Judges 13:23

KJV

But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these [things], nor would as at this time have told us [such things] as these.

KJV (with Strong's)

But his wife {H802} said {H559} unto him, If {H3863} the LORD {H3068} were pleased {H2654} to kill {H4191} us, he would not have received {H3947} a burnt offering {H5930} and a meat offering {H4503} at our hands {H3027}, neither would he have shewed {H7200} us all these things, nor would as at this time {H6256} have told {H8085} us such things as these {H2063}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But his wife said to him, "If ADONAI had wanted to kill us, he wouldn't have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from us, and he wouldn't have shown us all this or told us such things at this time."

Berean Standard Bible

But his wife replied, “If the LORD had intended to kill us, He would not have accepted the burnt offering and the grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things or spoken to us this way.”

American Standard Version

But his wife said unto him, If Jehovah were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meal-offering at our hand, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 13:23 presents a pivotal moment of profound theological insight and unwavering faith from Manoah's wife. In stark contrast to her husband's terror following a divine encounter, she articulates a compelling argument for God's benevolent intentions. Her reasoning, firmly rooted in the Lord's acceptance of their sacrifices and His detailed revelation of future plans, serves as a powerful antidote to fear, affirming God's character as one who grants life and fulfills His purposes rather than bringing destruction. This verse highlights her remarkable spiritual discernment and stands as a testament to trusting God's demonstrated actions over immediate apprehension.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 13:23 immediately follows a miraculous theophany where the Angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah and his barren wife, announcing the impending birth of Samson, who would initiate Israel's deliverance from Philistine oppression. After the divine messenger ascended in the flame of their burnt offering, Manoah, overwhelmed by the encounter, exclaimed in [Judges 13:22](/judges/13-22 "Judges 13:22 - Manoah's Fear"), "We shall surely die, because we have seen God." This common ancient belief, that a direct sight of God's face would result in death, is also reflected in [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See God and Live"). Manoah's wife's response in verse 23 directly addresses and masterfully refutes her husband's fear, drawing logical conclusions from the very actions God had just performed, thereby shifting the narrative's emotional and theological trajectory from impending doom to divine assurance and hope.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges was characterized by a cyclical pattern of Israelite apostasy, resulting in foreign oppression, followed by cries for help and God's raising of deliverers. The Philistines, a formidable and technologically superior force, were a significant oppressor during this era, making the promise of a deliverer like Samson particularly poignant and urgent. Within this context, the concept of a theophany—a visible manifestation of God—was understood to be awe-inspiring and potentially dangerous, as divine holiness was perceived to be incompatible with human sinfulness. Furthermore, barrenness was considered a great shame and sorrow for women in ancient Israel, often interpreted as divine displeasure, making the miraculous conception of Samson, announced by a divine messenger, an extraordinary act of God's grace and covenant faithfulness, profoundly underscoring the nature of the encounter for Manoah and his wife.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **Divine Initiative and Grace**, as God sovereignly intervenes in Israel's history through a miraculous birth, demonstrating His unwavering commitment despite Israel's spiritual decline, as seen in the Angel's initial announcement in [Judges 13:3](/judges/13-3 "Judges 13:3 - Angel's Announcement of Samson's Birth"). It also underscores **Faith Over Fear**, presenting Manoah's wife as a model of spiritual discernment who trusts God's character and His revealed purposes, contrasting sharply with her husband's immediate reaction of terror. Her reasoning showcases the principle that God's acceptance of worship and His communication of future plans are undeniable signs of His favor and redemptive intent, not a prelude to judgment, aligning with the broader biblical truth that God's plans for His people are for welfare and not for evil, as articulated in [Jeremiah 29:11](/jeremiah/29-11 "Jeremiah 29:11 - God's Plans for Hope and a Future").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pleased (Hebrew, _châphêts'_):** This word (H2654) derives from a primitive root meaning "to incline to" or "to be pleased with, desire." Here, it signifies God's favorable disposition and delight. Manoah's wife argues that if the LORD's intention was to "kill us," He would not have shown such a positive inclination or pleasure towards them, which is implied by His actions. God's pleasure indicates His acceptance and benevolent will.
