God’s Word Translation
Judges 13:18
18The Messenger of the Lord asked him, “Why do you ask for my name? It’s a name that works miracles.”
Judges 13:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
- New International Version (NIV)He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the angel of the Lord said to him, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”
Context of Judges 13:18
16But the Messenger of the Lord responded, “If I stay here, I will not eat any of your food. But if you make a burnt offering, sacrifice it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the Messenger of the Lord.) 17Then Manoah asked the Messenger of the Lord, “What is your name? When your words come true, we will honor you.” The Messenger of the Lord asked him, “Why do you ask for my name? It’s a name that works miracles.” 19So Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and sacrificed them to the Lord on a rock he used as an altar. While Manoah and his wife watched, the Lord did something miraculous. 20As the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the Messenger of the Lord went up in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they immediately bowed down with their faces touching the ground.
Read all of Judges 13Judges 13:18 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לּוֹ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י וְהוּא־פֶ֛לִאי׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Judges 13:18
- Judges 13:6The woman went to tell her husband. She said, “A man of God came to me. He had a very frightening appearance like the Messenger of God. So I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name.
- Genesis 32:29Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” The man answered, “Why do you ask for my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.
- Isaiah 9:6A child will be born for us. A son will be given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Commentaries on Judges 13:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Seeing it is secret? - It was because it was secret that they wished to know it. The angel does not say that it was secret, but פלאי הוא hu peli it is Wonderful; the very character that is given to Jesus Christ, Isaiah 9:6; : His name shall be called, פלא Wonderful; and it is supposed by some that the angel gives this as his name, and consequently that he was our blessed Lord.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Secret - Rather, “wonderful,” as in the margin. In Judges 13:19 the Angel “did wondrously,” probably as the Angel that Appeared to Gideon had done, bringing fire from the rock. See the marginal references and notes.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 What Manoah asked for instruction in his duty, he was readily told; but what he asked to gratify his curiosity, was denied. God has in his word given full directions concerning our duty, but never designed to answer other questionings. There are secret things which belong not to us, of which we must be quite contented to be ignorant, while in this world. The name of our Lord is wonderful and secret; but by his wonderful works he makes himself…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18The Lord’s name is a divine secret (Genesis 32:29; Exodus 3:13–14). God knows our names, but we use words of wonder and adoration to address him. The true essence of the infinite cannot be fully expressed or understood by the finite.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2017-20. Manoah said unto the angel ..., What is thy name?--Manoah's request elicited the most unequivocal proofs of the divinity of his supernatural visitor--in his name "secret" (in the Margin, "wonderful"), and in the miraculous flame that betokened the acceptance of the sacrifice. Jud 13:24, 25. Samson Born.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 13:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Judges 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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