Wives: Good: Wife of Manoah
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The wife of Manoah, though unnamed in the Scriptures, plays a significant role in the biblical narrative found in Judges 13. She is best known as the mother of Samson, one of the most prominent judges of Israel. Her account is a testament to faith, obedience, and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Divine Encounter and Promise

The account of Manoah's wife begins with a divine encounter. The Angel of the LORD appears to her, announcing that she, though barren, will conceive and bear a son. This son is to be a Nazirite from birth, dedicated to God, and he will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. The Angel instructs her, "Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean" (Judges 13:4). Her immediate acceptance and adherence to these instructions demonstrate her faith and obedience.

Role as a Faithful Messenger

After receiving the message, Manoah's wife faithfully relays the encounter to her husband. Her description of the Angel as having an appearance "like the Angel of God, very awesome" (Judges 13:6) indicates her recognition of the divine nature of the visitor. Manoah, seeking further confirmation, prays for the Angel to return, which God graciously grants. The Angel reappears to the wife, underscoring her favored status and the trust placed in her by God.

Wisdom and Discernment

Manoah's wife exhibits wisdom and discernment throughout the narrative. When Manoah expresses fear after realizing they have seen the Angel of the LORD, she reassures him, saying, "If the LORD had intended to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or told us this" (Judges 13:23). Her calm and reasoned response reflects her deep understanding of God's character and intentions.

Mother of Samson

The fulfillment of the Angel's promise comes to pass as she gives birth to Samson. Her role as his mother is pivotal, as she raises him according to the Nazirite vow, setting the foundation for his future as a judge of Israel. Her faithfulness in following God's instructions contributes to Samson's unique calling and mission.

Legacy

The wife of Manoah is remembered as a woman of faith, obedience, and wisdom. Her account highlights the importance of trust in God's promises and the impact of a godly mother's influence. Though her name is not recorded, her legacy is preserved through the life and deeds of her son, Samson, and her example continues to inspire those who seek to live in accordance with God's will.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Judges 13:10
And the woman made haste, and ran, and showed her husband, and said to him, Behold, the man has appeared to me, that came to me the other day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
... the couple, and more particularly to defend the good fame of ... The obligations upon
the wife were, that all her ... Wives such as Priscilla, mothers such as that of ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 9 mothers daughters and.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... and her two sons were left: Who took them wives of Moab ... Boaz reply'd, if good to
thee it seem, To buy ... did wond'rously, The whilst Manoah and his wife stood by ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

Christian Behavior
... Indeed there are some wives in great slavery by ... Somewhat like to this dealt Manoah's
wife with her husband ... and bowels of affection after his good, that the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... but that it may work some good effect on some that are left behind? But, pray Sir,
while it is fresh in my mind, do you hear anything of his wife and children? ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

Prov. 22:06 the Duties of Parents
... They all brought us on our way, with wives and children ... to do with David's awful
sin with the wife of Uriah ... of the Lord, your best endeavours will do no good. ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter xvi prov 22 6 the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... God saw, that to separate the waters from the earth was good: And so it is, for ... them;
and God said unto them, [that is, to the man and his wife] Be fruitful ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

part ii
... "It is good for me to hold me fast by God "; [669] but"what blindness and perversion! ...
O, holy temple, how good, how sweet it is to pray in thee! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Resources
How many wives did King David have? | GotQuestions.org

Why did the Israelites have to abandon their foreign wives and children? | GotQuestions.org

