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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Judges 13:1–7. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The first verse gives us a short account, such as we have too often met with already, of the great distress that Israel was in, which gave occasion for the raising up of a deliverer. They did evil, as they had done, in the sight of the Lord, and then God delivered them, as he had done, into the hands of their enemies. If there had been no sin, there would have needed no Saviour; but sin was suffered to abound, that grace might much more abound. The enemies God now sold them to were the Philistines, their next neighbours, that lay among them, the first and chief of the nations which were devoted to destruction, but which God left to prove them (Jdg 3:1, Jdg 3:3), the five lords of the Philistines, an inconsiderable people in comparison with Israel (they had but five cities of any note), and yet, when God made use of them as the staff in his hand, they were very oppressive and vexatious. And this trouble lasted longer than any yet: it continued forty years, though probably not always alike violent. When Israel was in this distress Samson was born; and here we have his birth foretold by an angel. Observe,
I.His extraction.
He was of the tribe of Dan, Jdg 13:2. Dan signifies a judge or judgment, Gen 30:6. And probably it was with an eye to Samson that dying Jacob foretold, Dan shall judge his people, that is, "he shall produce a judge for his people, though one of the sons of the handmaids, as one, as well as any one, of the tribes of Israel," Gen 49:16. The lot of the tribe of Dan lay next to the country of the Philistines, and therefore one of that tribe was most fit to be made a bridle upon them. His parents had been long childless. Many eminent persons were born of mothers that had been kept a great while in the want of the blessing of children, as Isaac, Joseph, Samuel, and John Baptist, that the mercy might be the more acceptable when it did come. Sing, O barren! thou that didst not bear, Isa 54:1. Note, Mercies long waited for often prove signal mercies, and it is made to appear that they were worth waiting for, and by them others may be encouraged to continue their hope in God's mercy.
II.The glad tidings brought to his mother, that she should have a son.
The messenger was an angel of the Lord (Jdg 13:3), yet appearing as a man, with the aspect and garb of a prophet, or man of God. And this angel (as the learned bishop Patrick supposes, on Jdg 13:18) was the Lord himself, that is, the Word of the Lord, who was to be the Messiah, for his name is called Wonderful, Jdg 13:18, and Jehovah, Jdg 13:19. The great Redeemer did in a particular manner concern himself about this typical redeemer. It was not so much for the sake of Manoah and his wife, obscure Danites, that this extraordinary message was sent, but for Israel's sake, whose deliverer he was to be, and not only so (his services to Israel not seeming to answer to the grandeur of his entry) but for the Messiah's sake, whose type he was to be, and whose birth must be foretold by an angel, as his was. The angel, in the message he delivers, 1. Takes notice of her affliction: Behold now, thou art barren and bearest not. Hence she might gather he was a prophet, that though a stranger to her, and one she had never seen before, yet he knew this to be her grievance. He tells her of it, not to upbraid her with it, but because perhaps at this time she was actually thinking of this affliction and bemoaning herself as one written childless. God often sends in comfort to his people very seasonably, when they feel most from their troubles. "Now thou art barren, but thou shalt not be always so," as she feared, "nor long so." 2. He assures her that she should conceive and bear a son (Jdg 13:3) and repeats the assurance, Jdg 13:5. To show the power of a divine word, the strongest man that ever was was a child of promise, as Isaac, born by force and virtue of a promise, and faith in that promise, Heb 11:11; Gal 4:23. Many a woman, after having been long barren, has borne a son by providence, but Samson was by promise, because a figure of the promised seed, so long expected by the faith of the Old Testament saints, 3. He appoints that the child should be a Nazarite from his birth, and therefore that the mother should be subject to the law of the Nazarites (though not under the vow of a Nazarite) and should drink no wine or strong drink so long as this child was to have its nourishment from her, either in the womb or at the breast, Jdg 13:4, Jdg 13:5. Observe, This deliverer of Israel must be in the strictest manner devoted to God and an example of holiness. It is spoken of as a kindness to the people that God raised up of their young men for Nazarites, Amo 2:11. Other judges had corrected their apostasies from God, but Samson must appear as one, more than any of them, consecrated to God; and, notwithstanding what we read of his faults, we have reason to think that being a Nazarite of God's making he did, in the course of his conversation, exemplify, not only the ceremony, but the substance of that separation to the Lord in which the Nazariteship did consist, Num 6:2. Those that would save others must by singular piety distinguish themselves. Samuel, who carried on Israel's deliverance from the Philistines, was a Nazarite by his mother's vow (Sa1 