Judges 13:2

KJV

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name [was] Manoah; and his wife [was] barren, and bare not.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there was a certain {H259} man {H376} of Zorah {H6881}, of the family {H4940} of the Danites {H1839}, whose name {H8034} was Manoah {H4495}; and his wife {H802} was barren {H6135}, and bare {H3205} not.

Complete Jewish Bible

There was a man from Tzor'ah from the family of Dan, whose name was Manoach; his wife was barren, childless.

Berean Standard Bible

Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children.

American Standard Version

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 13:2 introduces Manoah, a man from the Danite tribe residing in Zorah, alongside his wife, whose barrenness is explicitly stated. This seemingly simple detail is profoundly significant, immediately signaling that the impending birth of their son, Samson, will be a miraculous act of divine intervention rather than a natural occurrence. The verse masterfully sets the stage for God's sovereign plan to raise a deliverer for Israel during a period of intense Philistine oppression, highlighting His unique ability to work through human impossibility to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 13 initiates the final major narrative cycle within the Book of Judges, focusing on the enigmatic figure of Samson. This chapter immediately follows a protracted period of renewed Israelite apostasy and subsequent twenty-year oppression by the Philistines, as vividly described in [Judges 10:6-16](/judges/10-6-16 "Judges 10:6-16 - Israel's Apostasy and Oppression"). The book's overarching cyclical pattern of Israel's disobedience, divine judgment, repentance, and God's provision of a deliverer (a judge) finds its concluding, and often complex, expression in Samson's story. Unlike previous judges who led unified armies, Samson's deliverance is portrayed as more individualistic, often ambiguous, and marked by personal failings, setting a unique and somber tone for the end of the Judges period, which culminates in the profound moral and spiritual decline depicted in [Judges 17-21](/judges/17 "Judges 17-21 - The Decline of Israel"). The introduction of Manoah and his barren wife immediately establishes a familiar biblical motif that prepares the reader for a divinely appointed birth, echoing the miraculous conceptions of patriarchs and prophets like Isaac, Samuel, and John the Baptist, thereby underscoring the supernatural nature of the upcoming events and Samson's unique destiny.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The geographical and tribal setting of Judges 13 is critically important for understanding the unfolding narrative. Zorah was a town strategically located in the Shephelah, a low-lying region of foothills that served as a natural buffer zone between the Judean mountains and the Philistine coastal plain. This placement meant Manoah and his family lived directly on the frontier with Israel's primary oppressors at this time, the Philistines. The Danite tribe, to which Manoah belonged, was one of the tribes that struggled significantly to secure its allotted territory, as evidenced by their later migration northward described in [Judges 18](/judges/18 "Judges 18 - The Migration of the Danites"). This immediate and pressing need for deliverance from Philistine domination underscores the urgency of God's intervention. Culturally, barrenness in ancient Israelite society was a source of profound personal sorrow, social stigma, and often perceived as a sign of divine disfavor. However, within the biblical narrative, it frequently serves as a powerful literary and theological device to highlight God's miraculous power to open the womb, ensuring that the child born is clearly understood as a divine gift and an instrument of His sovereign will, rather than a natural outcome. This emphasis on divine intervention elevates the child's status and destiny, preparing the audience for a figure of unique importance.
* **Key Themes:** The introduction of Manoah and his barren wife in [Judges 13:2](/judges/13-2 "Judges 13:2 - Introduction of Manoah and his Barren Wife") immediately introduces several pivotal themes that will permeate the narrative of Samson and the broader book. Firstly, it powerfully establishes **Divine Intervention and Providence**, signaling that Samson's birth is not accidental but a direct, supernatural act of God's will. This prepares the reader for a child with a unique, divinely ordained destiny, chosen specifically to address Israel's dire situation. Secondly, the theme of **Hope in Despair** is prominently featured; the human impossibility of barrenness becomes the very stage upon which God demonstrates His power and faithfulness, foreshadowing the hope He brings into seemingly hopeless situations, both for individuals and for the nation of Israel under crushing Philistine oppression. This motif reinforces God's ability to act when human resources are exhausted. Finally, the verse sets the stage for **Preparation for a Special Purpose**, detailing the parents and their marital status to prepare the audience for the arrival of a Nazirite, a figure consecrated to God from birth, whose life would be dedicated to God's specific plan for Israel's deliverance, even if that deliverance unfolds through unconventional and often flawed means.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **certain (Hebrew, _ʼechâd'_):** From H259, meaning "united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together." In this context, "a certain man" emphasizes that he was a specific, individual man, not just any man, setting him apart as the chosen father for the miraculous birth to come. It highlights the particularity of God's choice.
* **Manoah (Hebrew, _Mânôwach'_):** From H4495, meaning "rest." This name, meaning "rest" or "resting place," presents a striking **irony** when contrasted with the tumultuous, restless, and often violent life of his son, Samson. Samson, though intended to bring deliverance and "rest" from Philistine oppression, personally experienced little peace or tranquility. This linguistic detail subtly highlights the contrast between the father's aspiration for peace and the son's chaotic reality, foreshadowing the complex and often paradoxical nature of Samson's character and mission.
* **barren (Hebrew, _ʻâqâr'_):** From H6135, meaning "sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs); ([idiom] male or female) barren (woman)." This term is consistently used throughout the Old Testament to describe women who are unable to conceive children naturally. Its inclusion here is not merely a biological detail but a profound theological statement. In biblical narratives, the barrenness of a significant woman (e.g., Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth) invariably precedes a miraculous birth, underscoring God's sovereign power to override natural limitations and to initiate His redemptive plans through seemingly impossible circumstances. It emphasizes that the child to be born is entirely a gift from God, chosen and empowered for a specific divine purpose, ensuring that the glory belongs solely to Him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name [was] Manoah;":** This initial clause meticulously introduces the father of the future judge, providing essential details about his identity, tribal affiliation, and geographical origin. The specificity of "Zorah, of the family of the Danites" grounds the narrative in a particular historical and socio-political context. The Danites, as noted, were a tribe that experienced significant challenges in securing their inheritance, and Zorah's location near the Philistine border immediately sets the stage for the intense conflict that Samson is destined to address. Manoah's name, meaning "rest," adds a layer of subtle irony that will become more apparent as Samson's turbulent story unfolds, contrasting with the peace he might have desired for his family and people.
* **"and his wife [was] barren, and bare not.":** This is the pivotal statement of the verse, serving as the narrative's central theological anchor. The repetition of "barren, and bare not" serves to emphatically underscore the absolute nature of her infertility, leaving no ambiguity about her inability to conceive naturally. This detail is not incidental but foundational to the entire narrative that follows. It immediately establishes a context of human impossibility, thereby highlighting that the impending birth will be a direct, supernatural intervention by God. This sets up the miraculous nature of Samson's conception and birth, underscoring that his existence and subsequent mission are entirely dependent on divine will and power, ensuring that his life is recognized as a divine gift and a testament to God's sovereign hand in Israel's history.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 13:2 masterfully employs several literary devices to set the stage for Samson's narrative and to immediately convey its profound theological implications. **Foreshadowing** is prominently featured through the mention of Manoah's wife's barrenness. This immediately signals to the biblically literate reader that a miraculous birth is imminent, as this motif consistently precedes the arrival of divinely appointed figures in Scripture, establishing a pattern of divine intervention in human impossibility. The impossibility of natural conception thus powerfully foreshadows God's supernatural intervention. **Irony** is present in the name "Manoah," meaning "rest" or "resting place," which stands in stark contrast to the turbulent, restless, and often chaotic life of his son, Samson, who brought anything but personal peace to himself. This ironic naming convention subtly hints at the complex and often paradoxical nature of Samson's character and mission. Furthermore, the phrase "barren, and bare not" utilizes **Repetition** (specifically, a form of pleonasm) to emphatically underscore the wife's complete and undeniable inability to conceive. This redundancy serves to heighten the sense of human impossibility, thereby magnifying the divine power that will soon manifest. Finally, the entire setup functions as a **Type-Scene**, drawing upon the well-established biblical motif of the barren matriarch whose womb is supernaturally opened by God, thereby linking Samson's birth to the lineage of other significant figures in salvation history whose lives were marked by divine appointment from their very inception.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 13:2 serves as a profound theological statement about God's sovereignty and His unparalleled ability to work through human limitations to achieve His divine purposes. The barrenness of Manoah's wife is not merely a biological condition but a theological canvas upon which God paints a vivid picture of His power to bring life out of death, hope out of despair, and deliverance out of oppression. It underscores the timeless principle that God's plans are not contingent upon human ability, natural circumstances, or societal expectations, but solely on His omnipotence and unwavering faithfulness. This recurring motif in Scripture consistently demonstrates that when human efforts reach their absolute limit, God's power is most clearly displayed, ensuring that the glory for any miraculous outcome belongs solely to Him. It reminds us that God often chooses the weak, the overlooked, or the seemingly impossible situations to manifest His greatest works, thereby magnifying His glory and demonstrating His unfailing providence over all of creation and history, particularly in the unfolding of His redemptive narrative.

