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 13:7KJVWhat does Judges 13:7 mean?
Judges 13:7 records a message given to Manoah’s wife, telling her she will have a son and instructing her not to drink wine or strong drink or eat anything unclean, because the child will be dedicated as a Nazarite to God from before birth until death. This verse highlights the special instructions and lifelong dedication required for the child, who will be set apart for God’s purposes.
In the story, Manoah’s wife is explaining to her husband what a “man of God” (later revealed as an angel) told her. The situation is unique because the child, Samson, is to be a Nazarite (נָזִיר, nazir), meaning he will follow special vows of separation from birth. The instructions about not drinking wine (יַיִן, yayin) or strong drink (שֵׁכָר, shekhar), and not eating anything unclean (טָמֵא, tame), show the seriousness of this dedication and set the stage for Samson’s unusual role in Israel’s history.
The Hebrew behind Judges 13:7
- נָזִיר (nazir) — “Nazarite”: This word means someone who is set apart or consecrated, often by special vows that include avoiding wine, strong drink, and unclean things. Here, the dedication begins even before birth, which is rare in the Bible.
- יַיִן (yayin) and שֵׁכָר (shekhar) — “wine” and “strong drink”: The command to avoid both regular wine and stronger alcoholic beverages emphasizes the strictness of the Nazarite vow.
- טָמֵא (tame) — “unclean”: The instruction not to eat anything unclean underlines the importance of ritual purity for both the mother and the child, reinforcing the idea of being set apart for God.
Why Judges 13:7 matters
- Judges 13:7 clarifies that Samson’s Nazarite status is not a personal choice but a lifelong calling given by God, starting even before his birth.
- The verse shows that the mother’s behavior during pregnancy is directly connected to the child’s spiritual role, highlighting the seriousness of the vow.
- This sets up the rest of Samson’s story, where his unique calling and the requirements of the Nazarite vow will shape his life and actions in dramatic ways.