1:11), as Samson by the divine appointment. The mother of this deliverer must therefore deny herself, and not eat any unclean thing; what was lawful at another time was now to be forborne. As the promise tried her faith, so this precept tried her obedience; for God requires both from those on whom he will bestow his favours. Women with child ought conscientiously to avoid whatever they have reason to think will be any way prejudicial to the health or good constitution of the fruit of their body. And perhaps Samson's mother was to refrain from wine and strong drink, not only because he was designed for a Nazarite, but because he was designed for a man of great strength, which his mother's temperance would contribute to. 4. He foretels the service which this child should do to his country: He shall begin to deliver Israel. Note, It is very desirable that our children may be not only devoted entirely to God themselves, but instrumental for the good of others, and the service of their generation - not recluses, candles under a bushel, but on a candlestick. Observe, He shall begin to deliver Israel. This intimated that the oppression of the Philistines should last long, for Israel's deliverance from it should not so much as begin, not one step be taken towards it, till this child, who was now unborn, should have grown up to a capacity of beginning it. And yet he must not complete the deliverance: he shall only begin to deliver Israel, which intimates that the trouble should still be prolonged. God chooses to carry on his work gradually and by several hands. One lays the foundation of a good work, another builds, and perhaps a third brings forth the top stone. Now herein Samson was a type of Christ, (1.) As a Nazarite to God, a Nazarite from the womb. For, though our Lord Jesus was not a Nazarite himself, yet he was typified by the Nazarites, as being perfectly pure from all sin, not so much as conceived in it, and entirely devoted to his Father's honour. Of the Jewish church, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, because to them pertained the promise of him, Rom 9:4, Rom 9:5. By virtue of that promise,. he long lay as it were in the womb of that church, which for many ages was pregnant of him, and therefore, like Samson's mother, during that pregnancy was made a holy nation and a peculiar people, and strictly forbidden to touch any unclean thing for his sake, who in the fulness of time was to come from them. (2.) As a deliverer of Israel; for he is Jesus a Saviour, who saves his people from their sins. But with this difference: Samson did only begin to deliver Israel (David was afterwards raised up to complete the destruction of the Philistines), but our Lord Jesus is both Samson and David too, both the author and finisher of our faith.
III.The report which Manoah's wife, in a transport of joy, brings in all haste to her husband, of this surprising message Jdg 13:6, Jdg 13:7.
The glad tidings were brought her when she was alone, perhaps religiously employed in meditation or prayer; but she could not, she would not, conceal them from her husband, but gives him an account,
1.Of the messenger. It was a man of God, Jdg 13:6. His countenance she could describe; it was very awful: he had such a majesty in his looks, such a sparkling eye, such a shining face, so powerfully commanding reverence and respect, that according to the idea she had of an angel he had the very countenance of one. But his name she can give no account of, nor to what tribe or city of Israel he belonged, for he did not think fit to tell her, and, for her part, the very sight of him struck such an awe upon her that she durst not ask him. She was abundantly satisfied that he was a servant of God; his person and message she thought carried their own evidence along with them, and she enquired no further.
2.Of the message. She gives him a particular account both of the promise and of the precept (Jdg 13:7), that he also might believe the promise and might on all occasions be a monitor to her to observe the precept. Thus should yoke-fellows communicate to each other their experiences of communion with God, and their improvements in acquaintance with him, that they may be helpful to each other in the way that is called holy.
Historical interpretation
Three Centuries of Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
After the spirit of the Hebrews had been so subdued by the pressure of a long subjection that no one dared with a manly spirit to rouse them to liberty, Samson, fore-ordained by the Divine oracle, was raised up to them. A great man he was, not one of the multitude, but first among the few, and beyond controversy far excelling all in bodily strength. And he is to be regarded by us with great admiration from the beginning, not because in his early abstinence from vice he gave signal proofs of temperance and sobriety, nor on account of his long preserving as a Nazarite his locks unshorn, but because from his very youth, which in others is an age of softness, he achieved illustrious deeds of virtue, perfect beyond the measure of human nature. By these he gained credence to the Divine prophecy, that it was not for nothing that such grace had gone before upon him, that an Angel came down by whom his birth beyond their hopes was announced to his parents, to be the leader and protector of his countrymen, now for a length of years harassed by the tyranny of the Philistines.
