Judges 13:22
New International Version
“We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!”

New Living Translation
and he said to his wife, “We will certainly die, for we have seen God!”

English Standard Version
And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

Berean Standard Bible
“We are going to die,” he said to his wife, “for we have seen God!”

King James Bible
And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

New King James Version
And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!”

New American Standard Bible
So Manoah said to his wife, “We will certainly die, for we have seen God.”

NASB 1995
So Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, for we have seen God.”

NASB 1977
So Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, for we have seen God.”

Amplified Bible
So Manoah said to his wife, “We will certainly die, because we have seen God.”

Christian Standard Bible
“We’re certainly going to die,” he said to his wife, “because we have seen God! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
We’re going to die,” he said to his wife, “because we have seen God!”

American Standard Version
And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

Contemporary English Version
Manoah said, "We have seen an angel. Now we're going to die."

English Revised Version
And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Manoah said to his wife, "We will certainly die because we have seen God."

Good News Translation
Manoah said to his wife, "We are sure to die, because we have seen God!"

International Standard Version
Then Manoah told his wife, "We're going to die for sure, because we've seen God!"

Majority Standard Bible
?We are going to die,? he said to his wife, ?for we have seen God!?

NET Bible
Manoah said to his wife, "We will certainly die, because we have seen a supernatural being!"

New Heart English Bible
Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

World English Bible
Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Manoah says to his wife, “We certainly die, for we have seen God.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Manoah saith unto his wife, 'We certainly die, for we have seen God.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Manoah will say to his wife, Dying, we shall die, because we saw God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to his wife: We shall certainly die, because we have seen God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to his wife, “We shall certainly die, since we have seen God.”

New American Bible
said to his wife, “We will certainly die, for we have seen God.”

New Revised Standard Version
And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Mahukh said to his wife: “We will surely die, for we have seen God!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Manoah said unto his wife: 'We shall surely die, because we have seen God.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Manoe said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Birth of Samson
21And when the angel of the LORD did not appear again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it had been the angel of the LORD. 22“We are going to die,” he said to his wife, “for we have seen God!” 23But 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.”…

Cross References
Genesis 32:30
So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Exodus 33:20
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

Deuteronomy 5:24-26
and you said, “Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. / But now, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us, and we will die, if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer. / For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived?

Isaiah 6:5
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

Judges 6:22-23
When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” / But the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.”

Genesis 16:13
So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!”

Exodus 24:10-11
and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. / But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.

1 Kings 19:13
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Ezekiel 1:28
The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

Daniel 10:17
How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”

Revelation 1:17
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,

John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Hebrews 12:21
The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

Matthew 17:6-7
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror. / Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”


Treasury of Scripture

And Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

We shall

Genesis 32:30
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Exodus 33:20
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Deuteronomy 4:38
To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.

we have

John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 5:37
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

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Death Die Doomed Manoah Mano'ah Surely Wife
Judges 13
1. Israel is delivered into the hands of Philistines
2. An angel appears to Manoah's wife
8. The angel appears to Manoah
15. Manoah's sacrifices, whereby the angel is discovered.
24. Samson is born














“We are going to die,”
In the ancient Near Eastern context, encountering a divine being was often associated with fear and the expectation of death. This belief is rooted in the understanding of God's holiness and the sinful nature of humanity. In Exodus 33:20, God tells Moses, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." This reflects the belief that seeing God in His full glory would be overwhelming and fatal to humans. Manoah's reaction is consistent with this cultural and theological perspective.

he said to his wife,
Manoah's communication with his wife highlights the patriarchal structure of ancient Israelite society, where the husband often took the lead in spiritual and family matters. However, it is notable that Manoah's wife is a central figure in the narrative, receiving the initial revelation from the angel of the Lord. This indicates her significant role in God's plan, similar to other biblical women like Sarah and Hannah, who were also pivotal in the birth of significant figures.

“for we have seen God!”
The phrase "we have seen God" refers to the appearance of the angel of the Lord, who is often understood as a theophany or a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. In Judges 13, the angel of the Lord is identified with God Himself, as seen in verses 21-22, where Manoah and his wife realize the divine nature of their visitor. This encounter foreshadows the incarnation of Christ, where God would be seen in human form. The fear of death upon seeing God underscores the awe and reverence due to His holiness, a theme that runs throughout Scripture, emphasizing the need for a mediator between God and humanity, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Manoah
The father of Samson, Manoah is a Danite who, along with his wife, receives a divine message about the birth of their son, Samson, who is to be a Nazirite dedicated to God from the womb.

2. Manoah's Wife
Although her name is not mentioned, she plays a crucial role in the account. She is the first to receive the angelic message about Samson's birth and destiny.

3. Angel of the LORD
A divine messenger who appears to Manoah and his wife, delivering the prophecy of Samson's birth and instructing them on how to raise him.

4. Zorah
The town in the territory of Dan where Manoah and his wife live. It is significant as the birthplace of Samson.

5. Event of Revelation
The angel of the LORD appears to Manoah and his wife, revealing the future birth of Samson and his role as a deliverer of Israel from the Philistines.
Teaching Points
Reverence for the Divine
Manoah's fear upon realizing he has seen the angel of the LORD highlights the appropriate reverence and awe we should have for God's holiness and presence.

God's Sovereignty and Plan
The announcement of Samson's birth underscores God's sovereign plan and His ability to work through ordinary people to fulfill His purposes.

Faith in God's Promises
Despite their fear, Manoah and his wife trust in the promise of God regarding their son, teaching us to have faith in God's promises even when they seem beyond our understanding.

Role of Women in God's Plan
Manoah's wife is the first to receive the divine message, emphasizing the important role women play in God's redemptive history.

Divine Encounters and Transformation
Encounters with God or His messengers often lead to transformation and a new understanding of one's purpose, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Jacob and Paul.(22) We shall surely die.--See on Judges 6:22.

We have seen God.--As seeing Him who is invisible; by seeing a manifestation of Him in human form, "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me and live" (Exodus 33:20). (Comp. Genesis 32:30; Deuteronomy 5:24.)

Verse 22. - We shall surely die, etc. Similarly Gideon (Judges 6:22, 28) expressed his alarm because he had "seen an angel of the Lord face to face," but was assured, "Thou shalt not die." And so Isaiah said, "Woe is me! for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5). So again the Lord said to Moses, "There shall no man see me and live" (Exodus 33:20). The name of the well, Beer-lahai-roi, is also thought to mean the well of him that is alive after seeing God (Genesis 16:14). And Jacob called the name of the place where he wrestled with the angel Peniel, "for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" (Genesis 32:30). See too Exodus 20:19. The same belief also prevailed amongst the heathen, that seeing a god without his special permission was visited by death or some grave calamity, as Callimachus, quoted by Grotius, says-

"The laws of Saturn thus decree,
Who dares immortal gods to see
Shall suffer loss, whoe'er he be."


Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“We are going to die,”
מ֣וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

he
מָנ֛וֹחַ (mā·nō·w·aḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4495: Manoah -- father of Samson

said
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his wife,
אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (’iš·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

“for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

we have seen
רָאִֽינוּ׃ (rā·’î·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7200: To see

God!”
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT History: Judges 13:22 Manoah said to his wife We shall (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 13:21
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