Judges 13:7 - but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”
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What does "Judges 13:7" mean?
This verse (Judges 13:7) is part of the story of the angel of the Lord appearing to Manoah's wife, who was barren, to announce that she will conceive and give birth to a son. The verse outlines the instructions given to her regarding her diet and behavior during the pregnancy because her son is destined for a special purpose: to be a Nazirite from birth. Let's break down the meaning:
"but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son;": This is a divine promise of conception and childbirth to a woman who was previously infertile. This promise highlights the miraculous nature of the child's birth.
"and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing;": This is a specific dietary restriction imposed upon the mother during her pregnancy.
"Drink no wine nor strong drink": This meant abstaining from any alcoholic beverages.
"Don't eat any unclean thing": Refers to avoiding food that was considered impure or forbidden under Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11). This could include certain meats (like pork), shellfish, and other foods deemed unsuitable for consumption by observant Israelites.
"for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”: This explains the reason for the dietary restrictions. The child is designated to be a Nazirite.
"Nazirite": A Nazirite was an individual who took a special vow to dedicate themselves to God. This vow typically involved three restrictions:
1. Abstaining from all grape products: This included wine, strong drink, fresh grapes, raisins, and anything made from grapes.
2. Not cutting their hair: The hair was allowed to grow long as a sign of their dedication.
3. Avoiding contact with dead bodies: Even touching a dead relative would defile the Nazirite and require a purification ritual.
"from the womb to the day of his death": This indicates that the Nazirite vow for this child (who turned out to be Samson) was permanent, starting even before his birth. This is an unusual and particularly significant detail, as Nazirites typically took the vow for a specific period of time. In Samson's case, the vow was lifelong and divinely ordained.
In summary, the verse means:
An angel of the Lord told Manoah's wife that she would miraculously conceive and bear a son. To prepare for his birth and honor his future role as a Nazirite, she was instructed to abstain from alcohol and unclean foods during her pregnancy. Her son was destined to be a Nazirite to God from birth until his death, meaning he would be dedicated to God and subject to the Nazirite vows throughout his life. This highlights the pre-ordained nature of Samson's destiny and the importance of his mother's compliance with the divine instructions. It also emphasizes that Samson's strength and purpose were tied to his adherence to the Nazirite vow.
Judges 13:7 - but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”
What does "Judges 13:7" mean?
This verse (Judges 13:7) is part of the story of the angel of the Lord appearing to Manoah's wife, who was barren, to announce that she will conceive and give birth to a son. The verse outlines the instructions given to her regarding her diet and behavior during the pregnancy because her son is destined for a special purpose: to be a Nazirite from birth. Let's break down the meaning:
"but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son;": This is a divine promise of conception and childbirth to a woman who was previously infertile. This promise highlights the miraculous nature of the child's birth.
"and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing;": This is a specific dietary restriction imposed upon the mother during her pregnancy.
"Drink no wine nor strong drink": This meant abstaining from any alcoholic beverages.
"Don't eat any unclean thing": Refers to avoiding food that was considered impure or forbidden under Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11). This could include certain meats (like pork), shellfish, and other foods deemed unsuitable for consumption by observant Israelites.
"for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”: This explains the reason for the dietary restrictions. The child is designated to be a Nazirite.
"Nazirite": A Nazirite was an individual who took a special vow to dedicate themselves to God. This vow typically involved three restrictions:
1. Abstaining from all grape products: This included wine, strong drink, fresh grapes, raisins, and anything made from grapes.
2. Not cutting their hair: The hair was allowed to grow long as a sign of their dedication.
3. Avoiding contact with dead bodies: Even touching a dead relative would defile the Nazirite and require a purification ritual.
"from the womb to the day of his death": This indicates that the Nazirite vow for this child (who turned out to be Samson) was permanent, starting even before his birth. This is an unusual and particularly significant detail, as Nazirites typically took the vow for a specific period of time. In Samson's case, the vow was lifelong and divinely ordained.
In summary, the verse means:
An angel of the Lord told Manoah's wife that she would miraculously conceive and bear a son. To prepare for his birth and honor his future role as a Nazirite, she was instructed to abstain from alcohol and unclean foods during her pregnancy. Her son was destined to be a Nazirite to God from birth until his death, meaning he would be dedicated to God and subject to the Nazirite vows throughout his life. This highlights the pre-ordained nature of Samson's destiny and the importance of his mother's compliance with the divine instructions. It also emphasizes that Samson's strength and purpose were tied to his adherence to the Nazirite vow.