Judges 13:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A man named Manoah of the tribe of Dan has a wife who is unable to bear children.
What Does Judges 13:2 Mean?
The narrative narrows from the whole nation to a single household in Zorah, a town in the territory of Dan near Philistine country. Manoah is named; his wife is not, yet she will be the one the story follows most closely. The note that she is barren is doubled for emphasis: 'barren, and bare not.'
Scripture often begins its greatest works in a place of emptiness and waiting. Barrenness here is not the last word but the soil of a promise. Where human hope has reached its limit, God's power has room to act, and the reader who knows the births of Isaac, Samuel, and John the Baptist senses that grace is about to enter through a closed door.
Judges 13:2 in the Original Language
aqarah (עֲקָרָה), 'barren' -- a woman unable to conceive, often the setting for God's unexpected gift of life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 13:2
What does Judges 13:2 mean?
A man named Manoah of the tribe of Dan has a wife who is unable to bear children.