* [Genesis 18:11](/genesis/18-11 "Genesis 18:11 - Sarah's Barrenness") and [Genesis 21:2](/genesis/21-2 "Genesis 21:2 - Birth of Isaac"): Sarah, barren and beyond childbearing age, miraculously gives birth to Isaac, the child of promise, fulfilling God's covenant.
* [1 Samuel 1:2](/1_samuel/1-2 "1 Samuel 1:2 - Hannah's Barrenness") and [1 Samuel 1:20](/1_samuel/1-20 "1 Samuel 1:20 - Birth of Samuel"): Hannah, a barren woman, pours out her heart in prayer and is blessed with Samuel, who becomes a pivotal prophet and judge for Israel.
* [Luke 1:7](/luke/1-7 "Luke 1:7 - Elizabeth's Barrenness") and [Luke 1:13](/luke/1-13 "Luke 1:13 - Prophecy of John the Baptist's Birth"): Elizabeth, old and barren, conceives John the Baptist, the divinely appointed forerunner of the Messiah, in a miraculous act of God's grace.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 13:2 offers a powerful and enduring message for believers today: God's ability to act is never constrained by human limitations or seemingly impossible circumstances. The "barrenness" described in this verse can serve as a profound metaphor for any area of our lives—personal, spiritual, relational, or societal—where we experience a lack of fruitfulness, hope, or progress, or where our own efforts have reached their end. In such seasons of perceived impossibility, this verse calls us to remember that God specializes in bringing life where there is none, and purpose where there seems to be only emptiness. It encourages us to cultivate a deep, unwavering trust in God's sovereignty and perfect timing, recognizing that our moments of greatest weakness, inability, or despair can be the very stages upon which He chooses to display His most profound power and bring forth something new, significant, and divinely ordained. Our call is not to generate the outcome through our own strength, but to remain faithful, prayerful, and expectant, knowing that God can, and often does, work miraculously beyond what we can imagine or achieve on our own, always for His glory and our ultimate good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "barren" areas exist in your life, your family, or in the world around you that seem impossible to change or bring to fruition?**
* **How does the story of Manoah's barren wife encourage you to trust God's sovereignty and timing in those seemingly impossible situations?**
* **In what ways might God be preparing to display His power in your life by allowing you to experience a season of "barrenness," limitation, or profound need?**

