Judges 13:6
In Judges 13:6, the future mother of Samson returns from her encounter with a heavenly messenger and gives an account to her husband Manoah, an Israelite man living during the era of the judges (approximately 1375–1050 BC). She recounts, *“A man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.” (v.6)* This region, known as Zorah, lay in the territory belonging to the Israelite tribe of Dan, situated west of Jerusalem and near Philistine territory. Her reference to “a man of God” reveals her awe and uncertainty about this extraordinary encounter, underscoring how profoundly this visitation impacted her faith and anticipation for what lay ahead.
When she says *“his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome” (v.6)*, it conveys both fear and admiration. The fact that she never inquired about his origins or name suggests she was overwhelmed by a holy presence, leaving her to focus strictly on the divine message itself. This parallels other moments in Scripture where the presence of heavenly messengers elicits reverent awe and immediate obedience (Luke 1:11–17, NASB-95). Although not mentioned by name in this verse, Manoah’s wife emerges here as a pivotal figure who will soon receive instructions for raising the deliverer Samson.
Her statement, *“And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.” (v.6)* draws attention to the angel’s purposeful secrecy and points ahead to God’s unfolding plan. In the broader timeline of Israel’s history, this moment foreshadows the supernatural birth announcements found elsewhere in Scripture—ultimately culminating in the miraculous birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26–38, NASB-95). Although the heavenly messenger’s exact identity remains elusive at this juncture, his “awesome” appearance highlights that Israel’s Redeemer is moving again to raise up a deliverer, showing the faithful character of God even in times of national distress.
This verse highlights the awe-inspiring nature of God’s intervention in human affairs.
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:
- Romans 13:6-7 meaning. Obeying the law means paying our taxes. We need to pay what we owe to those in charge of us, both money and respect.
- Judges 5:6-8 meaning. The second segment of the song to the Lord in Judges 5 reflects the turmoil and oppression that Israel faced before the victory led by Deborah and Barak. The people had been living in fear and desolation. Yet, through Deborah’s faithfulness, God began to restore Israel, leading to the defeat of their enemies.
- 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.