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Judges 13:20

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For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on [it], and fell on their faces to the ground.

For it came to pass, when the flame {H3851} went up {H5927} toward heaven {H8064} from off the altar {H4196}, that the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068} ascended {H5927} in the flame {H3851} of the altar {H4196}. And Manoah {H4495} and his wife {H802} looked on {H7200} it, and fell on {H5307} their faces {H6440} to the ground {H776}.

as the flame went up toward the sky from the altar, the angel of ADONAI went up in the flame from the altar. When Manoach and his wife saw it, they fell to the ground on their faces.

When the flame went up from the altar to the sky, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground.

For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of Jehovah ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground.

Commentary

Context

Judges 13:20 concludes a pivotal encounter between Manoah, his barren wife, and the "man of God" who had previously announced the miraculous birth of their son, Samson. Unaware that their visitor was divine, Manoah prepared a young goat and a grain offering. This verse describes the dramatic moment of revelation when the mysterious visitor ascends in the flame of the altar, confirming his supernatural identity and the divine origin of the message about Samson's impending birth and unique Nazirite calling.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation and Identity: The spectacular ascension of the visitor in the flame serves as an undeniable sign of his true nature. Manoah and his wife realize they have encountered the Angel of the LORD, a divine messenger, or even God Himself, underscoring God's direct involvement in human affairs.
  • Acceptance of Sacrifice: The ascent in the flame signifies God's acceptance of the offering, much like He accepted Abel's sacrifice (Genesis 4:4). This divine acceptance validates the message given to Manoah and his wife regarding their son, Samson.
  • Awe and Reverence: Manoah and his wife's immediate response of falling on their faces to the ground is a common biblical reaction to a direct encounter with the divine. It demonstrates profound awe, humility, fear, and worship in the presence of God's manifest glory.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the angel of the LORD" (Hebrew: Malakh Yahweh) is highly significant. This figure often acts with divine authority, speaks as God, and receives worship in Old Testament narratives. Many theologians interpret these appearances as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ (a Christophany), highlighting His eternal nature and active role in God's redemptive plan even before His birth in Bethlehem. His ascension in the flame powerfully underscores His supernatural essence and divine connection.

Significance and Application

Judges 13:20 offers profound insights into God's character and His interaction with humanity:

  • God's Active Presence: This verse reminds us that God is not a distant deity but is personally involved in the lives of His people, often revealing Himself in miraculous ways to fulfill His purposes. He orchestrates events and provides clear signs to those He calls.
  • Responding to Divine Truth: The response of Manoah and his wife—falling on their faces—teaches us the appropriate posture of humility and reverence when confronted with God's holiness and power. It encourages us to approach God's word and presence with awe and submission.
  • Confirmation of Promises: Just as this supernatural sign confirmed the promise of Samson's birth and destiny, God often provides assurance and confirmation for His promises to us. It strengthens faith and encourages reliance on His unfailing word, even when circumstances seem impossible.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 9:24 (8 votes)

    And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:16 (5 votes)

    And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders [of Israel, who were] clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

  • 2 Kings 2:11 (5 votes)

    And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

  • Ezekiel 1:28 (4 votes)

    As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so [was] the appearance of the brightness round about. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw [it], I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

  • Matthew 17:6 (3 votes)

    And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:26 (1 votes)

    And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

  • Genesis 17:3 (1 votes)

    And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,