Judges 13:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The angel instructs the woman to avoid wine, strong drink, and any unclean food.
What Does Judges 13:4 Mean?
Before the child is even conceived, the mother is given a discipline to keep. She is to abstain from wine and strong drink and from anything ceremonially unclean. The consecration of the son begins in the body and the obedience of the mother, who shares in his calling from the very start.
This is a tender picture of how holiness is nurtured. The boy's set-apart life does not begin at his own first choice but in the care taken for him before birth. God invites the willing to prepare the way for what He will do, and even small acts of self-denial become part of a sacred purpose larger than oneself.
Judges 13:4 in the Original Language
shekar (שֵׁכָר), 'strong drink' -- an intoxicating drink, here set aside as part of a consecrated life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 13:4
What does Judges 13:4 mean?
The angel instructs the woman to avoid wine, strong drink, and any unclean food.