Manoah מָנוֹחַ
Father of Samson, from the tribe of Dan.
Who is Manoah in the Bible?
Manoah was the father of Samson and an Israelite from the tribe of Dan, whose story appears in Judges 13. His wife was barren until an angel of the Lord appeared to her and announced she would bear a son destined to deliver Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:2-5). When Manoah learned of this miraculous promise, he prayed for the angel to return and teach them how to raise the child as a Nazirite, and the Lord granted his request (Judges 13:8-13). During a second visit, Manoah offered a sacrifice, and when the angel ascended in the flame of the altar, Manoah and his wife recognized they had encountered a divine messenger (Judges 13:19-21). Manoah's faithful response to God's plan and his role as Samson's father made him instrumental in the birth of one of Israel's greatest judges, and he was honored to be buried in the same tomb as his famous son (Judges 16:31).
Biography
Manoah was an Israelite from the tribe of Dan, and he was the father of Samson. Manoah's wife was barren, but the Angel of the Lord appeared to her and announced that she would conceive and give birth to a son who would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. The Angel instructed her to follow specific guidelines during her pregnancy and to raise the child as a Nazirite. Manoah prayed for the Angel to return and teach them how to raise the child, and the Angel appeared again, reiterating the instructions. Manoah offered a young goat as a sacrifice to the Lord, and the Angel ascended in the flame of the altar, confirming his divine nature. Manoah and his wife named their son Samson, and the Lord blessed him as he grew. After Samson's death, he was buried in the tomb of his father, Manoah, between Zorah and Eshtaol (Judges 13; 16:31).
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical bookJudges 5 verses
- Judges 13:2
"Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children."
- Judges 13:8
"Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, “Please, O Lord, let the man of God You sent us come to us again to teach us how to raise the boy who is to be born.”"
- Judges 13:9
"And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God returned to the woman as she was sitting in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her."
- Judges 13:11
"So Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he asked, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?” “I am,” he said."
- Judges 13:12
"Then Manoah asked, “When your words come to pass, what will be the boy’s rule of life and mission?”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מָנוֹחַ |
Manoah
. No children had been born to Manoah and his wife, and the latter was considered barren (Jud 13:2). Finally it was revealed to her by an angel of the Lord that she would conceive and bear a child. She was cautioned against strong drink and "unclean" food, for her child was to be born and reared a Nazirite to the end that he might save Israel out of the hands of the Philistines (Jud 13:3-5). That Manoah was a devout man seems certain in view of the fact that, upon hearing of the angel's visit, he offered a prayer for the angel's return, in order that he and his wife might be instructed as to the proper care of the child to be born (Jud 13:8). The request was granted and the angel repeated the visit and the instructions (Jud 13:9-13). Manoah with true hospitality would have the guest remain and partake of food. The angel refused, but commanded a sacrifice unto Yahweh. When Manoah had prepared the sacrifice and lit it on the altar, the angel ascended in the flame from the altar and appeared no more (Jud 13:15-21). The child was born according to the promise and was named Samson. Manoah and his wife appear twice in the narrative of Samson's early life--once as they protestingly accompanied him to sue for the hand of a Philistine woman of Timnah in marriage, and again when they went with him to Timnab for the wedding.
Josephus richly embellishes this Scriptural narrative concerning Manoah, but offers no further light upon the occupation or character of Manoah. At the death of Samson, his brothers went down to Gaza and brought back the body and buried it by the side of Manoah in the family tomb near Zorah (Jud 16:31). In Samson Agonistes Milton gains dramatic effect by having Manoah survive Samson and in deep sorrow assist at his burial.
C. E. Schenk
man'sur-vant (`ebhedh): A male slave; usually coupled with maidservant or female slave (Ge 12:16; Ex 20:10;