His father was of the tribe of Dan, a man fearing God, born of no mean rank, and eminent above others, his mother was barren of body, but in virtues of the mind not unfruitful; seeing that in the sanctuary of her soul she was counted worthy to receive the visit of an Angel, obeyed his command and fulfilled his prophecy. Not enduring however to know the secrets even of God apart from her husband she mentioned to him that she had seen a man of God, of beautiful form, bringing her the Divine promise of future offspring, and that she, confiding in this promise, was led to share with her husband her faith in the heavenly promises.
Thus Jacob, the patriarch Joseph, Samson, [who was] the bravest of the chieftains, and Samuel, [who was] the most distinguished of the prophets, [all] had as their progenitors [mothers who were] for a long time barren in body but always fruitful in virtues. In this way their dignity would be known from the miraculous nativity of those who were born, and it might be proven that they would be famous in their lives, since at the very outset of their lives they transcended the norms of the human condition.
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Summary
Judges 13:5 announces the miraculous, divinely ordained birth of Samson, a son promised to a barren woman by the Angel of the Lord. This pivotal verse reveals his lifelong consecration as a Nazarite from the womb, explicitly mandating that no razor shall touch his head, and declares his unique, pre-ordained mission to initiate the long-awaited deliverance of Israel from the oppressive dominion of the Philistines.
Context
Literary Context
The Book of Judges consistently portrays a cyclical pattern of Israelite apostasy, divine judgment through foreign oppression, the people's cry for help, and God raising up a deliverer. Judges 13 opens with Israel's deepest descent into sin, resulting in forty years of severe Philistine oppression, the longest period of foreign domination recorded in the book. This dire situation sets the stage for the dramatic appearance of the Angel of the Lord to Manoah's barren wife, a recurring biblical motif (e.g., Isaac, Samuel, John the Baptist) signaling a divinely appointed birth. The verses immediately preceding Judges 13:5 detail the angel's initial announcement to the wife, instructing her on specific dietary restrictions during her pregnancy (abstinence from wine and strong drink, and unclean food), which foreshadow the child's unique consecration. Verse 5 then explicitly reveals the child's Nazarite status and his specific divine mission, forming the core of the angelic message and establishing the parameters for Samson's life and calling. The subsequent verses (Judges 13:6-25) describe Manoah's interaction with the angel, the confirmation of the prophecy, and Samson's birth and early life.
Historical & Cultural Context
The period of the Judges (approximately 1200-1000 BC) was a tumultuous era for Israel, marked by political fragmentation, spiritual decline, and intermittent foreign subjugation. At this point, the Philistines, a powerful group of "Sea Peoples" who had settled along the southwestern coast of Canaan, posed a significant and persistent threat to Israel's security and sovereignty. Their superior iron technology and formidable military organization gave them a distinct advantage over the Israelites, leading to widespread oppression. In ancient Israelite culture, barrenness was often perceived as a profound misfortune or even a sign of divine disfavor, making a miraculous birth to a barren woman an even more powerful demonstration of God's sovereign power and favor. The Nazarite vow, detailed in Numbers 6, was a voluntary commitment of special consecration to God, involving specific prohibitions like abstaining from grape products, not cutting one's hair, and avoiding contact with dead bodies. For Samson, this was a lifelong, divinely imposed vow from birth, signifying his unique setting apart for God's purposes and the supernatural source of his strength.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully articulates several foundational themes within the Book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights Divine Election and Sovereignty, demonstrating that God actively chooses and prepares individuals for His specific purposes, even before their birth, as profoundly seen in Samson's pre-ordained calling. Secondly, the explicit mention of the Nazarite Vow underscores the theme of Consecration and Separation, emphasizing that Samson's strength and effectiveness were not inherent but derived from his unique relationship with God and his adherence to this sacred, divinely mandated vow. This vow served as a visible sign of his dedication and the channel for God's supernatural power. Finally, the declaration that "he shall begin to deliver Israel" introduces the critical theme of God's Initiative in Deliverance. Despite Israel's repeated failures and the depth of their oppression, God Himself initiates their rescue, demonstrating His unwavering covenant faithfulness and His commitment to His people, even when their obedience falters. This also foreshadows the need for a more complete and ultimate deliverer, as Samson's work would only be a beginning.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From the root hârâh, this word specifically means "pregnant" or "to be with child." Its use here emphasizes the miraculous nature of the announcement, as Manoah's wife was barren, highlighting God's power to open the womb and initiate life according to His divine plan.
