Judges 13:5 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."

◄ Judges 13:5 ►

New International Version
You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

New Living Translation
You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”

English Standard Version
for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor 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.

New King James Version
For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

New American Standard Bible
For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he will begin to save Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

NASB 1995
“For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

NASB 1977
“For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

Legacy Standard Bible
For behold, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Amplified Bible
For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite [dedicated] to God from birth; and he shall begin to rescue Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

Christian Standard Bible
for indeed, you will conceive and give birth to a son. You must never cut his hair, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from birth, and he will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for indeed, you will conceive and give birth to a son. You must never cut his hair, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from birth, and he will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.”

American Standard Version
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.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You're going to become pregnant and have a son. You must never cut his hair because the boy will be a Nazirite dedicated to God from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the power of the Philistines."

Good News Translation
and after your son is born, you must never cut his hair, because from the day of his birth he will be dedicated to God as a nazirite. He will begin the work of rescuing Israel from the Philistines."

International Standard Version
because—surprise!—you're going to conceive and give birth to a son! Don't put a razor to his head, because the young man will be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from inside the womb. He will begin to deliver Israel from domination by the Philistines."

Majority Standard Bible
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.”

NET Bible
Look, you will conceive and have a son. You must never cut his hair, for the child will be dedicated to God from birth. He will begin to deliver Israel from the power of the Philistines."

New Heart English Bible
For look, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor will come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb. And he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

Webster's Bible Translation
For lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from his birth: and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.

World English Bible
for, behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son. No razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb. He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
for behold, you are conceiving and bearing a son, and a razor does not go up on his head, for the youth is a Nazarite to God from the womb, and he begins to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Young's Literal Translation
for, lo, thou art conceiving and bearing a son, and a razor doth not go up on his head, for a Nazarite to God is the youth from the womb, and he doth begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For behold thee pregnant, and thou bearest a son; and a razor shall not come up upon his head, for the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of Philisteim.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Because thou shalt conceive and bear a son, and no razor shall touch his head: for he shall be a Nazarite of God, from his infancy, and from his mother's womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For you shall conceive and bear a son, whose head no razor shall touch. For he shall be a Nazirite of God, from his infancy and from his mother’s womb. And he shall begin to free Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

New American Bible
for you will conceive and bear a son. No razor shall touch his head, for the boy is to be a nazirite for God from the womb. It is he who will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.

New Revised Standard Version
for you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor is to come on his head, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth. It is he who shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For lo, you have conceived and will bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb; and he will begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For, behold, you are pregnant and you shall give birth to a son, and a razor shall not go up on his head, because the boy shall be a Nazirah of God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
for behold, thou art with child, and shalt bring forth a son; and there shall come no razor upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Phylistines.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Birth of Samson
…4Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean. 5For 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.” 6So the woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me. His appearance was like the angel of God, exceedingly awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Numbers 6:2-5
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, / he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. / All the days of his separation, he is not to eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. ...

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Luke 1:15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Matthew 2:23
and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Judges 16:17
Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

1 Samuel 1:28
I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

Luke 1:13-17
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. / He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, / for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. ...

Amos 2:11-12
I raised up prophets from your sons and Nazirites from your young men. Is this not true, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. / “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

Acts 13:23
From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.

Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Genesis 49:16-17
Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. / He will be a snake by the road, a viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

Hebrews 11:32
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.

Treasury of Scripture

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

no razor

Numbers 6:2,3,5
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: …

1 Samuel 1:11
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 rasor come upon his head.

begin

1 Samuel 7:13
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
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.

1 Chronicles 18:1
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.

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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

Berean Study Bible

For behold
This phrase serves as a divine announcement, capturing the attention of the listener or reader. In Hebrew, the word "behold" is often used to introduce something of great importance or a revelation from God. It signifies that what follows is not ordinary but a divine intervention in human history. The use of "behold" here underscores the miraculous nature of the forthcoming birth and the special role the child will play in God's plan.

you will conceive and give birth to a son
This promise echoes the miraculous births found throughout Scripture, such as Isaac, Samuel, and ultimately, Jesus Christ. The Hebrew culture placed immense value on childbirth, especially the birth of a son, who would carry on the family lineage. This announcement is not just about the birth of any child but one who is divinely appointed for a specific purpose. It highlights God's sovereignty in orchestrating events and choosing individuals for His divine purposes.

