Judges 13:22 kjv
And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
Judges 13:22 nkjv
And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God!"
Judges 13:22 niv
"We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!"
Judges 13:22 esv
And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have seen God."
Judges 13:22 nlt
and he said to his wife, "We will certainly die, for we have seen God!"
Judges 13 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 16:13 | She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me." ... | Hagar saw God and lived; divine interaction. |
| 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." | Jacob saw God's face and was preserved. |
| Exod 3:6 | At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. | Moses' fear at divine presence. |
| Exod 19:21 | The LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people..." | Warning against nearing God directly. |
| Exod 33:20 | But," he said, "you cannot see My face, for no one may see My face and live." | No mortal can see God's face and live. |
| Deut 5:24 | ...For who of all mankind has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the fire, as we have, and lived? | Israel feared dying after hearing God. |
| Deut 5:26 | For who of all mankind has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the fire, as we have, and lived? | Repeated fear of death from divine encounter. |
| Judg 6:22 | When Gideon realized that it was the Angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Alas, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face!" | Gideon's similar fear of death after theophany. |
| Judg 6:23 | The LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." | Assurance of life despite divine encounter. |
| Isa 6:5 | "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips..." | Isaiah's conviction of sin and unworthiness seeing God. |
| Hos 12:4 | He struggled with the angel and overcame him... | Echoes Jacob's wrestling with the divine. |
| Matt 17:6 | When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown and were terrified. | Disciples' fear during Transfiguration. |
| John 1:18 | No one has ever seen God; but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. | Emphasizes no one sees God, points to Christ. |
| John 14:9 | Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." | Seeing Christ is seeing the Father; new covenant understanding. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son... | God now revealed fully in His Son. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence... | Believers can approach God through Christ. |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | ...God, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. | God dwells in unapproachable light. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed... | New covenant believers can behold God's glory. |
| 1 John 4:12 | No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. | Seeing God through love and indwelling presence. |
| Rev 22:4 | They will see His face; and His name will be on their foreheads. | Future vision of God in the new heaven/earth. |
Judges 13 verses
Judges 13 22 Meaning
This verse captures Manoah’s fearful realization after witnessing the miraculous ascent of the Angel of the LORD in the flame from the altar (Judges 13:20). He concludes that this being was indeed God Himself, or a direct manifestation, and therefore he expects himself and his wife to die, according to the widespread belief in ancient Israel that no one could see God and live. Manoah's utterance expresses profound reverence mixed with terror in the face of divine holiness.
Judges 13 22 Context
Judges chapter 13 introduces Manoah and his barren wife from Zorah. They are approached by the Angel of the LORD who announces the miraculous birth of Samson, who is to be a Nazirite from birth and begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. The Angel gives specific instructions concerning Samson's upbringing, particularly related to the Nazirite vow. Initially, Manoah does not recognize the Angel's true identity, perceiving him only as a man of God. He offers a meal, which the Angel insists should be a burnt offering to the LORD. As the offering is consumed, the Angel ascends in the flame. It is at this precise moment that Manoah, comprehending the divine nature of his visitor, utters the words of Judges 13:22, filled with terror at having "seen God." His wife, demonstrating greater spiritual discernment, provides reassurance immediately after this verse (Judges 13:23). This encounter sets the stage for Samson’s extraordinary life, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in raising up deliverers.
Judges 13 22 Word analysis
Then: Signifies the immediate consequence and Manoah’s reaction following the miraculous ascent of the Angel of the LORD in the flame.
Manoah: A man of Zorah, a Danite. His name, "resting place," stands in contrast to his sudden, fear-filled revelation.
said to his wife: Indicates an immediate sharing of his profound terror and realization with his closest companion, suggesting a mutual experience of the divine encounter.
'We shall surely die': A Hebrew idiom expressing absolute certainty of impending death. This phrase encapsulates Manoah's deep conviction and terror, stemming from the long-held belief in ancient Israel that a mortal could not survive seeing God directly due to His holy nature and the sinfulness of humanity. It reflects a traditional reverence and dread before divine majesty.
for: Introduces the reason for Manoah's fearful conclusion.
we have seen: Expresses the direct experience they just had. Manoah perceives the "Angel of the LORD" as no mere messenger but as God Himself, or at least a visible manifestation of God’s glory and presence. This signifies a profound theophany or Christophany.
God!': The Hebrew word used here is אֱלֹהִים (’Elohim), a plural noun for "God" or "gods," but commonly used as a singular respectful term for the one true God (YHWH) in the Old Testament, particularly when emphasizing His power and transcendence. Manoah’s realization that their visitor was Elohim underlies his dread, believing he and his wife had directly looked upon the Divine, leading to an inevitable demise.
Words-group analysis:
- "Then Manoah said to his wife": Highlights the moment of revelation and the shared experience between husband and wife, essential for the narrative as the wife responds in the next verse.
- "'We shall surely die, for we have seen God!'": This complete phrase captures the climax of Manoah's spiritual terror and his theological understanding—or rather, misunderstanding—of divine appearances. It represents a common Old Testament motif: the mortal fear induced by a direct encounter with the holy and unapproachable God, revealing a deep sense of human unworthiness and divine awe. It directly links the "seeing God" to an expected, fatal outcome, a belief widespread among the Israelites.
Judges 13 22 Bonus section
The concept of the "Angel of the LORD" (mal’akh YHVH) as a distinct person who nevertheless speaks and acts as YHVH Himself is a recurring theme in the Old Testament (e.g., Gen 18, Exod 3, Judg 6). The divine ascent in the flame from the sacrifice in Judges 13:20, preceding Manoah’s exclamation, is a strong indicator for Old Testament scholars that this was a unique divine appearance, a theophany, rather than a mere angelic visit. Manoah’s response reflects the standard human reaction to encountering the divine. However, the subsequent dialogue (Judges 13:23) showcases God's character as merciful, as He does not act upon their expected death, but instead, confirms His plan, illustrating that divine appearances are not always for judgment but often for the unfolding of His redemptive purposes.
Judges 13 22 Commentary
Manoah’s utterance in Judges 13:22 stems from a deeply ingrained fear prevalent among God's people in the Old Testament: the belief that seeing God face-to-face would result in death (Exod 33:20). He correctly discerns that the "Angel of the LORD" who visited them was no ordinary messenger but a divine manifestation, often interpreted as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ due to the identity, authority, and actions attributed to this figure throughout the Old Testament narratives. Manoah’s terror underscores the profound holiness and overwhelming power of God, reminding humanity of its own frail and fallen nature. However, his wife, with spiritual clarity, challenges this immediate conclusion in the following verse, pointing out God’s mercy and intention to bring about the promise of a son, demonstrating that God's grace can indeed allow mortals to encounter Him without immediate destruction, especially when His purpose is one of blessing. This event, therefore, is a pivotal moment in the Judges narrative, establishing the divine origin of Samson's mission and affirming God's continued involvement with His people.