Judges 13:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou [art] barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The angel of ADONAI appeared to the woman and said to her, "Listen! You are barren, you haven't had a child, but you will conceive and bear a son.

Berean Standard Bible:

The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.

American Standard Version:

And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not; but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the angel^{H4397} of the LORD^{H3068} appeared^{H7200} unto the woman^{H802}, and said^{H559} unto her, Behold now, thou art barren^{H6135}, and bearest^{H3205} not: but thou shalt conceive^{H2029}, and bear^{H3205} a son^{H1121}.

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Commentary for Judges 13:3

Judges 13:3 is part of the narrative concerning the birth of Samson, a figure known for his extraordinary strength and role as a judge in Israel. The verse is set during a period when the Israelites were under the oppressive rule of the Philistines, and God was about to raise up a deliverer for them. In this context, the angel of the LORD, a figure often associated with divine manifestation and communication in the Old Testament, appears to Samson's future mother, who is unnamed in this verse.

The themes present in this verse include divine intervention, promise, and the reversal of barrenness. The angel's message to the woman addresses her barrenness, a condition that in the ancient world carried significant social stigma and personal anguish. The angel's announcement that she will conceive and bear a son is a direct intervention by God in her life, signaling a turning point not only for her but also for the nation of Israel. This promise of a son who would be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth (as indicated in subsequent verses) underscores the special role this child, Samson, would play in God's redemptive plan for His people.

Historically, this event occurs within the cyclical pattern of the book of Judges, where the Israelites repeatedly fall into sin, suffer under foreign oppression, cry out to God, and are delivered by a judge whom God raises up. Samson's birth narrative echoes other biblical accounts of miraculous births to barren women (such as Sarah, Rebekah, and Hannah), reinforcing the theme of God's power to fulfill His promises against all odds and to bring hope out of despair. This verse sets the stage for the story of Samson, whose life, despite its complexities and flaws, demonstrates God's sovereignty in using imperfect instruments for His divine purposes.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4397
   There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֲלְאָךְ
   Transliteration: mălʼâk
   Pronunciation: mal-awk'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher); ambassador, angel, king, messenger.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
4. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
5. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6135
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָקָר
   Transliteration: ʻâqâr
   Pronunciation: aw-kawr'
   Description: from עָקַר; sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs); ([idiom] male or female) barren (woman).
   
7. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
8. Strong's Number: H2029
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָרָה
   Transliteration: hârâh
   Pronunciation: haw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively); been, be with child, conceive, progenitor.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.