Judges 13:18 - Printer Friendly

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?”

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).

Judges 13:8–25 explains how Manoah learned of his wife's interaction with a messenger from God. He prays for more understanding, so he can properly fulfill his obligations. The angel of the Lord appears, again, and repeats his instructions. The child is to be consecrated as a Nazirite for his entire life. Manoah prepares a sacrifice, and the angel disappears into the flames. This further confirms the truth of the message. Manoah and his wife name their child Samson, who shows signs of blessing and the influence of God's Spirit from an early age.

The Lord appoints another deliverer for Israel, this time in response to oppression under the Philistines. An impressive stranger appears to Manoah and his wife, announcing they will have a son. This child is to be set apart as a Nazarite from before birth until death. His mother must not drink wine or strong drink or eat any unclean thing. This visitor then disappears into the flames of a burnt offering. The couple realizes they have seen a manifestation of Yahweh, Himself. Samson is born and soon shows signs of God's influence.

After Jephthah's rescue (Judges 11—12) this passage begins with another generation sinning against God. As is the pattern of the book of Judges, this leads to oppression. Israel is subject to forty years of misery under the Philistines. God appears to the wife of Manoah in the territory of Dan. She is commanded to consecrate her unborn son as a Nazarite, and that this child will begin to save Israel from the Philistines. Samson is born and is blessed by God. This is as pure as Samson's life will be—the rest of his story is an awkward, scandalous example of the Lord using flawed people to accomplish His great purposes.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).