Judges 13:7 kjv
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
Judges 13:7 nkjv
And He said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.' "
Judges 13:7 niv
But he said to me, 'You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.'?"
Judges 13:7 esv
but he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'"
Judges 13:7 nlt
But he told me, 'You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.'"
Judges 13 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 16:11 | "The angel of the LORD also said to her, 'Behold, you are pregnant... | Angelic promise of a son to Hagar |
| Gen 17:19 | "But God said, 'No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son... | Miraculous birth to barren Sarah confirmed |
| Gen 25:21 | "...Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren... | Rebekah's barrenness overcome by prayer |
| Isa 7:14 | "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin shall conceive... | Prophecy of miraculous conception, foreshadows Jesus |
| Lk 1:13 | "...Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son..." | Angel Gabriel promises John the Baptist's birth |
| Lk 1:31 | "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son... | Angel Gabriel to Mary concerning Jesus' birth |
| Lk 1:15 | "...for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink..." | John the Baptist as a Nazirite (Lifelong from birth) |
| Num 6:2-4 | "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow... " | Foundation for the Nazirite vow details |
| Num 6:20 | "...After that the Nazirite may drink wine." | Nazirite vow usually temporary and ends |
| 1 Sam 1:11 | "...I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life..." | Hannah dedicates Samuel as a lifelong Nazirite (implied) |
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." | Divine calling and purpose before birth |
| Gal 1:15 | "...God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me by his grace..." | Paul's pre-natal divine calling |
| Isa 49:1 | "Listen to me, O coastlands...The LORD called me from the womb..." | Prophet called and sustained from birth |
| Deut 14:3 | "You shall not eat any abomination." | General clean/unclean dietary laws |
| Lev 10:9-10 | "Drink no wine or strong drink...that you may distinguish between holy and common..." | Restriction for priests, emphasis on discernment |
| Prov 31:4-5 | "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine..." | Warning against rulers consuming strong drink |
| 1 Cor 8:9 | "But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block..." | Principles of Christian liberty and abstinence for others' sake |
| Rom 14:21 | "It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble." | Abstinence for spiritual well-being/example |
| Eph 5:18 | "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit..." | Contrast between drunkenness and Spirit-filling |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct..." | Call to holiness and separation, reflection of God's character |
Judges 13 verses
Judges 13 7 Meaning
Judges 13:7 is the Angel of the LORD's second declaration to Manoah's wife, reiterating the divine promise of a son's miraculous conception and birth. It explicitly defines the child's destiny as a lifelong Nazirite to God from birth until death, detailing specific pre-natal restrictions for the mother regarding wine, strong drink, and unclean food, as these vows and consecration would apply directly to the child while still in the womb.
Judges 13 7 Context
Judges 13:7 occurs during a period of intense Philistine oppression over Israel, spanning forty years, a consequence of Israel's repeated sin and idolatry. It immediately follows the initial, astonishing angelic appearance to Manoah's barren wife, who had conveyed the message of conceiving a son destined to begin Israel's deliverance. Manoah, upon hearing the news indirectly from his wife, requests the divine messenger to reappear and give further instruction. This verse is the angel's direct response to Manoah, now given back to the wife, reinforcing the supernatural origin of the child and specifying the detailed conditions of his pre-natal and lifelong consecration as a Nazirite. The narrative highlights divine initiative and grace even in Israel's darkest hours.
Judges 13 7 Word analysis
- But he said to me,: "He" refers to the Malakh Yahweh, the Angel of the LORD, often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. The phrase emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the message, distinguishing it from human counsel.
- 'Behold,: (Heb. hinneh) An emphatic interjection meaning "look," "see," or "indeed." It draws immediate attention to the crucial nature and certainty of the ensuing revelation. It signifies something truly extraordinary or about to happen.
- you shall conceive: (Heb. harah) The verb denotes becoming pregnant. This reiterates the miracle, confirming the earlier angelic announcement and directly addressing the wife's previously barren condition. It underscores divine enablement for human impossibility.
- and bear a son.:: Confirms the gender and purpose of the child, crucial for Israelite lineage and the promise of a deliverer.
- And now: Indicates a shift to immediate, prescriptive instructions. The fulfillment of the promise is contingent on obedience to these specific divine commands.
- you shall drink no wine: (Heb. yayin) Refers to fermented grape juice. This is a primary prohibition of the Nazirite vow, signifying separation from worldly pleasure and intoxicating influence, focusing on purity.
- or strong drink,: (Heb. shekar) A broader term for any intoxicating beverage, likely derived from fruits other than grapes, or a potent form of grape wine. Its inclusion emphasizes total abstinence from all intoxicants, a core aspect of Nazirite dedication to God.
- nor eat anything unclean,: (Heb. tame') Pertains to food forbidden by Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11). This highlights the general purity and sanctity required for the mother, whose body is to be a consecrated vessel for the Nazirite child. It ensures the child is set apart from any defilement from the very earliest stages.
- for the child: (Heb. yeled) Emphasizes the unborn infant's immediate and central role in the divine plan and vow, not merely the mother's obedience.
- shall be a Nazirite: (Heb. nazir) From the root meaning "to separate" or "to consecrate." A person under a special vow of separation to God, with specific rules including abstinence from grape products, not cutting hair, and avoiding contact with dead bodies. This points to Samson's special, divinely ordained purpose.
- to God: (Heb. l'Elohim) Specifies the purpose and object of the Nazirite vow: for and unto God. This clarifies that Samson's unique separation is for divine service and worship, not personal piety or a human agenda.
- from the womb: (Heb. min ha'beten) Stresses the prenatal nature of Samson's consecration. His call and dedication were active even before his birth, indicating God's sovereign election and specific plan for his life from its earliest moments.
- even to the day of his death.: Emphasizes the lifelong duration of Samson's Nazirite vow, making him exceptional, as typical Nazirite vows were temporary (Num 6:4). This highlights the permanence and uniqueness of his divine calling, setting him apart for his entire existence as a vessel for God's work.
Judges 13 7 Bonus section
The instructions in Judges 13:7 given to Manoah's wife regarding her abstinence reflect the idea that the child inherits a state of separation from the mother during gestation. The mother's consecrated state impacts the child's destiny, embodying a principle of pre-natal spiritual influence. This passage presents the Malakh Yahweh in a teaching role, instructing the woman directly and confirming Manoah's understanding later. The angel's specific mention of "from the womb even to the day of his death" indicates an unprecedented and rare lifelong Nazirite status for Samson, only seen by implication for Samuel. This pre-designation of a lifelong vow highlights the sovereign hand of God in selecting and preparing specific individuals for significant redemptive tasks, irrespective of the prevailing spiritual decline around them. The unique Nazirite status of Samson also sets him apart as a foreshadowing figure of a unique deliverer.
Judges 13 7 Commentary
Judges 13:7 underscores God's persistent grace and proactive intervention in Israel's darkest hours, selecting and consecrating a deliverer, Samson, even before his birth. The meticulous divine instructions, particularly the Nazirite vows, extend to the pregnant mother, emphasizing the profound sacredness and pre-natal dedication of the child. This detailed divine plan contrasts sharply with Israel's widespread apostasy, illustrating God's sovereignty over life, His specific purposes for chosen individuals, and the demanding standard of holiness required for those specially set apart for Him. Samson's lifelong Nazirite vow symbolizes complete separation for divine service and signifies God's personal ownership and anointing for the task of beginning Israel's deliverance.