Judges 13:15

Judges 13:15 Meaning and Explanation

And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.

King James Version (KJV)

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Manoah invites the messenger to stay so they may prepare a young goat for him.

What Does Judges 13:15 Mean?

Moved by gratitude and hospitality, Manoah asks the visitor to remain while he prepares a young goat -- a generous meal in that culture. He still believes he is speaking with a man of God and wishes to honor him with a host's welcome, the customary kindness shown to an honored guest.

Manoah's impulse is warm and good: he wants to give something back. His offer reflects the ancient virtue of hospitality, the open-handed welcome of the stranger who proves to be a messenger of God. Yet, as the next verses reveal, what Manoah means as a gift to a guest God will redirect into worship -- our gestures of kindness, offered sincerely, can be taken up into something holier than we knew.

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What does Judges 13:15 mean?

Manoah invites the messenger to stay so they may prepare a young goat for him.

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