What is the meaning of Judges 13:18? Why do you ask my name “Why do you ask my name,” (Judges 13:18) • Manoah had just said, “What is your name, so that when your words come to pass we may honor you?” (Judges 13:17). This was a sincere request, but the angel pushes Manoah to consider why he wants the information. • Similar moments in Scripture show that knowing God’s name is more than collecting data; it involves understanding His character and submitting to His authority: – Jacob asked, “Please tell me Your name,” and was gently redirected (Genesis 32:29). – Moses asked God’s name, and the LORD revealed “I AM WHO I AM,” highlighting His self-existence (Exodus 3:13-14). • The question exposes our tendency to put God in manageable categories. The angel’s response reminds us that we approach the Holy One on His terms, not ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). said the angel of the LORD “said the angel of the LORD,” • This figure consistently speaks as God, receives worship, and bears the divine name (Judges 13:16; 13:20-22). • Elsewhere, the Angel of the LORD appears: – To Hagar, promising what only God can promise (Genesis 16:7-13). – To Moses in the burning bush, identifying Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:2-6). – To Gideon, accepting sacrifice and bringing peace (Judges 6:11-24). • These encounters point to a pre-incarnate manifestation of the Son, foreshadowing the incarnation (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9). Recognizing His divinity explains why Manoah and his wife fall on their faces (Judges 13:20). since it is beyond comprehension “since it is beyond comprehension?” • The angel answers that His name is “beyond comprehension” (or “wonderful”), underscoring transcendence: – “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3). – “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:6). – Paul echoes, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). • Isaiah prophesies a coming Child called “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6); the word “Wonderful” links to the same idea—divine wonder that surpasses human grasp. • By withholding His name, the angel invites faith. Manoah need not dissect God’s mystery; he must trust and worship, which he does by offering a burnt offering and witnessing the angel ascend in the flame (Judges 13:19-20). • The lesson carries forward to Christ, whose “name is above every name” (Philippians 2:9) and who still surpasses full comprehension, even as He makes God known (John 1:18). summary Judges 13:18 reveals that God’s name embodies His incomprehensible nature. The Angel of the LORD—God Himself—asks Manoah why he seeks a label that his finite mind cannot contain. Instead of giving the name, He displays His character in power and holiness, leading Manoah to worship. The passage calls us to humility, awe, and trust in the One whose greatness is wonderful beyond measure yet who graciously draws near to redeem. |
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