – a direct interaction with the divine, culminating in a visible divine departure.

Judges 13 20 Bonus section

The term "Angel of the Lord" (malakh YHWH) appearing with divine attributes and actions (receiving worship, performing wonders, ascending into heaven) is a significant theological point in biblical studies. It prefigures the immanence of God and hints at the coming Messiah, the "sent one" or "messenger" (Mal 3:1), who is God in human flesh. This passage echoes Judges 6:21 (Gideon) and earlier manifestations of the "Angel of the Lord" (Gen 16, Ex 3), underscoring a consistent pattern of God revealing Himself in visible, tangible ways, especially during times when His people needed clear assurance of His presence and intervention. The method of the Angel's departure (in the flame) served not only as proof but also as a seal of the truthfulness of all His words regarding Samson. The act of falling on one's face is culturally and theologically significant, expressing utter submission, deep respect, humility, and absolute fear before divine power, distinctly differentiating worship of the true God from the superficial reverence of pagan deities.

Judges 13 20 Commentary

Judges 13:20 marks the profound revelation of the Angel of the Lord's true identity to Manoah and his wife. The deliberate, visible ascent of the Angel within the very flame consuming their sacrifice was a conclusive, miraculous sign, cementing that the messenger was not human or merely an ordinary angel but a divine being—often interpreted as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ. This extraordinary departure confirmed the sacred origin of the message regarding Samson and validated God's hand in their lives. The parents' spontaneous act of prostration was a fitting response of awe and worship, signifying their complete understanding of having been in the presence of Yahweh Himself. The event not only assures them of their son's divine appointment but also reasserts God's active involvement in the midst of Israel's apostasy. This narrative stands in contrast to Canaanite practices where the divine was sought through human rituals; here, God actively reveals Himself on His own terms, confirming His sovereign power.