Why does Manoah ask the angel for his name in Judges 13:17? Full Text (Judges 13:17-18) “Then Manoah asked the Angel of the LORD, ‘What is Your name, so that we may honor You when Your words come to pass?’ But the Angel of the LORD replied, ‘Why do you ask My name, since it is wonderful?’” Ancient Near-Eastern Significance of Knowing a Name In Semitic cultures a name was far more than a label; it revealed essence, authority, and often a person’s mission (cf. Genesis 32:29; Exodus 3:13-15). To know a heavenly visitor’s name was to secure warranted confidence that the message truly came from God and to prescribe fitting honor. Names also enabled covenant remembrance: altars, vows, or songs were commonly tied to the revealed name (Genesis 13:4; 26:25). Manoah’s Immediate Motivations 1. Verification of divine origin. Earlier (Judges 13:16) the Angel declined to eat but directed the offering “to the LORD.” Manoah therefore seeks final confirmation that this astonishing promise of a Nazirite son is truly from Yahweh. 2. Preparation for proper thanksgiving. Manoah explicitly says, “so that we may honor You.” In his mind, a disclosed name would allow later liturgical commemoration—perhaps an altar inscription or dedication of Samson himself (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12). 3. Concern for covenant faithfulness. Israel was in apostasy; correct worship mattered (Deuteronomy 12:5). Manoah’s request reflects genuine piety rather than curiosity. Theological Weight of the Angel’s Response: “Wonderful” (פֶּלִאי, peliʾ) The Hebrew adjective conveys incomprehensibility, the miraculous, and transcendence (Isaiah 9:6, “Wonderful Counselor”). The refusal therefore protects divine transcendence while hinting at deity: only God’s name can be intrinsically “wonderful” (Psalm 139:6). By deflecting the question, the Angel preserves the Creator-creature distinction and simultaneously reveals more than a mere angelic identity—foreshadowing the Incarnation where the “name above every name” would at last be fully disclosed (Philippians 2:9). Recognition of a Christophany Throughout Scripture the “Angel of the LORD” speaks as God, receives worship, and forgives sins (cf. Genesis 16:10; Exodus 3:2-6; Zechariah 3:3-4). Judges 13 follows the same pattern: • Verse 16—Manoah is told to sacrifice “to the LORD,” yet the fire consumes the offering with the Angel ascending in its flame (v. 20). • Manoah and his wife fall on their faces and fear death for having “seen God” (v. 22). These traits align best with a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son, reinforcing why the name remains ineffable until the fullness of time (John 17:6). Comparative Biblical Incidents of Name-Asking • Jacob’s wrestling partner: “Please tell me Your name.” The answer is withheld, and Jacob names the site Peniel—“I have seen God face to face” (Genesis 32:29-30). • Moses at the burning bush: “What is His name?” God discloses the covenant name YHWH (“I AM”) but hedges it with mystery (Exodus 3:13-15). • Samson himself later in life fails to honor God’s name, contrasting with his parents’ reverence. The narrator subtly juxtaposes faithful inquiry with Samson’s later rebellious secrecy (Judges 14-16). Archaeological and Cultural Corroboration Timnah and Zorah (Samson’s wider setting) have yielded Iron-Age I architecture and collared-rim jars consistent with early Judges chronology (ca. 1200 BC). Cultic installations in nearby Beth-Shemesh show altars oriented east-west, paralleling Manoah’s sacrificial activity. These finds root the narrative’s cultic framework in genuine Palestinian practice rather than mythic projection. Christological Foreshadowing and New Testament Echoes The secrecy and “wonderful” quality of the name anticipate Isaiah 9:6’s messianic title and culminate in the angelic announcement to Mary: “You are to give Him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). The revelation that was withheld from Manoah is fully disclosed at the Resurrection, when the Risen Christ commissions His followers “in My name” (Mark 16:17). Thus, Manoah’s modest request finds its eschatological answer in Christ’s empty tomb. Practical and Devotional Implications 1. Seek to honor God before demanding explanations; worship often precedes full understanding. 2. God’s self-disclosure is progressive; what is hidden in Judges is revealed in Jesus. 3. Proper reverence balances intimacy with awe; we may ask, but we must accept divine mystery when God deems fit. Answer Summarized Manoah asks the Angel for His name to verify divine authenticity, prepare rightful honor, and fulfill covenant fidelity. The Angel declines by revealing the name as “wonderful,” asserting transcendence and hinting at deity. The exchange showcases a Christophany, harmonizes with wider biblical patterns, stands on firm textual footing, and points forward to the full revelation of the Savior’s name—Jesus Christ. |
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