Lexical Summary Manoach: Manoah Original Word: מָנוֹחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Manoah The same as manowach; rest; Manoach, an Israelite -- Manoah. see HEBREW manowach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nuach Definition father of Samson NASB Translation Manoah (18). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. מָנוֺחַ18 proper name, masculine father of Samson Judges 13:2,8 15t. Judges 13; Judges 16:31, ᵐ5 Μανωε. Topical Lexicon Identity and Family Context Manoah was a Danite from the town of Zorah in the Shephelah of Judah. Scripture introduces him as the husband of a barren woman whom the Angel of the LORD visited, promising a son who would “begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). Together, Manoah and his unnamed wife became the parents of Samson. Setting in the Book of Judges Manoah appears exclusively in Judges 13–16, during Israel’s cyclical decline marked by idolatry, oppression, and periodic deliverance. His account unfolds near the end of the Judges era, when Philistine domination weighed heavily on the tribes along the coastal plain and foothills. Key Scenes Involving Manoah 1. First announcement to Manoah’s wife (Judges 13:2–7). Faith, Prayer, and the Angel of the LORD Manoah’s narrative is one of earnest prayer answered by divine revelation. His petition for further instruction models the humility of a parent seeking God’s guidance. The Angel of the LORD—whom Scripture presents not merely as an emissary but as a visible manifestation of Yahweh—addresses Manoah’s concerns, thereby affirming that God equips those He calls. Sacrificial Worship and Theophany Manoah’s instinct to provide food for the mysterious visitor was redirected toward an offering, highlighting the priority of worship over hospitality when encountering the divine. The miraculous ascent of the Angel in the flame authenticated the encounter, evoked awe, and reinforced the holiness of God. Manoah’s fear of death reflects Israel’s conviction that seeing God meant certain demise (Exodus 33:20), yet the preservation of the couple underscored divine grace. Parental Stewardship of a Nazarite The stipulations communicated to Manoah and his wife—abstinence from wine, unclean food, and never cutting the child’s hair (Judges 13:4–5, 13–14)—placed lifelong Nazarite obligations upon Samson. The instructions stress parental responsibility: godly upbringing begins before birth, demands obedience to revealed standards, and influences national destiny. Lessons for Contemporary Believers • Prayer for guidance is met by God’s self-disclosure. Connections in Redemptive History The Angel of the LORD episode anticipates later theophanies culminating in the incarnation. Samson’s miraculous birth, announced by an angel, parallels Isaac, Samuel, and ultimately Jesus Christ, pointing to God’s pattern of raising deliverers through divine promise. Manoah’s role underscores the sovereignty of God in choosing unlikely vessels to further His plan of salvation. Later Mentions and Legacy After the burial notice in Judges 16:31, Scripture records no further activity by Manoah. His tomb, however, became the resting place of Samson, symbolizing the connection between father and son in Israel’s collective memory. Jewish tradition cites Manoah among righteous individuals who experienced direct angelic visitation, while Christian commentators often spotlight his prayer life as exemplary. Summary of References All eighteen occurrences of Manoah’s name cluster in Judges 13:2–22 and Judges 16:31, each reinforcing his identity as Samson’s father, a man of prayer, and a participant in a decisive theophany that shaped Israel’s deliverance story. Forms and Transliterations וּמָנ֤וֹחַ וּמָנ֥וֹחַ ומנוח מָנ֑וֹחַ מָנ֔וֹחַ מָנ֖וֹחַ מָנ֗וֹחַ מָנ֛וֹחַ מָנ֜וֹחַ מָנ֣וֹחַ מנוח mā·nō·w·aḥ maNoach mānōwaḥ ū·mā·nō·w·aḥ umaNoach ūmānōwaḥLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 13:2 HEB: הַדָּנִ֖י וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מָנ֑וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּ֥וֹ עֲקָרָ֖ה NAS: whose name was Manoah; and his wife KJV: whose name [was] Manoah; and his wife INT: of the Danites name was Manoah and his wife was barren Judges 13:8 Judges 13:9 Judges 13:9 Judges 13:11 Judges 13:12 Judges 13:13 Judges 13:15 Judges 13:16 Judges 13:16 Judges 13:17 Judges 13:19 Judges 13:19 Judges 13:20 Judges 13:21 Judges 13:21 Judges 13:22 Judges 16:31 18 Occurrences |
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