### FAQ
**Why is the wife's barrenness so important to the story of Samson?**

Answer: The barrenness of Manoah's wife is critically important because it immediately establishes the miraculous nature of Samson's impending birth. In biblical narratives, the inability of a significant woman to conceive often serves as a divine signal that the child to be born will be a special gift from God, conceived not through natural means but by direct divine intervention. This emphasizes that Samson's existence and his future role as a deliverer are entirely a result of God's sovereign will and power, not human capability. It removes any doubt that he is a divinely appointed instrument, setting him apart from birth for a unique purpose in God's plan for Israel's deliverance from the Philistines, as further detailed by the angel's visit in [Judges 13:3-5](/judges/13-3-5 "Judges 13:3-5 - The Angel's Announcement to Manoah's Wife").

**What is the significance of Manoah being a Danite from Zorah?**

Answer: The specific details of Manoah's identity are highly significant. Being "of the family of the Danites" places Samson within a tribe that historically struggled to secure its inheritance and was often in direct conflict with the Philistines, as recounted in [Judges 1:34](/judges/1-34 "Judges 1:34 - The Amorites confined the Danites"). Zorah, the town of his origin, was located in the Shephelah, a strategically important border region between the Israelite highlands and the Philistine coastal plain. This geographical and tribal context immediately highlights the pressing need for deliverance from Philistine oppression and positions Samson's family directly in the crucible of this conflict. It underscores that God was raising a deliverer from within the very heart of the oppressed territory, directly addressing the national crisis described earlier in [Judges 10:7](/judges/10-7 "Judges 10:7 - God sells Israel into the hand of the Philistines").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 13:2, with its profound emphasis on a miraculous birth from a barren woman to introduce a divinely appointed deliverer, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While Samson was a flawed and temporary deliverer for a single nation, his miraculous conception from a humanly impossible situation powerfully foreshadows the truly unique and unprecedented virgin birth of Jesus. Just as Samson's birth was a direct act of God to address Israel's oppression, so too was Jesus's birth a divine intervention, not merely to deliver a nation from political enemies, but to deliver all humanity from the ultimate oppressors: sin and death. The name Manoah, meaning "rest," takes on profound and eternal significance in Christ, for Jesus is the one who truly offers spiritual rest to the weary and heavy-laden, inviting all to find solace in Him, as promised in [Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus offers rest to the weary"). Unlike Samson, whose strength was external and often tragically misdirected, Jesus is the perfect Nazirite, consecrated entirely to God's will from conception, living a life of perfect obedience and ultimately offering Himself as the spotless [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His birth from the spiritual barrenness of humanity's fallen state brought forth the true and everlasting deliverance, establishing a kingdom that will never end, thereby fulfilling the deepest longings for a deliverer that the stories of the judges, including Samson, could only imperfectly point toward.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 19:41

And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,

Genesis 25:21

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she [was] barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Luke 1:7

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.

Joshua 15:33

[And] in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

Genesis 16:1

¶ Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name [was] Hagar.

1 Samuel 1:2

And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

1 Samuel 1:6

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.