What specific instructions did the angel give Manoah's wife in Judges 13:13?

Divine Instructions to Manoah’s Wife

“ ‘Your wife must do everything I told her.’ ” (Judges 13:13)

The Angel of the LORD had already laid out the specifics (v. 4, reiterated in v. 14). Here they are, crystal-clear:

• No wine or strong drink

• Nothing that comes from the grapevine—seeds, skins, juice, anything (cf. Numbers 6:3-4)

• No unclean food at all (Leviticus 11 gives the standards)

• In short, “She must do everything I have commanded her” (Judges 13:14)

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Why These Boundaries Mattered

• Samson was to be a Nazirite “from the womb” (Judges 13:5). A Nazirite vow required abstaining from grape products and uncleanness (Numbers 6:1-8).

• By obeying, Manoah’s wife ensured her son would be set apart for God’s purpose before birth, echoing Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:13-16.

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Takeaway for Today

God’s call often starts with simple, practical obedience. Manoah’s wife embraced dietary limits so her son could embrace a mighty destiny (Judges 16:28-30). Our own faithfulness in the small things still sets the stage for God’s larger plans (Luke 16:10).