But his 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 13:23KJV
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Judges 13:23 (KJV)

What does Judges 13:23 mean?

Judges 13:23 shows Manoah’s wife reassuring her husband that God does not intend to kill them, since He accepted their offerings and revealed important things to them. She reasons that God’s actions—accepting their sacrifices and sharing His plans—are signs of favor, not judgment.

In this verse, Manoah’s wife is speaking to Manoah after they have seen the angel of the LORD. Manoah fears they will die because they have seen God, but his wife points out that God would not have accepted their burnt and grain offerings or shared these revelations if He meant them harm. Her calm reasoning highlights her faith and understanding of God’s character in the midst of a miraculous encounter.

The Hebrew behind Judges 13:23

  • יְהוָה (YHWH, transliterated as "Yahweh" or "the LORD"): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The use of this name emphasizes that the encounter was with the covenant God of Israel, not just any divine being.
  • עֹלָה (ʿolah, "burnt offering") and מִנְחָה (minchah, "meat/grain offering"): These words refer to specific types of sacrifices in Israelite worship. Mentioning both highlights that God accepted their worship in the proper way, reinforcing the idea that He is not angry with them.
  • רָצָה (ratsah, "were pleased"): This word means to take pleasure in or be favorable toward. Manoah’s wife uses it to argue that God’s acceptance of their offerings shows His goodwill.

Why Judges 13:23 matters

  • This verse clears up the common fear in the ancient world that seeing God would automatically mean death, showing that God’s acceptance and revelation can be signs of grace.
  • Manoah’s wife’s reasoning emphasizes faith and discernment, providing a contrast to Manoah’s fear and highlighting the importance of understanding God’s character.
  • The verse connects to the wider story of Samson’s birth, showing that God’s plans for deliverance are unfolding with care and intentional communication, not with threats or punishment.

Where else these words appear

“If” Hebrew H3863 · used in 21 verses

  • Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
  • Numbers 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
  • Job 6:2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

“these” Hebrew H2063 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • Leviticus 16:3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
  • 1 Kings 3:23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

“pleased” Hebrew H2654 · used in 71 verses

  • Genesis 34:19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.
  • Job 21:14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
  • Song of Solomon 2:7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.