And no razor shall come upon his head
This phrase introduces the Nazirite vow, a special consecration to God described in Numbers 6:1-21. The vow included abstaining from cutting one's hair, consuming wine or strong drink, and avoiding contact with the dead. The uncut hair was a visible sign of dedication and separation unto God. In the context of Samson, this vow was not temporary but a lifelong commitment, indicating the depth of his consecration and the seriousness of his mission.

for the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb
The term "Nazirite" comes from the Hebrew word "nazir," meaning "consecrated" or "separated." This lifelong dedication from the womb signifies that Samson's life was set apart for God's purposes even before his birth. It emphasizes the idea of divine election and purpose, reminding believers that God has plans for individuals even before they enter the world. This consecration from the womb also foreshadows the unique and powerful role Samson will play in Israel's history.

and he will begin the deliverance of Israel
This phrase indicates the primary mission of Samson's life: to initiate the deliverance of Israel from their oppressors. The word "begin" suggests that Samson's role is part of a larger, ongoing process of deliverance. It acknowledges that while Samson will not complete the task, he will be instrumental in setting the stage for future victories. This reflects the biblical theme of God using flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes, as Samson's account is one of both great strength and personal failure.

from the hand of the Philistines
The Philistines were a significant threat to Israel during the time of the Judges, representing not just a physical enemy but also a spiritual challenge, as they often led Israel into idolatry. The phrase "from the hand of" implies deliverance from oppression and control. Samson's mission was to weaken the Philistine hold on Israel, symbolizing God's ongoing commitment to protect and preserve His chosen people. This deliverance is a reminder of God's faithfulness and His power to save, even when His people are unfaithful.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) No razor shall come on his head.--The law of the Nazarite is laid down in Numbers 6, and when that chapter is read as the Parashah (or first lesson) in the synagogue-worship, this account of the birth of Samson, the first recorded Nazarite, is read as the Haphtarah (or second lesson).

Shall begin to deliver.--The weaknesses of Samson's own character rendered him unfit to achieve that complete deliverance which was carried out by Samuel. In the cases of Jephthah and Samson the Israelites learnt the power which rests in individual vows to display the occult and mysterious heroism of the human spirit, and to save people from sinking into the lowest depths (Ewald, 2:397). The vow became a new force of the age. In Jephthah's case it had been an isolated vow, but in Samson's it was the devotion of a life, and developed an indomitable energy and power.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - The child shall be a Nazarite, etc. So it was said, though not in the same words, concerning Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11) and concerning John the Baptist (Luke 1:15). A Nazarite (or, more correctly, a Nazi-rite) means one separated, and specially dedicated to God. The law of the Nazarites is contained in Numbers 6, where, however, only Nazarites of days, i.e. Nazarites for a definite time, arc spoken cf. Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were perpetual Nazarites, Nazarites of for ever, as the Mishna classifies them. Abstinence from strong drink, and from anything made of the grape; letting the locks of the head grow unchecked by the razor; and keeping quite clear of any pollution from a dead body, even in case of the death of his nearest relations, were the chief articles of a Nazarite's vow. St. Paul took the vow of a Nazarite of days, and offered the prescribed sacrifices, together with "the hair of the head of his separation," as we read in Acts 18:18; Acts 21:23-26. He shall begin, etc. This is an exact description of what Samson did. He did not "deliver Israel" as the other judges did; but he began to shake the Philistine power, and prepared the way for the deliverance of Israel in the time of his worthier successor Samuel.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

For
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

behold,
הִנָּ֨ךְ (hin·nāḵ)
Interjection | second person feminine singular
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

you will conceive
הָרָ֜ה (hā·rāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2029: To conceive, become pregnant

and give birth to
וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ (wə·yō·laḏt)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

a son.
בֵּ֗ן (bên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

And no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

razor
וּמוֹרָה֙ (ū·mō·w·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4177: A razor

shall come
יַעֲלֶ֣ה (ya·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his head,
רֹאשׁ֔וֹ (rō·šōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the boy
הַנַּ֖עַר (han·na·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

will be
יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a Nazirite, set apart
נְזִ֧יר (nə·zîr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5139: Nazirite -- one consecrated, devoted

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

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the womb,
הַבָּ֑טֶן (hab·bā·ṭen)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

and he
וְה֗וּא (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

will begin
יָחֵ֛ל (yā·ḥêl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

the deliverance
לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ (lə·hō·wō·šî·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

from the hands
מִיַּ֥ד (mî·yaḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of the Philistines.”
פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

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OT History: Judges 13:5 For behold you shall conceive and bear (Jd Judg. Jdg)