Derived from the root nâzar, meaning "to separate," "to consecrate," or "to dedicate." A Nazarite was someone set apart from the general population for a special period of devotion to God, or, as in Samson's case, for life. The vow involved specific prohibitions, primarily abstaining from grape products, not cutting one's hair, and avoiding contact with dead bodies. For Samson, the uncut hair was the visible and enduring sign of his lifelong consecration and the conduit through which God's extraordinary strength would manifest for the purpose of Israel's deliverance.
This primitive root means "to be open, wide or free," and by implication, "to be safe." Causatively, it means "to free" or "to succor," thus "to save," "to rescue," or "to deliver." It is a common term used throughout the Book of Judges to describe the primary function of the judges raised up by God. In Samson's case, the angel specifies that he will "begin to deliver," indicating that his work would initiate a process rather than immediately bring about complete freedom, highlighting the progressive nature of God's redemptive plan and Samson's foundational, yet incomplete, role in it.
Verse Breakdown
"For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son"
This opening clause presents a direct, miraculous promise from the Angel of the Lord to Manoah's barren wife. It echoes similar divine announcements of births to previously barren women in biblical history (e.g., Sarah in Genesis 18:10 and Elizabeth in Luke 1:13), underscoring God's sovereign power to intervene in human affairs and His faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they are in a state of spiritual decline and national oppression. This promise serves as an immediate sign of hope amidst Israel's dire circumstances under Philistine rule.
"and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb"
This crucial instruction details the lifelong Nazarite vow imposed upon Samson from birth. The prohibition against cutting his hair was the most prominent and enduring symbol of this consecration, signifying his unique dedication and separation to God. It was not merely a cultural practice but a divine command, establishing the terms of his relationship with God and the source of the supernatural strength that would empower his mission. His power was entirely dependent on his adherence to this divinely mandated vow, making the uncut hair a visible testament to his consecrated status.
"and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines"
This final clause explicitly states Samson's divine mission. His role is not merely to be a strong man but a divinely appointed deliverer. The phrase "he shall begin to deliver" (Hebrew: yâshal l'hôshîaʿ) is significant, implying that Samson's work would initiate the process of liberation rather than completing it entirely. This sets the stage for a prolonged struggle against the Philistines and highlights Samson's foundational, yet ultimately partial, role in God's broader plan for Israel's ultimate freedom, foreshadowing that a more comprehensive deliverance would be needed in the future. The "hand" (Hebrew: yâd) of the Philistines signifies their oppressive power and control.
Literary Devices
Judges 13:5 is rich in literary devices that amplify its theological significance. The verse functions primarily as a Divine Announcement or Prophecy, delivered by the Angel of the Lord, which immediately establishes the supernatural origin and destiny of Samson. The command "no razor shall come on his head" is a powerful instance of Symbolism, where Samson's uncut hair serves as a visible, tangible sign of his lifelong Consecration as a Nazarite and the conduit for God's power. This physical mark embodies his spiritual separation and unique relationship with God. The phrase "he shall begin to deliver" employs Understatement or Proleptic Language, as it hints at a future, larger deliverance without fully revealing its extent or the complexities of Samson's role, setting up the narrative arc of his life and the ongoing struggle against the Philistines. Furthermore, the entire passage is framed by Divine Intervention, showcasing God's active involvement in human history and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even in their darkest hours of oppression.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Judges 13:5 serves as a profound theological statement on God's sovereign election and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people, even amidst their repeated cycles of disobedience. Samson's pre-natal calling and lifelong consecration underscore the principle that God initiates salvation and raises up deliverers according to His divine plan, not based on human merit or initiative. His Nazarite vow, a visible sign of separation, highlights the importance of consecration and obedience as channels for divine power, even if imperfectly maintained by Samson himself. The verse also foreshadows the ongoing need for deliverance, setting the stage for a protracted struggle against the Philistines and hinting at a future, more complete salvation that would eventually come through a perfect deliverer.
