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Verse

Judges 13:18

ESV And the angel of the Lord said to him, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?"
NIV He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding. "
NASB But the angel of the Lord said to him, 'Why do you ask my name, for it is wonderful?'
CSB "Why do you ask my name," the angel of the Lord asked him, "since it is beyond understanding."
NLT Why do you ask my name?' the angel of the Lord replied. 'It is too wonderful for you to understand.'
KJV And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
NKJV And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”

What does Judges 13:18 mean?

This is one part of an extraordinary conversation. Manoah seems to believe the "man" to whom he speaks is an extraordinary human being, perhaps a prophet of God (Judges 13:8–11). He is convinced the man's message is true: that he and his wife will have a special son together (Judges 13:2–7). He has offered the stranger a meal, which has been declined, and has now asked the stranger His name so that they can honor Him when their son is born (Judges 13:12–17).

The "man" does not give a name, and likely for a good reason. When Moses heard from God, out of a burning bush, the Lord identified Himself (Exodus 3:14). In that encounter, God did not give a personal name, but used the expression e'heyeh aser' e'heyeh, literally "I am who I am." Now, Manoah and his wife are speaking with "the angel of the LORD," almost certainly God Himself in some temporary form. When asked to identify Himself (Judges 13:17), no name is given. In fact, the name of this Being is beyond their comprehension (Isaiah 55:8–9).

Scripture doesn't indicate if Manoah is catching on to the true, otherworldly identity of this stranger. If he does not realize this, yet, he will very soon (Judges 13:20–21).
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