This verse from Judges 13:5 is a prophecy delivered by the Angel of the Lord to the wife of Manoah, foretelling the birth of their son, Samson. Let's break down its meaning:
"For, behold, you shall conceive, and give birth to a son." This is a direct and clear announcement of her future pregnancy and the birth of a male child. This is particularly significant because the woman was barren.
"No razor shall come on his head;" This is a key instruction and relates to the Nazirite vow. This indicates that Samson will be a Nazirite for life, and a symbol of that vow is that he must never cut his hair.
"for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb." This is the core of the prophecy. A Nazirite was someone specially dedicated to God, taking specific vows of separation. These vows often included:
Abstaining from wine and strong drink.
Avoiding contact with a dead body, even of close relatives.
Never cutting their hair.
In Samson's case, his Nazirite vow was from the womb, meaning he was set apart for God's purpose from the moment of his conception. This makes his dedication even more significant.
"He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." This explains the purpose of Samson's special dedication. The Philistines were a major enemy of Israel at the time. The Angel of the Lord reveals that Samson will initiate the deliverance of the Israelites from Philistine oppression. This is a critical piece of information, framing Samson's life as one with a divine purpose.
In essence, the verse means:
A barren woman will miraculously conceive and give birth to a son. This son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth, and one of the outward signs of this will be that he can never cut his hair. God has chosen him to begin the process of freeing Israel from the control of the Philistines.
Significance:
This verse sets the stage for Samson's extraordinary life. It emphasizes his unique role as a divinely appointed deliverer, whose strength and purpose were intertwined with his dedication to God as a Nazirite. It also foreshadows the importance of his uncut hair as a symbol of his commitment and the source (or at least a reflection) of his supernatural strength. Samson is not just an ordinary man; he is a tool in God's hand to accomplish a specific task: beginning the liberation of Israel.
This verse from Judges 13:5 is a prophecy delivered by the Angel of the Lord to the wife of Manoah, foretelling the birth of their son, Samson. Let's break down its meaning:
"For, behold, you shall conceive, and give birth to a son." This is a direct and clear announcement of her future pregnancy and the birth of a male child. This is particularly significant because the woman was barren.
"No razor shall come on his head;" This is a key instruction and relates to the Nazirite vow. This indicates that Samson will be a Nazirite for life, and a symbol of that vow is that he must never cut his hair.
"for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb." This is the core of the prophecy. A Nazirite was someone specially dedicated to God, taking specific vows of separation. These vows often included:
Abstaining from wine and strong drink.
Avoiding contact with a dead body, even of close relatives.
Never cutting their hair.
In Samson's case, his Nazirite vow was from the womb, meaning he was set apart for God's purpose from the moment of his conception. This makes his dedication even more significant.
"He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." This explains the purpose of Samson's special dedication. The Philistines were a major enemy of Israel at the time. The Angel of the Lord reveals that Samson will initiate the deliverance of the Israelites from Philistine oppression. This is a critical piece of information, framing Samson's life as one with a divine purpose.
In essence, the verse means:
A barren woman will miraculously conceive and give birth to a son. This son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth, and one of the outward signs of this will be that he can never cut his hair. God has chosen him to begin the process of freeing Israel from the control of the Philistines.
Significance:
This verse sets the stage for Samson's extraordinary life. It emphasizes his unique role as a divinely appointed deliverer, whose strength and purpose were intertwined with his dedication to God as a Nazirite. It also foreshadows the importance of his uncut hair as a symbol of his commitment and the source (or at least a reflection) of his supernatural strength. Samson is not just an ordinary man; he is a tool in God's hand to accomplish a specific task: beginning the liberation of Israel.