* **Received (Hebrew, _lâqach'_):** This verb (H3947) means "to take (in the widest variety of applications)," including to accept, fetch, or receive. In the context of an offering, it denotes God's active acceptance of the sacrifice, signifying His approval and the establishment or continuation of communion with the offerers. The act of God receiving their offering was a clear sign of His favor, not His intent to destroy.
* **Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _ʻôlâh'_):** This term (H5930) refers to a voluntary sacrifice entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication and atonement for sin. Its acceptance by God (often indicated by fire descending to consume it, as seen in [Leviticus 9:24](/leviticus/9-24 "Leviticus 9:24 - Fire Consumes Offering")) was a powerful sign of His pleasure and the worshipper's acceptance before Him. The fact that the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of this offering was a definitive sign of divine acceptance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But his wife said unto him,"**: This introductory phrase immediately establishes the wife as the speaker, positioning her as a voice of spiritual clarity and reasoned faith in a moment of her husband's panic. Her intervention is crucial, redirecting the emotional and theological trajectory of the scene.
* **"If the LORD were pleased to kill us,"**: This clause directly addresses Manoah's fear, framing it as a hypothetical condition. The wife acknowledges the common fear of seeing God but implicitly challenges its logical application in their specific situation. She is engaging in a logical, almost rhetorical, argument against her husband's despair, setting up a clear premise for her counter-argument.
* **"he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands,"**: This is her first, and perhaps most potent, piece of evidence. The acceptance of their sacrifices—particularly the burnt offering (representing complete dedication and atonement) and the grain offering (representing thanksgiving and communion)—was the clearest possible sign of God's favor and pleasure. In the Israelite sacrificial system, an accepted offering signified that God was in fellowship with the offerer, not preparing to destroy them. The ascension of the Angel in the flame further confirmed this acceptance.
* **"neither would he have shewed us all these [things],"**: Her second point of evidence refers to the comprehensive nature of God's revelation. "All these things" likely encompasses the entire miraculous encounter: the appearance of the Angel of the LORD, the announcement of Samson's miraculous birth, and the detailed instructions concerning his Nazirite vow and future role as a deliverer. Such extensive divine disclosure, involving future plans and covenant promises, is utterly inconsistent with an immediate intent to kill.
* **"nor would as at this time have told us [such things] as these."**: This final clause emphasizes the specific content and timing of God's communication. The "such things as these" refers to the detailed prophecies about Samson's Nazirite vow and his future mission to deliver Israel. God's act of revealing His long-term redemptive plan for His people, particularly through their son, is a powerful indicator of His continued engagement and care, not a prelude to their demise. The phrase "as at this time" underscores the immediacy and intentionality of God's communication, making it even more illogical that He would then destroy them.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 13:23 is rich in literary technique, primarily employing **Contrast** to highlight the wife's remarkable spiritual discernment against Manoah's immediate, fear-driven reaction. Her calm, reasoned argument stands in stark opposition to his panicked exclamation in the preceding verse. The verse also functions as a powerful example of **Logical Deduction** and **Theological Argument**. The wife systematically builds her case, using God's own actions—His acceptance of their offerings and His detailed revelation of future plans—as irrefutable premises to conclude that His intentions are benevolent, not destructive. This demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of divine character and covenant relationship. Furthermore, the verse uses **Rhetorical Question** implicitly, as her statement "If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have..." functions as a powerful rhetorical challenge to Manoah's assumption, inviting him to consider the undeniable evidence of God's grace and faithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Manoah's wife's declaration in Judges 13:23 offers profound theological insight into the nature of God and His interaction with humanity. Her argument is predicated on the unwavering conviction that God's actions are consistent with His character. If God accepts worship and reveals His future purposes, it is a clear sign of His favor and redemptive intent, not a prelude to judgment. This reflects a fundamental biblical truth: God's communication and acceptance of sacrifice are acts of grace, designed to draw humanity into fellowship and to advance His sovereign plan of salvation, not to terrify or destroy. Her discernment underscores the principle that God's revealed will and His demonstrated faithfulness are the surest guides for understanding His intentions, even when faced with the overwhelming awe of His presence.

