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Judges 13:5

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For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

For, lo, thou shalt conceive {H2030}, and bear {H3205} a son {H1121}; and no razor {H4177} shall come {H5927} on his head {H7218}: for the child {H5288} shall be a Nazarite {H5139} unto God {H430} from the womb {H990}: and he shall begin {H2490} to deliver {H3467} Israel {H3478} out of the hand {H3027} of the Philistines {H6430}.

For indeed you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, because the child will be a nazir for God from the womb. Moreover, he will begin to rescue Isra'el from the power of the P'lishtim."

For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall come over his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come upon his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Commentary

Judges 13:5 is a pivotal verse, announcing the miraculous birth and divine calling of Samson, one of Israel's most well-known judges. This angelic pronouncement sets the stage for a unique life dedicated to God, with a specific mission to begin the deliverance of Israel from their oppressors.

Historical and Cultural Context

The Book of Judges describes a cyclical pattern in Israel's history: sin, oppression by foreign nations, crying out to God, and God raising up a "judge" to deliver them. At this point, Israel was under the harsh rule of the Philistines for forty years. The angel of the Lord appears to Manoah's barren wife, promising her a son. This promise, much like those given to Sarah (Isaac) or Elizabeth (John the Baptist), highlights God's supernatural intervention in seemingly impossible situations. The specific instructions given here concerning the child's upbringing are crucial to understanding his future role.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Election and Purpose: Samson's birth was not by chance but was part of God's specific plan. He was chosen and consecrated before birth for a particular mission: to "begin to deliver Israel." This underscores God's sovereignty in raising up leaders and deliverers according to His will.
  • The Nazarite Vow: The command "no razor shall come on his head" signifies that Samson was to be a Nazarite unto God from the womb. This special vow of consecration, detailed in Numbers 6, typically involved abstinence from wine, not cutting hair, and avoiding contact with dead bodies. For Samson, the uncut hair was a visible sign of his lifelong dedication and the source of his supernatural strength, which was actually God's power working through him.
  • God's Initiative in Deliverance: Even when Israel was disobedient, God initiated their rescue. Samson's calling demonstrates God's persistent faithfulness to His covenant people, providing a deliverer despite their failings. The phrase "he shall begin to deliver" indicates that Samson's role was foundational, setting the stage for future complete deliverance, though his personal story is complex and marked by both great strength and significant weaknesses.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Nazarite" (Hebrew: nazir) means "separated" or "consecrated." It signifies a person set apart for special service to God, often for a limited time, but in Samson's case, it was for life, from birth. The uncut hair was the primary visible sign of this separation and consecration, symbolizing his unique relationship with God and the divine power that would flow through him for Israel's deliverance.

Practical Application

Judges 13:5 offers several timeless truths for believers today:

  • God's Unique Calling: Just as Samson was called from the womb, God has a unique purpose for each of us. We are all called to live consecrated lives, set apart for His glory, even if not through a specific Nazarite vow. Reflect on your own divine calling and purpose.
  • Consecration and Obedience: Samson's strength was tied to his obedience to the Nazarite vow. While we are not under the Mosaic Law, the principle of consecration—setting ourselves apart for God's will—remains vital. Our spiritual strength often comes from our willingness to obey God's commands and live distinctly for Him.
  • God Uses Imperfect People: Samson's life was far from perfect, yet God used him mightily. This offers great encouragement that God can use anyone, regardless of their flaws, to accomplish His purposes if they are willing to be consecrated to Him. His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
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

  • Numbers 6:5 (10 votes)

    All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth [himself] unto the LORD, he shall be holy, [and] shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

  • 1 Samuel 1:11 (8 votes)

    And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

  • Numbers 6:2 (7 votes)

    Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate [themselves] to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate [themselves] unto the LORD:

  • Numbers 6:3 (7 votes)

    He shall separate [himself] from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.

  • 1 Samuel 7:13 (6 votes)

    ¶ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

  • 2 Samuel 8:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.