There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes Manoah's wife's barrenness with a twofold description, "barren, and had no children." This isn't just repetition; it highlights the profound, ingrained nature of her inability to conceive, setting the stage for the extraordinary, divine intervention to come.
There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The stage is set for Samson's birth within a family struggling with barrenness, a common theme in Scripture often signaling God's extraordinary intervention. Manoah, a man from Zorah in the tribe of Dan, and his wife, who had long been unable to have children, will soon receive a divine promise of a son. This introduction highlights their personal challenge against the backdrop of Israel's oppression by the Philistines, setting up a narrative where God's power will overcome human limitations.
Where do God's heroes usually come from? Often, it's not the most obvious or powerful places.
The story of Samson begins in Zorah, a town with a complex identity. It was considered part of the tribe of Dan but also bordered Judah and was fortified by Rehoboam. This location was strategically important, situated in the lowlands and close to Philistine territory.
This geographical context is crucial. Zorah wasn't a grand capital or a central hub of Israelite power. Instead, it was a town facing external pressures, a place where the Israelites were already influenced by surrounding cultures. It's a reminder that God often calls and works through people and places that might seem ordinary or even vulnerable on the world's stage.
What can we learn from the unexpected starting point of Samson's birth – a mother who couldn't conceive?
Manoah's wife was 'barren and had no children.' This wasn't just a sad circumstance; it was a common theme in biblical narratives for those chosen by God. Think of Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah, and later, Elizabeth.
Infertility in Scripture often signifies that any child born is not a product of human effort or natural ability, but a direct, miraculous gift from God. This emphasizes His sovereignty and power. For Manoah and his wife, their personal struggle became the very backdrop against which God's incredible plan for Samson would unfold, ensuring all glory went to Him.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
aqar · Hebrew Adjective
A condition often seen in the Bible as a state of social disgrace or sorrow, yet frequently used by God to display His power through miraculous intervention in birth.
The setting of Zorah, a Danite town near the Philistine border, highlights the oppressive environment that made the birth of a deliverer like Samson so crucial and miraculous.
c. 1160 BC
Danites Migrate North
The tribe of Dan, pressured by Amorites and Philistines, migrates from their southern tribal lands to the northern part of Canaan, settling near Laish (later called Dan). Some families likely remained behind.
c. 1125 BC
Philistine Oppression Intensifies
Following the general period of Judges, the Philistines become a dominant oppressive force in Canaan, frequently clashing with and subjugating Israelite tribes, particularly in the lowlands and border regions.
c. 1100 BC— this verse
Manoah's Family in Zorah
Manoah, from a family of the Danites residing in Zorah, a town on the border of Judah and Dan near the Philistine territory, lives with his wife who is unable to have children.
This passage also highlights a barren wife (Sarah) miraculously conceiving a promised son (Isaac), emphasizing God's power to overcome human limitations for His purposes.
1 Samuel 1:1-20The story of Hannah, who was also barren and deeply desired a child, mirrors Manoah's wife's situation and shows how God hears the prayers of those who are unable to have children.
Luke 1:5-25Zechariah and Elizabeth, like Manoah and his wife, were righteous but childless, and their son (John the Baptist) was miraculously conceived and destined for a special role.
Isaiah 54:1-3This prophetic passage speaks of a barren woman joyfully having more children than a married one, offering hope and a spiritual parallel to the unexpected fruitfulness that God brings.
clarkeJudges 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."
A certain man of Zorah - A town in the tribe of Judah, but afterwards given to Dan.
bensonJudges 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."
Jdg 13:2-3 . Of the family of the Danites — That is, of that tribe or people. His wife was barren, and bare not — An emphatical repetition of the same thing in other words, which is a usual elegance both in Scripture and other authors. The angel — The Son of God, yet distinguished from the Lord, because he appeared here in the form of a servant, as a m…
The text emphasizes Manoah's wife's barrenness with a twofold description, "barren, and had no children." This isn't just repetition; it highlights the profound, ingrained nature of her inability to conceive, setting the stage for the extraordinary, divine intervention to come.
The stage is set for Samson's birth within a family struggling with barrenness, a common theme in Scripture often signaling God's extraordinary intervention. Manoah, a man from Zorah in the tribe of Dan, and his wife, who had long been unable to have children, will soon receive a divine promise of a son. This introduction highlights their personal challenge against the backdrop of Israel's oppression by the Philistines, setting up a narrative where God's power will overcome human limitations.
The stage is set for Samson's birth within a family struggling with barrenness, a common theme in Scripture often signaling God's extraordinary intervention. Manoah, a man from Zorah in the tribe of Dan, and his wife, who had long been unable to have children, will soon receive a divine promise of a son. This introduction highlights their personal challenge against the backdrop of Israel's oppression by the Philistines, setting up a narrative where God's power will overcome human limitations.
"There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children." — The text emphasizes Manoah's wife's barrenness with a twofold description, "barren, and had no children." This isn't just repetition; it highlights the profound, ingrained nature of her inability to…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026