Judges 13:3 kjv
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
Judges 13:3 nkjv
And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.
Judges 13:3 niv
The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.
Judges 13:3 esv
And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.
Judges 13:3 nlt
The angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah's wife and said, "Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son.
Judges 13 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:30 | Sarai was barren; she had no child. | Sarai's barrenness mentioned before Isaac's birth. |
| Gen 16:1-2 | Now Sarai ... had no children... she said to Abram, "Go to my servant... | Sarai suggests Hagar due to barrenness. |
| Gen 18:9-10 | They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" ... "I will certainly return to you... Sarah your wife will have a son." | Divine promise of a son to barren Sarah. |
| Gen 21:1-2 | The LORD visited Sarah... she conceived and bore Abraham a son... | God fulfills the promise of Isaac to Sarah. |
| Gen 25:21 | Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren... | Isaac prays for barren Rebekah. |
| Gen 30:22-24 | Then God remembered Rachel... opened her womb, and she conceived and bore a son. | God remembers barren Rachel and she bears Joseph. |
| Exo 3:2 | And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire... | Similar manifestation of the "angel of the LORD." |
| Num 6:1-21 | Speak to the people of Israel... when a man or woman makes a special vow... (Nazarite) | Establishes the Nazarite vow, pertinent to Samson. |
| Judg 6:11-12 | Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah... | Another instance of the angel of the LORD appearing. |
| 1 Sam 1:2-5 | Elkanah... and his two wives... But Hannah had no children. | Hannah's barrenness precedes Samuel's birth. |
| 1 Sam 1:19-20 | ...and the LORD remembered her, and she conceived and bore a son. | God opens Hannah's womb to conceive Samuel. |
| 1 Kin 17:15-16 | She went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. | Elijah's prophetic word about miraculous provision. |
| 2 Kin 4:16 | "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." | Elisha's prophecy to the barren Shunammite woman. |
| Ps 113:9 | He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyful mother of children. | God's power to overcome barrenness. |
| Isa 7:14 | Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son... | Prophecy of miraculous virgin birth of Messiah. |
| Isa 42:9 | Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare... | God declares future events, as in this prophecy. |
| Lk 1:13 | But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son..." | Annunciation of John the Baptist's birth to barren Elizabeth. |
| Lk 1:30-31 | And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son..." | Annunciation of Jesus' birth to virgin Mary. |
| Rom 4:19-21 | He considered his own body, which was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, or Sarah’s womb... Yet he did not waver through unbelief... | Abraham's faith in God's promise regarding Sarah's barrenness. |
| Heb 11:11 | By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. | Sarah's faith and God's faithfulness in overcoming barrenness. |
| Acts 7:30 | "Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire..." | Further example of the angel of the LORD's appearance. |
| Gal 4:27 | For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear..." | Barrenness as a metaphor for spiritual fruitfulness. |
Judges 13 verses
Judges 13 3 Meaning
Judges 13:3 announces a divine visitation to an unnamed barren woman, proclaiming a miraculous reversal of her infertility. The "angel of the LORD," understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ or a direct divine messenger, definitively states her current barren condition and then unequivocally promises she will conceive and bear a son. This message initiates the unique life and purpose of Samson, destined to begin Israel's deliverance from Philistine oppression. It underscores God's sovereignty over natural limitations and His active intervention in human history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
Judges 13 3 Context
Judges chapter 13 serves as an introduction to the birth and early life of Samson, one of Israel's judges. It is set within the recurring pattern of apostasy, oppression, and divine deliverance characteristic of the Book of Judges. For forty years, the Israelites had fallen back into sin, prompting God to deliver them into the hands of the Philistines. This oppressive period lasted longer than previous ones, indicating a deeper spiritual decline. The story begins with the background of a specific Israelite family, Manoah and his wife, who are childless because the wife is barren. This barrenness highlights the dire state of Israel, incapable of producing a deliverer on its own. God initiates the salvation plan by appearing to the barren woman, emphasizing that the impending deliverance is entirely a work of divine grace, not human effort. The miraculous conception sets Samson apart from birth, signifying his special calling and divine endowment for the task of beginning to save Israel.
Judges 13 3 Word analysis
And the angel of the LORD:
- "angel" (מַלְאָךְ, mal'akh): Means messenger or envoy. Here, it signifies one sent by God.
- "of the LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH, Yahweh): This is the divine personal name of God, revealing His covenantal presence and self-existence. The phrase "Angel of the LORD" is a specific biblical title, often interpreted as a Christophany—a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ—or at the very least, a unique, authoritative divine manifestation, distinct from regular angels. It denotes God's direct, personal, and active involvement in human affairs, indicating that this is no ordinary encounter but a revelatory divine encounter with the source of authority. This points to the absolute truthfulness and power of the subsequent message.
appeared (וַיֵּרָא, vayera): From the root רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see" or "to appear." This is a Niphal form, suggesting "he caused himself to be seen" or "he showed himself." It indicates a visible, tangible manifestation, not a dream or vision, making the message undeniably real and personal. Its use emphasizes divine initiative in revealing Himself to humanity.
unto the woman (אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה, el ha'ishah): Specifies the recipient. Her anonymity (she's Manoah's wife) draws focus away from her individual identity and more towards her condition as a barren woman and her role in God's plan. It also universalizes her experience, highlighting God's intervention in the lives of ordinary people who are in extraordinary circumstances.
and said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayomer): Signifies direct, verbal communication. The Angel of the LORD speaks, indicating a divine pronouncement with authority and clarity. This is not a message for interpretation, but a direct revelation.
Behold now (הִנֵּה־נָא, hinneh-na): "Behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) is an interjection used to draw immediate and emphatic attention to what is about to be said. "Now" (נָא, na) often softens a command or gives urgency to an appeal. Together, it stresses the importance, certainty, and immediate relevance of the following pronouncement, highlighting the significant truth about to be revealed.
thou art barren (אַקָּרָה אַתְּ, aqarah at):
- "barren" (אַקָּרָה, aqarah): Denotes the state of being infertile, unable to bear children. This word frequently appears in the Old Testament for women like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah, emphasizing a natural impossibility that God supernaturally overcomes. It represents a common sorrow and a societal challenge for women in that era.
- "thou art" (אַתְּ, at): A strong affirmation of her present state. This divine statement confirms her reality but also sets the stage for a dramatic divine reversal.
and bearest not (וְלֹא יָלַדְתְּ, v'lo yaladt): "And not borne." This phrase reiterates and emphasizes the reality of her barrenness. The repetition serves to underscore the natural impediment that only divine intervention can overcome, magnifying the forthcoming miracle. It confirms her continuous state of being childless up to that point.
but thou shalt conceive (וְהָרִית, v'harit): From הָרָה (harah), meaning "to conceive" or "to become pregnant." This is a powerful, declarative statement promising a future action that directly contradicts her present condition. The Hebrew grammar here indicates a definitive certainty. This is God's decree that overcomes all biological impossibility, showcasing His life-giving power.
and bear a son (וְיָלַדְתְּ בֵּן, v'yaladt ben):
- "bear" (וְיָלַדְתְּ, v'yaladt): From יָלַד (yalad), "to give birth." Continues the prophetic certainty of conception, now extending to birth.
- "a son" (בֵּן, ben): Specifically gendered, indicating the crucial role Samson will play. The emphasis on a "son" also aligns with cultural significance, as sons carried on the family line and were seen as strong deliverers. This particular son will fulfill God's purpose for Israel.