* [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - God's Face and Human Life")
* [Leviticus 9:24](/leviticus/9-24 "Leviticus 9:24 - Fire Consumes Offerings")
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes His Purpose")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Manoah's wife's faith-filled response in Judges 13:23 provides a timeless model for how believers should navigate moments of fear, uncertainty, or overwhelming divine encounter. Instead of succumbing to panic, she grounded her understanding in God's demonstrated character and actions. When we face circumstances that seem daunting or encounter truths about God that feel overwhelming, we are called to reflect on His consistent faithfulness, His past redemptive acts, and His revealed word. God's acceptance of our worship, His continued communication, and His unfolding of His purposes for our lives and for history are not signs of impending doom but rather profound assurances of His love, grace, and commitment to His covenant. We are encouraged to cultivate a discerning heart that interprets God's awesome power through the lens of His benevolent nature, allowing faith to triumph over fear and enabling us to be voices of calm and truth for those around us who may be struggling with doubt or apprehension.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically react when faced with overwhelming or fearful circumstances? Do I tend towards Manoah's fear or his wife's faith?**
* **What specific actions or past faithfulness of God can I recall that should inform my trust in His character during present uncertainties?**
* **In what ways does God "show" and "tell" us things today, and how can I better discern His ongoing communication and purposes in my life?**
* **How can I, like Manoah's wife, be a source of faith-filled encouragement and theological clarity for others who are struggling with fear or doubt?**

### FAQ
**Why was Manoah so afraid of seeing God, and why was his wife not?**

Answer: Manoah's fear stemmed from a widespread ancient Near Eastern and Israelite belief that a direct encounter with God's holiness would result in death, as articulated in [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See God and Live") and echoed in Gideon's experience in [Judges 6:22-23](/judges/6-22-23 "Judges 6:22-23 - Gideon's Fear of Death"). This fear was rooted in a profound reverence for God's power and purity, contrasted with human sinfulness. Manoah's wife, however, displayed remarkable spiritual discernment. She understood that God's actions—His acceptance of their offerings and His detailed revelation of future plans for Samson's birth and Israel's deliverance—were utterly inconsistent with an intention to kill them. Her logic was that if God desired their destruction, He would not have engaged in acts of communion, grace, and prophetic disclosure. She interpreted God's presence through His benevolent actions, demonstrating a deeper, more trusting understanding of His character and covenant faithfulness.

**What is the significance of God accepting their burnt offering and meat offering?**

Answer: The acceptance of both the burnt offering (`'olah`) and the grain offering (`minchah`, mistakenly translated as "meat offering" in KJV) was profoundly significant within the Israelite sacrificial system. The burnt offering symbolized complete dedication and atonement, while the grain offering was an act of thanksgiving and communion. God's acceptance of an offering, often indicated by fire consuming it (as described in [Leviticus 9:24](/leviticus/9-24 "Leviticus 9:24 - Fire Consumes Offering")), signified His favor, pleasure, and the establishment or continuation of fellowship with the worshipper. If God had intended to kill Manoah and his wife, He would not have participated in such a sacred act of worship and covenant affirmation. Their acceptance was a powerful, tangible sign of God's grace and His benevolent intentions towards them and, by extension, towards Israel.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 13:23, with Manoah's wife's profound theological insight, beautifully foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God's character and intentions in Jesus Christ. The "Angel of the LORD," often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, is the one who accepts their offering and reveals God's plan. This prefigures Christ as both the divine messenger and the ultimate accepted sacrifice. Just as God's acceptance of the burnt and grain offerings signaled His pleasure and life-giving intent, so too the sacrifice of [Jesus Christ on the cross](/john/19-30 "John 19:30 - Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross") is the perfect and final offering that God fully accepts, not for our destruction, but for our eternal life. The ultimate "showing" and "telling" of God's character, which Manoah's wife discerned, is found in the person of Jesus, who is the [exact imprint of God's nature](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory") and through whom God has [spoken to us in these last days](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son"). His resurrection is the ultimate proof that God is not "pleased to kill us," but rather to offer us abundant and everlasting life through His Son, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

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

Psalms 25:14

The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

1 Corinthians 12:21

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Psalms 86:17

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see [it], and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

John 14:20

At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

John 15:15

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Proverbs 3:32

For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.