📖 Judges — Chapter 13 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Judges 13:1 And the children of Israel RTdid evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
Judges 13:2 And there was a certain man of RZorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
Judges 13:3 And Rthe angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
Judges 13:4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and Rdrink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
Judges 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall Rbegin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
Judges 13:6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, RA man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
Judges 13:7 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 13:8 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and Rteach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
Judges 13:9 And God Rhearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
Judges 13:10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, RBehold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
Judges 13:11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
Judges 13:12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. RTHow shall we order the child, and Thow shall we do unto him?
Judges 13:13 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
Judges 13:14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: Rall that I commanded her let her observe.
Judges 13:15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, Rlet us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid Tfor thee.
Judges 13:16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
Judges 13:17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
Judges 13:18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, RWhy askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Tsecret?
Judges 13:19 So Manoah Rtook a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
Judges 13:20 For it came to pass, Rwhen the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
Judges 13:21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah Rknew that he was an angel of the LORD.
Judges 13:22 And Manoah said unto his wife, RWe shall surely die, because we have seen God.
Judges 13:23 But Rhis wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.
Judges 13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name RSamson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
Judges 13:25 And Rthe Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in Tthe camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 13:1–7 — Samson's birth is announced
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
During Philistine oppression, an angel tells Manoah's childless wife she will bear a son. He is to be a Nazarite from the womb and will begin Israel's deliverance. The instructions are part of this particular calling; they are not a universal diet instruction for all parents.
Key Truth: Samson's calling begins with God's initiative before his birth.
Check What You Remember
1. How many years of Philistine domination are named? (Judges 13:1)
Find it in Judges 13:1 (KJV).
2. What was the father's name? (Judges 13:2)
Find it in Judges 13:2 (KJV).
3. What was the child to be from the womb? (Judges 13:5)
Find it in Judges 13:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 13:8–14 — Manoah asks how to care for the child
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Manoah asks the LORD to send the messenger again to teach them. God hears, and the angel returns to his wife. Manoah's question about raising the child is answered by repeating the instructions already given to her.
Key Truth: Seeking instruction includes attending to what God has already said.
Check What You Remember
1. Whom did Manoah ask to send the messenger again? (Judges 13:8)
Find it in Judges 13:8 (KJV).
2. Who ran to tell Manoah the messenger had returned? (Judges 13:10)
Find it in Judges 13:10 (KJV).
3. Which drinks were Manoah's wife told not to drink? (Judges 13:14)
Find it in Judges 13:14 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 13:15–25 — The offering, reassurance, and Samson's birth
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The angel directs the offering to the LORD and ascends in its flame. Manoah fears death, but his wife reasons from God's accepted offering and promise. She bears Samson, whom the LORD blesses, and the Spirit begins to move him.
Key Truth: Manoah's wife uses God's revealed purpose to answer fearful conclusions.
Check What You Remember
1. To whom should the burnt offering be offered? (Judges 13:16)
Find it in Judges 13:16 (KJV).
2. In what did the angel ascend? (Judges 13:20)
Find it in Judges 13:20 (KJV).
3. What name was given to the son? (Judges 13:24)
Find it in Judges 13:24 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Numbers 6:2 — The Nazarite law provides background to Samson's special consecration.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How does Manoah's wife answer his fear in verse 23? Notice the reasons she gives from what the LORD has done and said.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the promised child’s calling relate to the Philistines?
2. What purpose does Manoah give for asking the messenger to return?
3. How does the messenger redirect Manoah’s offer?
4. What sight leads Manoah and his wife to fall on their faces?
5. How does Manoah’s wife answer his fear that they will die?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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