How many wives did Abraham have? | GotQuestions.org

Wives: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Wives

Wives of Ministers should be Exemplary

Wives: Bad: Herodias

Wives: Bad: Jezebel

Wives: Bad: Job's Wife

Wives: Bad: Michal

Wives: Bad: Samson's Wife

Wives: Bad: Sapphira

Wives: Bad: Zeresh

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To be Faithful to Them

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To be Subject to Them

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Love Them

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Obey Them

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Remain With Them for Life

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Reverence Them

Wives: Good are a Blessing to Husbands

Wives: Good are a Token of the Favour of God

Wives: Good are Benevolent to the Poor

Wives: Good are Diligent and Prudent

Wives: Good are from the Lord

Wives: Good are Praised by Husbands

Wives: Good: Abigail

Wives: Good: Bring Honor on Husbands

Wives: Good: Duty of, to Unbelieving Husbands

Wives: Good: Elizabeth

Wives: Good: Esther

Wives: Good: Orpah and Ruth

Wives: Good: Priscilla

Wives: Good: Sarah

Wives: Good: Secure Confidence of Husbands

Wives: Good: should be Silent in the Churches

Wives: Good: Wife of Manoah

Wives: Not to be Selected from Among the Ungodly

Wives: should be Adorned with a Meek and Quiet Spirit

Wives: should be Adorned with Good Works

Wives: should be Adorned with Modesty and Sobriety

Wives: should be Adorned: Not With Ornaments

Wives: should Seek Religious Instruction from Their Husbands

Related Terms

Servant-wives (4 Occurrences)

Concubines (18 Occurrences)

Adah (8 Occurrences)

Zillah (3 Occurrences)

Lamech (11 Occurrences)

Ahinoam (7 Occurrences)

Begetteth (52 Occurrences)

Infants (71 Occurrences)

Fathered (4 Occurrences)

Dearer (4 Occurrences)

Bashemath (6 Occurrences)

Ahin'o-am (7 Occurrences)

Subjection (40 Occurrences)

Married (152 Occurrences)

Jizreelitess (5 Occurrences)

Goblets (12 Occurrences)

Riseth (165 Occurrences)

Mahalath (6 Occurrences)

Basmath (7 Occurrences)

Consorts (3 Occurrences)

Ab'igail (16 Occurrences)

Maachah (19 Occurrences)

Subject (99 Occurrences)

Abigail (18 Occurrences)

Polygamy

Wife (437 Occurrences)

Widows (33 Occurrences)

Slain (235 Occurrences)

Provide (74 Occurrences)

Besides (178 Occurrences)

Foreign (65 Occurrences)

Captive (123 Occurrences)

Calamity (108 Occurrences)

Threescore (87 Occurrences)

Lain (57 Occurrences)

Loveth (88 Occurrences)

Queens (4 Occurrences)

Taking (445 Occurrences)

Ziklag (13 Occurrences)

Carmel (33 Occurrences)

Jabesh-gilead (12 Occurrences)

Looted (9 Occurrences)

Wounding (24 Occurrences)

Wagons (14 Occurrences)

Won (24 Occurrences)

Waggons (9 Occurrences)

Injuring (4 Occurrences)

Feasting (39 Occurrences)

Twenty-eight (13 Occurrences)

Rachel (42 Occurrences)

Raising (29 Occurrences)

Ruled (84 Occurrences)

Eighteen (22 Occurrences)

Elkanah (20 Occurrences)

Deportment (12 Occurrences)

Diminished (11 Occurrences)

Daylight (24 Occurrences)

Decrease (4 Occurrences)

Divorced (10 Occurrences)

Ma'acah (22 Occurrences)

Permitted (31 Occurrences)

Plunder (118 Occurrences)

Princesses (4 Occurrences)

Beeri (2 Occurrences)

Bruising (5 Occurrences)

Bani (15 Occurrences)

Beget (20 Occurrences)

Behavior (20 Occurrences)

Basemath (7 Occurrences)

Ben-hadad (27 Occurrences)

Carmelite (6 Occurrences)

Carts (13 Occurrences)

Captives (69 Occurrences)

Ammonite (22 Occurrences)

Anah (10 Occurrences)

Sixty (70 Occurrences)

Submit (36 Occurrences)

Shemariah (5 Occurrences)

Wives: Good: should be Silent in the Churches
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