Judges 13:7
New International Version
But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.’”

New Living Translation
But he told me, ‘You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.’”

English Standard Version
but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

Berean Standard Bible
But he said to me, ‘Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. Now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.’”

King James Bible
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

New King James Version
And He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

NASB 1995
“But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

NASB 1977
“But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, so now you shall not drink wine or strong drink, and you shall not eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

Amplified Bible
But He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or [any other] intoxicating drink, nor eat anything [ceremonially] unclean, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.’”

Christian Standard Bible
He said to me, ‘You will conceive and give birth to a son. Therefore, do not drink wine or beer, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from birth until the day of his death.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He said to me, ‘You will conceive and give birth to a son. Therefore, do not drink wine or beer, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from birth until the day of his death.’”

American Standard Version
but he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb to the day of his death.

Contemporary English Version
but he did say that I'm going to have a baby boy. I'm not supposed to drink any wine or beer or eat any food forbidden by God's laws. Our son will belong to God for as long as he lives."

English Revised Version
but he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb to the day of his death.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He told me, 'You're going to become pregnant and have a son. So don't drink any wine or liquor or eat any unclean food because the boy will be a Nazirite dedicated to God from the time he is born until he dies.'"

Good News Translation
But he did tell me that I would become pregnant and have a son. He told me not to drink any wine or beer, or eat any forbidden food, because the boy is to be dedicated to God as a nazirite as long as he lives."

International Standard Version
He told me, 'Surprise!—you're going to conceive and give birth to a son!' and as for you, 'Be sure that you don't drink wine or anything intoxicating, and don't eat anything unclean,' 'because the young man will be a Nazirite dedicated to God from inside the womb' until the day he dies."

Majority Standard Bible
But he said to me, ?Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. Now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.??

NET Bible
He said to me, 'Look, you will conceive and have a son. So now, do not drink wine or beer and do not eat any food that will make you ritually unclean. For the child will be dedicated to God from birth till the day he dies.'"

New Heart English Bible
but he said to me, 'Look, you shall conceive, and bear a son. And now drink no wine nor strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
But he said to me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from his birth to the day of his death.

World English Bible
but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and He says to me, Behold, you are pregnant, and bearing a son, and now do not drink wine and strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing, for the youth is a Nazarite to God from the womb until the day of his death.”

Young's Literal Translation
and he saith to me, Lo, thou art pregnant, and bearing a son, and now do not drink wine and strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing, for a Nazarite to God is the youth from the womb till the day of his death.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to me, Behold, thee conceiving, and thou bearest a son; and now drink not wine and strong drink, and thou shalt not eat any thing unclean, for the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, even to the day of his death.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he answered thus: Behold thou shalt conceive and bear a son: beware thou drink no wine, nor strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite of God from his infancy, from his mother's womb until the day of his death.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But he responded: ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Take care that you do not drink wine or strong drink. And you shall not consume anything unclean. For the boy shall be a Nazirite of God from his infancy, from his mother’s womb, even until the day of his death.’ ”

New American Bible
But he said to me, ‘You will conceive and bear a son. So drink no wine or beer, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be a nazirite for God from the womb, until the day of his death.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
but he said to me, ‘You shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But he said to me, Behold, you have conceived, and you will bear a son; and from henceforth drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to me: ‘Behold you are pregnant and you shall give birth to a son, therefore you shall not drink wine or liquor and you shall not eat anything defiled, because the boy shall be a Nazirah of God from the womb until the day that he dies’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
but he said unto me: Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb to the day of his death.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to me, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bring forth a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat no unclean thing; for the child shall be holy to God from the womb until the day of his death.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Birth of Samson
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. 7But he said to me, ‘Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. Now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.’” 8Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, “Please, O Lord, let the man of God You sent us come to us again to teach us how to raise the boy who is to be born.”…

Cross References
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. ...

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.”

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. ...

Luke 1:31-35
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. / He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, / and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” ...

