New English Translation
Judges 13:18
18The Lord’s messenger said to him, “You should not ask me my name, because you cannot comprehend it.”
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
16The Lord’s messenger said to Manoah, “If I stay, I will not eat your food. But if you want to make a burnt sacrifice to the Lord, you should offer it.” (He said this because Manoah did not know that he was the Lord’s messenger.) 17Manoah said to the Lord’s messenger, “Tell us your name, so we can honor you when your announcement comes true.” The Lord’s messenger said to him, “You should not ask me my name, because you cannot comprehend it.” 19Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the Lord. The Lord’s messenger did an amazing thing as Manoah and his wife watched. 20As the flame went up from the altar toward the sky, the Lord’s messenger went up in it while Manoah and his wife watched. They fell facedown to 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 and said to her husband, “A man sent from God came to me! He looked like God’s angelic messenger – he was very awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.
- Genesis 32:29Then Jacob asked, “Please tell me your name.” “Why do you ask my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
- Isaiah 9:6For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, 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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