Judges 13:19
*“So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it on the rock to the LORD, and He performed wonders while Manoah and his wife looked on.” (v.19)* In this passage, Manoah, who lived during the time of the Judges (approximately the 11th century BC), demonstrates reverence by preparing a sacrifice in the manner God prescribed for Israel. Manoah was from the tribe of Dan and the hometown commonly associated with him is near Zorah, a settlement located in the foothills of the region assigned to Dan. He and his wife, who would soon become the parents of Samson, act in obedience and worship, setting the stage for a miraculous event. By placing the offering on the rock, a place of solemn dedication, Manoah shows his commitment to honoring the LORD with what he has, which includes the young goat and the grain offering.
When the text says, *“and He performed wonders while Manoah and his wife looked on” (v.19)*, it highlights God’s direct involvement in the moment. Throughout the Old Testament, God reveals Himself in tangible ways, sometimes through an Angel of the LORD, sometimes through divine fire or extraordinary signs. Here, the remarkable wonders likely include the supernatural display affirming that the heavenly messenger was truly sent by God. The significance of this miracle ties into the larger narrative of Samson’s birth being an act of God’s providence. This mirrors other biblical accounts of God giving miraculous proofs, such as Gideon’s offering in Judges 6, and it foreshadows how God also confirmed future pronouncements in the New Testament, like the announcement of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11–20, NASB-95).
This verse underscores how worship, coupled with faith, invites a deeper revelation of God’s power. Manoah’s story is woven into the ongoing history of Israel’s spiritual leaders, culminating in Samson, who would grow to be a judge over Israel and play a pivotal role as God’s deliverer for his generation (Judges 13–16, NASB-95). Seen from a broader perspective, Israel’s cycle of defeat, repentance, and deliverance throughout the Book of Judges points ahead to the ultimate Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who fulfills the promises of redemption for all humanity (Galatians 3:13, NASB-95).
Manoah’s faithful sacrifice and God’s wondrous sign show that the LORD’s power accompanies obedience.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Deuteronomy 17:8-13 meaning. Moses advises local judges to appeal to the Levitical priests or to the judge in office at the central sanctuary in order to seek guidance when some cases seem too difficult for them to handle.
- Genesis 19:1-3 meaning. Two angels appear to Lot in Sodom. Lot urges them to spend the night in his house and he prepares a feast for them.
- Deuteronomy 25:17-19 meaning. Moses urged the Israelites to remember to wipe out the Amalekites when they are settled in the Promised Land. This was in response to the brutality the Amalekites showed when they attacked the Israelites during the exodus from Egypt.