Judges 13 6

Judges 13:6 kjv

Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

Judges 13:6 nkjv

So the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A Man of God came to me, and His countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name.

Judges 13:6 niv

Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name.

Judges 13:6 esv

Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name,

Judges 13:6 nlt

The woman ran and told her husband, "A man of God appeared to me! He looked like one of God's angels, terrifying to see. I didn't ask where he was from, and he didn't tell me his name.

Judges 13 verses

Judges 13 6 Meaning

Judges 13:6 describes Manoah's wife reporting to her husband the visitation she received. She identifies the visitor as a "Man of God" whose appearance was overwhelmingly awe-inspiring, likened to "an angel of God," instilling deep reverence and a sense of dread. Her report emphasizes the visitor's profound presence, explaining why she was unable to question him about his origin or receive his name. This verse captures the immediate, profound impact of the divine encounter on the woman.

Judges 13 6 Context

Judges 13:6 is part of the introductory narrative for the birth of Samson, serving as the opening scene for his judgeship. It falls within the recurrent cycle of Israel's apostasy, divine judgment through oppression (in this case, by the Philistines for 40 years, Judges 13:1), and God's merciful raising of a deliverer. Specifically, the verse follows the angelic announcement to Manoah's barren wife that she would conceive and bear a son dedicated as a Nazirite from birth, who would begin to deliver Israel. The wife's account to Manoah immediately establishes the supernatural origin and significance of the encounter, laying the groundwork for Manoah's desire to verify the divine message. Historically, the period of the Judges was characterized by spiritual decline, syncretism, and a lack of central authority, making direct divine intervention via a messenger all the more remarkable and necessary.

Judges 13 6 Word analysis

• Then the woman: Highlights her central role as the initial recipient of the divine message and the one who initiates communication with her husband.
• came and told: The Hebrew verb wattavo' (וַתָּבֹא), "she came," implies direct and immediate action, conveying urgency. wattegged (וַתַּגֵּד), "and she told/declared," suggests a full and detailed report.
• her husband: Manoah, the head of the household, to whom the significant news must be reported and validated within the family structure.
• saying: Introduces direct speech, preserving the immediacy of her testimony.
• A Man of God: Hebrew Ish Elohim (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים). This specific title usually denotes a prophet or an individual uniquely called and sent by God with a divine message (e.g., Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha). In this context, it sets the visitor apart as no ordinary man, implying a divine commission and authority. While later revealed as the Angel of the LORD, her initial description indicates a perception of human-like form, but imbued with extraordinary spiritual power.
• came to me: Emphasizes the personal nature of the encounter, validating its directness.
• and his countenance: Hebrew u-mar'ehu (וּמַרְאֵהוּ) derived from mar'eh (מַרְאֵה), meaning "sight, appearance, vision." This refers to his physical or visual manifestation and the quality of that appearance. It suggests what was externally perceivable.
• was like the countenance of an angel of God: A profound and striking simile. Hebrew mal'akh Elohim (מַלְאַךְ אֱלֹהִים) literally "messenger of God." This clarifies that while appearing as a man, his visage held a quality commonly associated with heavenly beings—radiance, majesty, perhaps other-worldliness, indicative of his divine origin and power. This is her interpretation of what she saw, demonstrating deep spiritual perception.
• very terrible: Hebrew chathath (חַתַּת), here expressing a feeling of awe, dread, or dismay. This terror is not from evil but from overwhelming holiness and power. It's the "fear of the LORD" (yir'at YHWH), a reverence mixed with a healthy apprehension due to the presence of the sacred and majestic. It conveys an experience that commands respect and submission.
• but I did not ask him: Her reaction to the intense presence, preventing normal social inquiry. This is a common biblical response to divine encounters where awe paralyses.
• from where he came: A natural question she would have asked a stranger, highlighting the supernatural aspect that suppressed her curiosity.
• nor did he tell me his name: Significant as the name of divine beings in the Old Testament is often linked to their identity and power (e.g., Ex 3:13-14). The angel’s deliberate withholding of his name (mentioned later in Judg 13:18) reinforces his divine, unknowable essence, protecting God's unique identity.

Judges 13 6 Bonus section

The seemingly distinct titles, "Man of God" (Ish Elohim) and "Angel of God" (mal'akh Elohim), are used interchangeably for the same being in Judges 13, highlighting that a divine messenger can appear in a human-like form while still embodying divine authority and essence. This duality—human-like appearance yet radiating divine power and instilling fear—is a recurring theme in biblical narratives of angelic or theophanic visitations, underscoring the concept that spiritual beings often bridge the divine and human realms. The consistent pattern of these beings refusing to state their names emphasizes that their mission and the Giver of the message are paramount, not their individual identity as a messenger. Their anonymity often safeguards the glory of God, the ultimate sender. This scene also portrays the unique spiritual perceptiveness of Manoah's wife, who, despite her cultural limitations as a barren woman, becomes the initial conduit of a pivotal divine message, underscoring God's ability to choose unlikely vessels for His purposes.

Judges 13 6 Commentary

Judges 13:6 captures the woman's profound and awe-inspiring encounter with the divine messenger. Her report is concise but vivid, immediately establishing the extraordinary nature of the event. Her use of "Man of God" first acknowledges his perceived human form, while her swift qualification "like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible," immediately elevates him beyond human. This 'terror' is not fright of malevolence, but rather the overwhelming awe (yirah) one experiences in the immediate presence of holiness and divine power, akin to how prophets like Isaiah or Daniel reacted. Her inability to question him, and his deliberate withholding of his name, underline the messenger's supreme authority and sacred nature, implying a hidden aspect to this revelation, and pointing ultimately to the unknowable greatness of God Himself. This reaction underscores the gravity of the message delivered—the birth of Samson—a sign that God's plan was deeply supernatural and required utmost reverence from those receiving it.