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 13:16KJV
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Judges 13:16 (KJV)

What does Judges 13:16 mean?

Judges 13:16 means that the angel of the LORD refused Manoah’s offer to eat food, instead instructing him that any offering should be made to the LORD, not to the angel himself. Manoah did not realize that he was speaking to a divine messenger and not just an ordinary man.

In this verse, the angel (a messenger from God) is speaking directly to Manoah, who is Samson’s father. Manoah had offered hospitality, but the angel made it clear that he would not accept a meal and redirected Manoah’s attention to worshiping the LORD (using the special name for God, יהוה / YHWH). This sets up the realization that Manoah is in the presence of someone far greater than he first thought.

The Hebrew behind Judges 13:16

  • "angel" (מַלְאָךְ / mal’akh): This word means "messenger" and is used here to describe a supernatural being sent by God, not just a human messenger. The verse emphasizes that Manoah did not recognize the true identity of his visitor.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה / YHWH): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, showing that the offering should be directed to God alone, not to the angel.
  • "offer" (עָלָה / ‘alah) and "offering" (עֹלָה / ‘olah): These words refer to the act of making a burnt offering, a sacrifice completely consumed by fire, which was a way to honor and worship God.

Why Judges 13:16 matters

  • This verse clarifies that true worship and offerings belong to God alone, not to His messengers, which helps prevent confusion between God and those He sends.
  • The verse highlights Manoah’s lack of understanding about the angel’s true identity, setting up the dramatic revelation that follows in the story.
  • The focus on offering to the LORD (YHWH) ties this moment into the larger biblical theme of exclusive devotion to God, not to intermediaries or spiritual beings.

Where else these words appear

“Manoah” Hebrew H4495 · used in 14 verses

  • Judges 13:2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
  • Judges 13:12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
  • Judges 13:19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

“if” Hebrew H518 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
  • Numbers 14:35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
  • 2 Kings 9:35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.

“detain” Hebrew H6113 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
  • 1 Kings 14:10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.