And when the angel of the LORD did not appear again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it had been the angel of the LORD. And when the angel of the LORDThe phrase "angel of the LORD" is significant throughout the Old Testament, often indicating a theophany, or a visible manifestation of God to humans. In Hebrew, "mal'ak YHWH" can be translated as "messenger of Yahweh," suggesting a divine envoy with a specific mission. This angel is not merely a created being but is often understood to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, known as a Christophany. This interpretation is supported by the reverence and worship given to the angel, which would be inappropriate for a mere angelic being. did not appear again
The cessation of the angel's appearances signifies the completion of his mission. In the context of Judges 13, the angel's role was to announce the birth of Samson, a deliverer for Israel. The phrase underscores the finality and sufficiency of God's message. Historically, divine appearances were rare and significant, marking pivotal moments in Israel's history. The absence of further appearances emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience to the divine message already given. to Manoah and his wife
Manoah and his wife are central figures in this narrative, chosen by God to be the parents of Samson. Their inclusion highlights God's sovereign choice and grace, as they were ordinary people selected for an extraordinary purpose. The mention of both Manoah and his wife underscores the partnership in receiving and responding to God's revelation. In a broader biblical context, this reflects the importance of family and unity in fulfilling God's purposes. Manoah realized
The realization by Manoah indicates a moment of spiritual awakening and understanding. The Hebrew root "yada" implies a deep, experiential knowledge. This moment of realization is crucial, as it marks a transition from doubt or misunderstanding to faith and recognition of God's presence and purpose. It serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual discernment and the need to be attentive to God's workings in our lives. that it was the angel of the LORD
This final recognition confirms the divine nature of the visitor. The repetition of "angel of the LORD" reinforces the identity and authority of the messenger. In the broader scriptural context, recognizing God's presence often leads to worship, obedience, and transformation. For Manoah and his wife, this realization would have brought both awe and responsibility, knowing they were part of God's redemptive plan for Israel. This acknowledgment serves as an inspiration for believers to seek and recognize God's hand in their own lives, trusting in His divine plan and timing. Persons / Places / Events 1. ManoahThe father of Samson, Manoah is a Danite who, along with his wife, receives a divine promise of a son who will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. 2. Manoah's WifeThough unnamed in the text, she is the mother of Samson. She is initially visited by the Angel of the LORD and receives the prophecy of Samson's birth. 3. The Angel of the LORDA divine messenger who appears to Manoah and his wife, delivering the promise of Samson's birth and instructing them on how to raise him as a Nazirite. 4. ZorahThe town in the territory of Dan where Manoah and his wife live. 5. The OfferingManoah offers a burnt offering to the LORD, during which the Angel of the LORD ascends in the flame, confirming the divine nature of the message. Teaching Points Divine EncountersRecognize that God often reveals Himself in unexpected ways and through unexpected people. Be open to His presence in your daily life. Faith and ObedienceManoah and his wife demonstrate faith by preparing the offering and following the Angel's instructions. Trust and obey God's guidance even when the path is unclear. God's SovereigntyThe Angel's ascension in the flame signifies God's control over nature and His plans. Rest in the assurance that God is sovereign over your circumstances. Miraculous BirthsThe birth of Samson, like other miraculous births in the Bible, points to God's power to bring about His purposes through human history. Reflect on how God can use your life for His purposes. Worship and ReverenceManoah's response to the divine encounter was worship. Cultivate a heart of worship and reverence for God in all aspects of life. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the appearance of the Angel of the LORD to Manoah and his wife challenge or affirm your understanding of divine encounters today? 2. In what ways can you demonstrate faith and obedience in your current life situation, as Manoah and his wife did? 3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's sovereignty in your life. How did it impact your faith journey? 4. How do the miraculous births in the Bible, including Samson's, encourage you to trust in God's plans for your life? 5. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a heart of worship and reverence for God in your daily routine? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 16The appearance of the Angel of the LORD to Hagar parallels the divine encounter with Manoah's wife, emphasizing God's intervention in human affairs. Exodus 3The burning bush where God speaks to Moses is similar to the divine presence in the flame of Manoah's offering, highlighting God's holiness and power. Luke 1The announcement of John the Baptist's birth to Zechariah and Elizabeth mirrors the announcement to Manoah and his wife, both involving miraculous births and divine missions. People Dan, Danites, Manoah, SamsonPlaces Eshtaol, Mahaneh-dan, Pirathon, ZorahTopics Added, Angel, Appear, Appeared, Clear, Manoah, Mano'ah, Messenger, Realized, WifeDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 13:2-23 8474 seeing God Judges 13:2-25 5652 babies Judges 13:3-22 1511 Trinity, relationships in
5976 visiting Judges 13:19-22 4140 angel of the Lord Judges 13:20-21 4195 spirits Judges 13:20-22 1045 God, glory of
8138 monotheism Library The Wonderful.
Isaiah ix:6. HIS name shall be called "Wonderful" (Isaiah ix:6). And long before Isaiah had uttered this divine prediction the angel of the Lord had announced his name to be Wonderful. As such He appeared to Manoah. And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor. And the angel of Jehovah said unto Him "why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Wonderful" (margin, Judges xiii:17-18). This angel of Jehovah, the Person who …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of GloryOf the Name of God
Exod. iii. 13, 14.--"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." We are now about this question, What God is. But who can answer it? Or, if answered, who can understand it? It should astonish us in …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Characters and Names of Messiah
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. S uch was the triumphant exultation of the Old Testament Church! Their noblest hopes were founded upon the promise of MESSIAH; their most sublime songs were derived from the prospect of His Advent. By faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, they considered the gracious declarations …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
In order accurately to understand the position of woman in Israel, it is only necessary carefully to peruse the New Testament. The picture of social life there presented gives a full view of the place which she held in private and in public life. Here we do not find that separation, so common among Orientals at all times, but a woman mingles freely with others both at home and abroad. So far from suffering under social inferiority, she takes influential and often leading part in all movements, specially …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life The Incarnation.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that hath been made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was …
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews The Doctrine of God
I. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: (Vs. Atheism). 1. ASSUMED BY THE SCRIPTURES. 2. PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. a) Universal belief in the Existence of God. b) Cosmological:--Argument from Cause. c) Teleological:--Argument from Design. d) Ontological:--Argument from Being. e) Anthropological:--Moral Argument. f) Argument from Congruity. g) Argument from Scripture. II. THE NATURE OF GOD: (Vs. Agnosticism) 1. THE SPIRITUALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Materialism). 2. THE PERSONALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Pantheism). 3. THE UNITY …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his Adherents, in this Respect, in Tyrannically Oppressing and Destroying Souls.
1. The power of the Church in enacting laws. This made a source of human traditions. Impiety of these traditions. 2. Many of the Papistical traditions not only difficult, but impossible to be observed. 3. That the question may be more conveniently explained, nature of conscience must be defined. 4. Definition of conscience explained. Examples in illustration of the definition. 5. Paul's doctrine of submission to magistrates for conscience sake, gives no countenance to the Popish doctrine of the obligation …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.
(at Jerusalem. Probably b.c. 6.) ^C Luke I. 5-25. ^c 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa [a Jewish proselyte, an Idumæan or Edomite by birth, founder of the Herodian family, king of Judæa from b.c. 40 to a.d. 4, made such by the Roman Senate on the recommendation of Mark Antony and Octavius Cæsar], a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course [David divided the priests into twenty-four bodies or courses, each course serving in rotation one week in the temple …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 13:21 NIVJudges 13:21 NLTJudges 13:21 ESVJudges 13:21 NASBJudges 13:21 KJV
Judges 13:21 Commentaries
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