Judges 13:12
New International Version
So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?”

New Living Translation
So Manoah asked him, “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?”

English Standard Version
And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission?”

Berean Standard Bible
Then Manoah asked, “When your words come to pass, what will be the boy’s rule of life and mission?”

King James Bible
And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?

New King James Version
Manoah said, “Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy’s rule of life, and his work?”

New American Standard Bible
Then Manoah said, “Now when your words are fulfilled, what shall be the boy’s way of life and his vocation?”

NASB 1995
Manoah said, “Now when your words come to pass, what shall be the boy’s mode of life and his vocation?”

NASB 1977
And Manoah said, “Now when your words come to pass, what shall be the boy’s mode of life and his vocation?”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Manoah said, “Now your words will come to pass. What shall be the judgment governing the boy and his work?”

Amplified Bible
And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what shall be the boy’s manner of life, and his vocation?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then Manoah asked, “When your words come true, what will be the boy’s responsibilities and work? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Manoah asked, “When Your words come true, what will the boy’s responsibilities and mission be?”

American Standard Version
And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass: what shall be the ordering of the child, and how shall we do unto him?

Contemporary English Version
Manoah then asked, "When your promise comes true, what rules must he obey and what will be his work?"

English Revised Version
And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass: what shall be the manner of the child, and what shall be his work?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Manoah asked, "When your words come true, how should the boy live and what should he do?"

Good News Translation
Then Manoah said, "Now then, when your words come true, what must the boy do? What kind of a life must he lead?"

International Standard Version
Manoah asked, "Now, when what you've said occurs, what is to be the young man's way of life and work?"

Majority Standard Bible
Then Manoah asked, ?When your words come to pass, what will be the boy?s rule of life and mission??

NET Bible
Manoah said, "Now, when your announcement comes true, how should the child be raised and what should he do?"

New Heart English Bible
Manoah said, "Now let your word happen. How shall the child be raised and what is he to do?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do to him?

World English Bible
Manoah said, “Now let your words happen. What shall the child’s way of life and mission be?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Manoah says, “Now let Your words come to pass; what is the custom of the youth—and his work?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Manoah saith, 'Now let thy words come to pass; what is the custom of the youth -- and his work?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Manoah will say, Now shall come thy words. What shall be the judgment of the boy, and his work?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Manue said to him: When thy word shall come to pass, what wilt thou that the child should do? or from what shall he keep himself?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Manoah said to him: “When will your word be fulfilled. What do you want the boy to do? Or from what should he keep himself?”

New American Bible
Then Manoah asked, “Now, when what you say comes true, what rules must the boy follow? What must he do?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the boy’s rule of life; what is he to do?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Manoah said, Now let your words come to pass. But tell me, what is the manner by which the child is to be brought up, and what shall we do to him?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said: “I am”; and MaNoah said: “Behold, it is your word. Tell me, what is the judgment of the boy and his works?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Manoah said: 'Now when thy word cometh to pass, what shall be the rule for the child, and what shall be done with him?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Manoe said, Now shall thy word come to pass: what shall be the ordering of the child, and our dealings with him?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Birth of Samson
11So 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. 12Then Manoah asked, “When your words come to pass, what will be the boy’s rule of life and mission?” 13So the angel of the LORD answered Manoah, “Your wife is to do everything I told her.…

Cross References
Luke 1:13-17
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. / He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, / for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. ...

Genesis 18:9-15
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied. / Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. / And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. ...

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Luke 1:34-38
“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” / The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. / Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. ...

Genesis 17:15-19
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. / And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” / Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” ...

1 Samuel 1:20-28
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.” / Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, / but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.” ...

Matthew 1:20-23
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. / She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” / All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ...

Genesis 25:21-23
Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. / But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD, / and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Luke 1:57-66
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. / Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. / On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. ...

Genesis 30:22-24
Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb, / and she conceived and gave birth to a son. “God has taken away my shame,” she said. / She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”

Matthew 2:13-15
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Exodus 23:25-26
So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take away sickness from among you. / No woman in your land will miscarry or be barren; I will fulfill the number of your days.

2 Kings 4:16-17
And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.” / But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

Hebrews 11:11-12
By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. / And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.


Treasury of Scripture

And Manoah said, Now let your words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do to him?

How shall we order the child.

Genesis 18:19
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Proverbs 4:4
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

how shall we do unto him.

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Judges 13
1. Israel is delivered into the hands of Philistines
2. An angel appears to Manoah's wife
8. The angel appears to Manoah
15. Manoah's sacrifices, whereby the angel is discovered.
24. Samson is born














Then Manoah asked
The name "Manoah" in Hebrew means "rest" or "quiet." Manoah's inquiry reflects a deep desire for understanding and guidance, a common theme in the lives of those who seek God's will. His approach is one of humility and faith, as he seeks clarity from the divine messenger. This moment underscores the importance of seeking God's direction in parenting and life decisions.

When your words come to pass
This phrase demonstrates Manoah's faith in the angel's message. The certainty in "when" rather than "if" indicates a strong belief in God's promises. In the Hebrew context, words from God are seen as powerful and certain, reflecting the belief that God's declarations are as good as done. This faith is a model for believers, encouraging them to trust in God's promises even before they see them fulfilled.

What will be the boy’s rule of life
The term "rule of life" suggests a divinely ordained path or set of guidelines. In Hebrew culture, a "rule" often refers to a way of living that aligns with God's commandments. Manoah's question reveals a desire to understand the specific calling and lifestyle that God has planned for his son, emphasizing the importance of raising children according to God's will.

And mission
The word "mission" implies a purpose or task assigned by God. In the context of Samson, the mission was to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines. This highlights the biblical theme that each person has a God-given purpose. For conservative Christians, this serves as a reminder that every life has a divine mission, and it is crucial to seek and fulfill that purpose in accordance with God's plan.

(12) How shall we order the child . . .?--The literal rendering is given in the margin, What shall be the ordering (mishpat; LXX., krima) of the child, and his work?

Verse 12. - Let thy words come, etc. The verb is singular in the Hebrew here and in ver. 17. Possibly the true reading is word, as in the Septuagint. If the text is correct, words must be taken collectively, as making one promise. The saying marks Manoah's earnest desire for a son. Some, however, construe it, If thy words come. How shall we order, etc. - literally, What will be the manner of the child, and what will be his doing? i.e. either, What will be his manner (cf. 1 Samuel 8:11, and following verses), and what will be his action or work? or, What will be his proper treatment, and what shall be done to him? The former is the most natural rendering of the words, and though the latter seems at first more suitable to the angel's reply, yet if we take the angel's reply as referring Manoah to what he had said before in vers. 4 and 5, we have a distinct answer to the questions. His manner will be to live as a Nazarite, and his action or work will be to begin to deliver israel (cf. Genesis 16:12, where both the manner and the actione of Ishmael are foretold). In fact, Manoah's question refers directly to vers. 4 and 5, and is a request to have a confirmation of what was then said; just as David asked again and again, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine? (1 Samuel 17:26, 30).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Manoah
מָנ֔וֹחַ (mā·nō·w·aḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4495: Manoah -- father of Samson

asked,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“When
עַתָּ֖ה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

Your words
דְבָרֶ֑יךָ (ḏə·ḇā·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

come to pass,
יָבֹ֣א (yā·ḇō)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

what
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

will be
יִּֽהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the boy’s
הַנַּ֖עַר (han·na·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

rule of life
מִשְׁפַּט־ (miš·paṭ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

and mission?”
וּמַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃ (ū·ma·‘ă·śê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property


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OT History: Judges 13:12 Manoah said Now let your words happen: (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 13:11
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