Genesis 17:19
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

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.

Matthew 1:20-23
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. / She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” / All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ...

1 Samuel 1:20
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

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.”

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.

Genesis 18:10
Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.

1 Samuel 1:27-28
I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, / 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.

Matthew 2:13-15
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

2 Kings 4:16-17
And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.” / But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

Hebrews 11:11
By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.


Treasury of Scripture

But he said to me, Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

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Bear Birth Child Conceive Death Drink Eat Nazarite Nazirite Strong Unclean Wine Womb
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Bear Birth Child Conceive Death Drink Eat Nazarite Nazirite Strong Unclean Wine Womb
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














But he said to me
This phrase introduces the divine message delivered by the angel of the LORD to Manoah's wife. The use of "he" refers to the angel, emphasizing the direct communication from God. In the Hebrew context, angels often served as messengers, bridging the divine and human realms. This highlights the importance of the message and the divine authority behind it.

You will conceive and give birth to a son
This promise is significant in the biblical narrative, as it echoes other miraculous births, such as Isaac and John the Baptist. The Hebrew word for "conceive" (הָרָה, harah) indicates a divine intervention in the natural process, underscoring God's sovereignty over life. The promise of a son is particularly meaningful in the ancient Near Eastern context, where sons were seen as carriers of the family lineage and inheritance.

Now then, drink no wine or strong drink
The instruction to abstain from wine or strong drink is part of the Nazirite vow, a special dedication to God. The Hebrew word for "strong drink" (שֵׁכָר, shekar) refers to fermented beverages other than wine. This abstinence symbolizes purity and separation for God's purposes, reflecting a life set apart for divine service.

and do not eat anything unclean
This command aligns with the dietary laws given to Israel in Leviticus, emphasizing holiness and obedience. The term "unclean" (טָמֵא, tamei) denotes ritual impurity, which could hinder one's relationship with God. By avoiding unclean foods, Manoah's wife would ensure that her son, Samson, would be consecrated from conception.

for the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death
The term "Nazirite" (נָזִיר, nazir) signifies one who is consecrated or set apart for God. This lifelong dedication is unique, as most Nazirites took temporary vows. Samson's calling from the womb underscores God's sovereign plan and purpose for his life. His role as a Nazirite foreshadows his future as a judge and deliverer of Israel, despite his personal failings. This highlights the theme of God's grace and faithfulness in using imperfect people to fulfill His divine purposes.

(7) The child shall be a Nazarite.--Comp. Luke 1:15. Since Samuel was also a Nazarite, we see that the distress of the people had led mothers to meditate on the old law of life-dedication to God. In Samson's case this vow was imposed on him from his birth, perhaps to teach the Israelites a moral lesson. Other Nazarites were John the Baptist and James, the Lord's brother. It is not impossible that Joseph was a Nazarite, for in Genesis 49:26 this word is used, though in the English Version it is rendered "separated" from his brethren. The order was highly valued in later days (Lamentations 4:7; Amos 2:11).



Parallel Commentaries ...


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

to me,
לִ֔י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

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

you will conceive
הָרָ֖ה (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.
בֵּ֑ן (bên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Now, therefore,
וְעַתָּ֞ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

drink
תִּשְׁתִּ֣י ׀ (tiš·tî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

wine
יַ֣יִן (ya·yin)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

or strong drink,
וְשֵׁכָ֗ר (wə·šê·ḵār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7941: An intoxicant, intensely alcoholic liquor

and do not
וְאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

eat
תֹּֽאכְלִי֙ (tō·ḵə·lî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

anything
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

unclean,
טֻמְאָ֔ה (ṭum·’āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2932: Religious impurity

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

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

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

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

to God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’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
הַבֶּ֖טֶן (hab·be·ṭen)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the day
י֥וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of his death.??
מוֹתֽוֹ׃ (mō·w·ṯōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin


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OT History: Judges 13:7 But he said to me Behold you (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 13:6
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