Manoah
maleJudgesMeaning: “Rest; quiet”
A Danite of Zorah, the father of Samson, to whose barren wife the angel of the LORD announced the birth of a Nazirite deliverer.
Biography
Manoah was a man of the tribe of Dan from the town of Zorah, the father of Samson. He and his barren wife received an extraordinary visitation: the angel of the LORD appeared to announce that they would have a son who was to be a Nazirite from the womb and would "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines" (Judges 13:5).
Encounter with the angel
Manoah prayed for the angel to return and teach them how to raise the child. When the angel ascended in the flame of their sacrifice, Manoah feared they would die "because we have seen God" — but his wife wisely reassured him (Judges 13:22–23). Their son Samson was born, "and the LORD blessed him" (Judges 13:24).
Life Timeline
The angel announces the birth of Samson
On the Bible timeline
Manoah belongs to the Conquest & the Judges era (c. 1400 – 1050 BC).
- c. 1375 – 1050 BCThe Age of the Judges
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Manoah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Manoah appears.
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
14 verses in 1 bookJudges14 verses
Judges 13:2
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.
Judges 13:8
Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
Judges 13:9
And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
Judges 13:11
And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
Judges 13:12
And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? How shall we order: Heb. What shall be the manner of the, etc how shall we do: or, what shall he do?: Heb. what shall be his work?
Judges 13:13
And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
Judges 13:15
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. for thee: Heb. before thee
Judges 13:16
And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
Judges 13:17
And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
Judges 13:19
So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
Judges 13:20
For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
Judges 13:21
But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
Judges 13:22
And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
Judges 16:31
Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
Frequently asked about Manoah
Who was Manoah in the Bible?
A Danite of Zorah, the father of Samson, to whose barren wife the angel of the LORD announced the birth of a Nazirite deliverer.
What does the name Manoah mean?
The name Manoah means “Rest; quiet”.
Who were Manoah's children?
Manoah's children include Samson.
Where does Manoah appear in the Bible?
Manoah is mentioned 14 times across 1 book: Judges.
What can we learn from Manoah?
The story of Manoah touches on themes of titles and names of christ, altars, samson, zorah — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Manoah's life.
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