Judges 13 4

Judges 13:4 kjv

Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

Judges 13:4 nkjv

Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean.

Judges 13:4 niv

Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean.

Judges 13:4 esv

Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean,

Judges 13:4 nlt

So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food.

Judges 13 verses

Judges 13 4 Meaning

Judges 13:4 conveys a direct, divinely issued command to Manoah's barren wife, cautioning her to maintain specific forms of abstinence and purity during her miraculous pregnancy. These instructions are foundational to the future son's consecrated role as a Nazirite unto God from birth, signaling a life dedicated to the Lord and marked by specific separation. Her obedience ensures the sanctity and preparation for the special mission of the promised child.

Judges 13 4 Context

Judges chapter 13 serves as the introduction to Samson, a central figure in Israel's cycle of oppression and deliverance. Israel is again under Philistine dominance, having "done what was evil in the sight of the Lord" (Judg 13:1). Amidst this spiritual and national low point, an Angel of the Lord appears to Manoah's wife, who is barren and beyond childbearing age, announcing the miraculous conception of a son. This son is destined to "begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines" (Judg 13:5). Verse 4, specifically, outlines the preparatory steps the mother must take. These divinely imposed stipulations underscore the extraordinary nature of the upcoming birth and the sacred purpose for which the child will be set apart even before he enters the world, paralleling aspects of the Nazirite vow. Historically, during the period of the Judges, societal norms might have been more lenient regarding alcohol and certain dietary practices, especially under foreign rule; thus, these divine commands served as a clear call for specific, distinct holiness for the coming deliverer.

Judges 13 4 Word analysis

• Now therefore: (Wĕ‘attâ, וְעַתָּה) - A connective phrase signifying a consequential or logical transition, drawing a conclusion from the preceding divine announcement. It elevates the importance of the instructions that follow.
• beware: (Hiṣṣāmeru, הִשָּׁמְרִי) - From the Hebrew root shamar (שָׁמַר), meaning "to watch, guard, keep, observe carefully, preserve." It is a strong imperative, commanding attentive and vigilant obedience, implying caution against deviation. It suggests a need for mindful self-control.
• please: (nā’, נָא) - A particle often translated as "please" or "I pray," used to soften an imperative or to add earnestness. It emphasizes the importance of the request but does not negate its authoritative command nature. It conveys a gracious yet firm divine directive.
• and drink no wine: (wə'al-tīštī yayin, וְאַל־תִּשְׁתִּי יַיִן) - "Wine" (yayin, יַיִן) refers specifically to fermented grape juice, a common intoxicating beverage. The prohibition is absolute for a Nazirite, signifying complete separation from potentially mind-altering substances to maintain ritual purity and clear mind for God's service.
• or strong drink: (wəšēḵār, וְשֵׁכָר) - "Strong drink" (shekar, שֵׁכָר) denotes any other intoxicating drink, potentially including fermented grain or fruit juice, which might have a higher alcohol content than wine. This broad prohibition ensures full abstinence from all intoxicants, echoing the Nazirite vow (Num 6:3) and priestly instructions (Lev 10:9).
• and eat no unclean thing: (wə’al-tōḵlī ṭāmē’, וְאַל־תֹּאכְלִי טָמֵא) - "Unclean thing" (ṭāmē’, טָמֵא) refers to anything ceremonially or ritually impure, particularly dietary restrictions outlined in Mosaic law (Leviticus 11). This prohibition emphasizes adherence to God's dietary laws and a life of ritual purity, signifying dedication and separation from defilement. It extends the mother's required sanctity beyond merely abstinence from intoxicants.

Words-group analysis:

• "Now therefore beware, please, and drink no wine or strong drink": This entire phrase encapsulates the first primary aspect of the divinely ordained pre-natal Naziriteship: complete abstinence from alcohol. The Angel's instruction to "beware" (shamar) underscores the vigilance required to maintain this critical separation. This purity ensures that the mother's state contributes positively to the development of a child set apart for God's purposes. The absence of intoxicating influence would guarantee mental clarity for both mother and child's pre-destined role.
• "and eat no unclean thing": This part broadens the scope of the required purity beyond just alcohol to include adherence to dietary laws, mirroring the strict requirements for priests and general Israelite holiness. For the mother, consuming anything declared ṭāmē’ (unclean) would defile her, and by extension, impact the sacred status of the child forming within her womb. It signifies a holistic consecration, not merely abstinence, but also active maintenance of ritual cleanliness, underscoring the spiritual importance of her physical condition as the vessel for God's chosen one. The combined prohibitions reflect the Nazirite dedication requirements (Num 6:2-4), ensuring the mother lives a life of active purity and separation, suitable for birthing a Nazirite.

Judges 13 4 Bonus section

• The Angel's instructions highlight the theological concept of "corporate purity" where the mother's ritual and moral state directly influences the spiritual and physical formation of her child, particularly one chosen for a sacred task.
• The imposed pre-natal Naziriteship for Samson (and similarly for John the Baptist, Luke 1:15) indicates God's sovereign choice and consecration of individuals for specific, unique missions before their birth, distinct from the voluntary nature of the typical Nazirite vow. This pre-designation underscores the idea of a divine purpose etched into one's being from the very beginning.
• The specific dietary prohibitions are a profound symbol of distinction and devotion. In a culture often immersed in pagan practices or general Israelite lukewarmness, abstaining from intoxicants and unclean foods marked one as "set apart" to the God of Israel. This would have made the mother's life (and later Samson's) visibly different, serving as a constant reminder of their sacred obligation.
• The Nazirite vow in Numbers 6 includes specific conditions: abstaining from grape products (including fresh grapes, not just wine), not cutting hair, and avoiding contact with dead bodies. Judges 13:4 primarily focuses on the dietary aspect for the mother, but hints at the broader vow, particularly for Samson himself who was forbidden to cut his hair (Judg 13:5).

Judges 13 4 Commentary

Judges 13:4 delivers precise instructions to Samson's mother, setting the foundational requirements for his extraordinary life as a Nazirite from birth. These commands—to abstain from wine, strong drink, and unclean foods—are not arbitrary but are direct parallels to the Nazirite vow (Numbers 6) and general Mosaic laws concerning ritual purity (Leviticus 11). The mother's absolute adherence to these rules ensures her body is a consecrated vessel, nurturing a son who is "holy to the Lord" from conception. This pre-natal dedication emphasizes that Samson's strength and anointing are not of human origin or choice, but are divinely imparted, rooted in God's specific purpose for him as Israel's deliverer. Her obedience directly enables the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through her son, highlighting the significant role of the parent's spiritual discipline in preparing a child for divine calling. The very first condition of Samson's existence and future mission is strict separation and purity, laying a powerful thematic groundwork for his life, and ironically, his ultimate failure to fully uphold these very tenets later in his narrative.