Judges 13:7

The angel’s message to Samson’s mother highlights the special calling placed on this soon-to-be child. In the text we read, *“But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”* (v.7) These words come during the era of the judges in Israel’s history, roughly between 1370 BC and 1050 BC, a tumultuous time before Israel had kings. This divine announcement reveals that Samson’s life would be dedicated to God through the Nazirite vow, meaning he was to refrain from drinking wine, touching the dead, and cutting his hair (Numbers 6:2-5 NASB-95). Although the name of Samson’s mother is not recorded in Scripture, she and her husband Manoah lived in Zorah, a town within the territory of the tribe of Dan on the western part of ancient Israel.

By instructing Samson’s mother to abstain from wine, strong drink, and unclean foods, the angel signified a separation unto God that began even before Samson’s birth. The verse emphasizes, *“for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death,”* (v.7) highlighting a lifelong devotion that foreshadows other Scripture passages where a child is set apart for godly service (Luke 1:15 NASB-95). During Israel’s cycle of sin, oppression, and deliverance recounted in the Book of Judges, God often raised up leaders with unique callings. Samson would become one of these judges, equipped to contend with Israel’s enemies and remind the people of God’s power and faithfulness.

Though Samson struggled with moral failures later in life, this verse points to the extraordinary start of his story and the purpose God had for him. The angel conveyed a holy responsibility that Samson’s mother and father were to steward, reminding believers of the importance God places on the upbringing and dedication of each new generation. Samson’s special status also foreshadows the way God often uses unexpected individuals to accomplish His plans, ultimately finding its fulfillment in Christ, who came as the perfect deliverer (Galatians 4:4-5 NASB-95).

Samson’s birth and Nazirite vow set the groundwork for his role as a deliverer of Israel.