And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
JUDGES 13:9KJVWhat does Judges 13:9 mean?
Judges 13:9 describes God listening to Manoah’s request and sending the angel of God again to Manoah’s wife while she was alone in the field, with Manoah not present. The verse highlights that God responded directly to Manoah’s prayer, but the angel appeared to the woman rather than to both of them together.
The setting is the story of Samson’s parents. Manoah had asked God for further guidance after his wife was first visited by the angel. In this verse, God (the Hebrew word is אֱלֹהִים, Elohim) listens to Manoah’s voice and sends the angel (מַלְאָךְ, mal’akh) again, but only the woman sees him at first. This sets up the next part of the story, where Manoah will meet the angel himself.
The Hebrew behind Judges 13:9
- אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): This is the common Hebrew word for God, emphasizing God’s power and authority in responding to Manoah’s prayer.
- שָׁמַע (shama’, “hearkened”): This word means to listen attentively or respond, showing that God is actively engaged with Manoah’s request, not just passively hearing.
- קוֹל (qol, “voice”): Refers to Manoah’s spoken prayer or plea, highlighting the personal nature of his request to God.
- מַלְאָךְ (mal’akh, “angel”): This word means “messenger,” and in this context, it refers to a supernatural messenger sent by God, not just a human messenger.
Why Judges 13:9 matters
- This verse emphasizes that God hears and responds to sincere prayer, even when the answer comes in an unexpected way.
- The detail that the angel appears again to the woman, not Manoah, highlights her important role in the story and sets up further interaction between the angel and both parents.
- This moment connects to the larger narrative of Samson’s birth, showing God’s direct involvement and guidance in raising up a deliverer for Israel.