Reflection and Application
Judges 13:5 offers timeless truths for contemporary believers, inviting us to consider God's profound involvement in our lives. Just as Samson was uniquely called and set apart from the womb for a divine purpose, this verse reminds us that every individual is fearfully and wonderfully made, with a unique design and potential for God's glory. While we are not called to a literal Nazarite vow, the principle of consecration—setting ourselves apart for God's purposes, living distinctly for Him, and allowing His Spirit to work through us—remains profoundly relevant. Our spiritual strength and effectiveness are not derived from our own abilities but from our willingness to surrender to God's will and allow His power to flow through our lives. Samson's story, despite its complexities and his personal failings, ultimately testifies to God's ability to use imperfect people to accomplish His perfect plans. This should offer immense encouragement, reminding us that our weaknesses do not disqualify us from God's service, but rather provide a canvas upon which His strength can be made perfect. We are called to embrace our divine calling, live consecrated lives, and trust in God's power to work through us for His kingdom purposes, knowing that His plan for deliverance is always unfolding.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the significance of Samson being a Nazarite "from the womb"?
The significance of Samson being a Nazarite "from the womb" (Hebrew: nâzîyr mi-bbeten) is profound and multi-layered. Firstly, it indicates a divine appointment and lifelong consecration that was not chosen by Samson but imposed by God. Unlike typical Nazarite vows, which were usually temporary and voluntary (as described in Numbers 6), Samson's was a permanent, pre-ordained status. This highlights God's sovereign initiative in raising up His deliverers. Secondly, it underscored the supernatural source of his strength. His uncut hair was not merely a cultural quirk but a visible, lifelong symbol of his unique separation to God and the channel through which God's Spirit would empower him. His strength was not inherent but a divine gift, tied directly to his consecrated status. Finally, it emphasized the uniqueness of his mission. Being set apart from birth signified that his entire existence was dedicated to God's purpose of beginning to deliver Israel from the Philistines, making his life a living testament to God's intervention and His unfolding plan.
Why does the verse say Samson "shall begin to deliver" Israel, rather than fully deliver them?
The phrase "he shall begin to deliver" (Judges 13:5) is a crucial detail that highlights the nature of Samson's judgeship and God's broader redemptive plan. It signifies that Samson's role was foundational and initiatory, rather than conclusive. While he inflicted significant blows against the Philistines and demonstrated God's power to overcome them (e.g., Judges 15:15 and Judges 16:30), he did not achieve complete, lasting freedom for Israel. The Philistine threat persisted well into the time of Samuel and David. This phrasing foreshadows that the ultimate, full deliverance of Israel would require a different kind of leader and, ultimately, the coming of a perfect deliverer. It also subtly points to the reality that God's work of salvation often unfolds progressively, in stages, with each deliverer contributing to a larger, unfolding divine narrative that culminates in Christ.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Judges 13:5, while announcing the birth of Samson, a flawed deliverer, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect Deliverer, Jesus Christ. Like Samson, Jesus was divinely conceived and set apart from the womb, though in a far more profound and unique way, being God incarnate (Luke 1:35). While Samson's strength was tied to a physical vow and external symbols, Jesus' power stemmed from His inherent divinity, perfect obedience to His Father's will, and His eternal, unblemished consecration, a lifelong dedication far surpassing any Nazarite vow. Samson "began to deliver" Israel from physical oppression, but Jesus came to achieve a complete and eternal deliverance from the far greater enemies of sin, death, and the power of the devil (Hebrews 2:14-15). Samson's life, marked by both extraordinary strength and significant moral failures, highlights the inherent limitations of human deliverers and the profound need for a perfect Savior who would not merely initiate deliverance but fully accomplish it through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection (John 1:29 and Romans 5:8). Thus, Samson, the Nazarite judge, serves as a type, pointing forward to the true and final Deliverer who perfectly fulfills God's redemptive purpose for all humanity, bringing ultimate freedom and salvation.