Christians, who was “the visitor” in Judges 13:17-19 and what is significant about him saying his name “is beyond understanding”?
This unusual visitor told Manoah that his barren wife would conceive a son. Manoah enquired, "What is your name, so that we may honour you when your word comes true?" The answer Manoah got is intriguing. "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."
Update:Thanks everyone, especially to Wwwdot and Lesley. There truly are some astonishing and thought-provoking points in the scriptures, which will be clarified in the glory!
More Questions From This User See All
Answers & Comments
The visitor was a angel and he wanted all the glory to go to God. Which makes sense. The message wasn't from him he was just the messenger.
If you got an important letter it wouldn't matter the name of the mail person. You would be more interested in who sent the letter.
Please note that I picked the second translation for a specific reason, please do not overlook it.
1) Christians, who was “the visitor” in Judges 13:17-19
The Bible itself teaches us who this "visitor" was.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jdg+1...
According to the Bible: it was "the angel of Yahweh" ("the angel of the LORD").
Unlike some other Bible passages where an angel or "the angel of Yahweh" is identified as Yahweh himself, in this passage the angel is identified as some being other than Yahweh himself (see vv 8-9)
2) what is significant about him saying his name “is beyond understanding”?
I point out that the word used to describe the angel's name is ambiguous and translators are not agreed on its exact meaning in this particular passage.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jdg+1...
If we suppose for a moment that the rendering "is beyond understanding" is accurate, it signifies that his name had a meaning and that Manoah would find that meaning incomprehensible. Presumably (from the nature of the angel's question) it would have not benefited Manoah in any way to learn the name of the angel.
What does God wants us to really learn from this scripture....
Hospitality
(Jg 13:15-18, 21) A prominent woman of Shunem showed hospitality to Elisha because, as she said: “Here, now, I well know that it is a holy man of God that is passing by us constantly.”
Judges 13:8
8 Ma·noʹah pleaded with Jehovah and said: “Pardon me, Jehovah. Please let the man of the true God whom you just sent come again to instruct us about what we should do with the child who will be born.”( In teaching their children, parents should pray to Jehovah for guidance and follow his direction.—2 Timothy 3:16.)
http://m.wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002091?q=...
Angel
(Jg 13:17, 18) The apostle John attempted to worship angels and was twice rebuked: “Be careful!
http://m.wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000277?q=...
A Celestial being ! Now not extra-terrestrial at all ! A being from beyond our dimensions ! There are many kinds of these !
The correct translation of that sentence is, "Why do you ask about my name? Seeing that it is a wonderful one."
Sounds like he was just jerking Manoah around. I don't know what "Annsan" means, but it's still your name. I don't have to understand it.
Standard paternity suit evasion tactic.
It was an angel
At that time he didn't know how to spell Luke Skywalker.
God never gives us His name.