This directive emphasizes that the mother's abstaining from wine and unclean foods isn't just about her own purity, but about the very nourishment and consecration of the child growing within her womb. It reveals a profound biblical concept: the mother's lifestyle directly impacts the spiritual state of her unborn child, preparing them for a life set apart for God even before birth.
Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
An angel of the Lord appears to Manoah's wife, who is barren, to announce she will conceive a son. This child, destined to be Samson, must be a Nazirite from conception, so his mother is instructed to abstain from wine, strong drink, and all unclean foods during her pregnancy.
Why would a mother need to follow strict rules before her baby is even born? Discover the profound connection between a mother's actions and her child's destiny.
The instructions given to Manoah's wife in Judges 13:4 are not just about her own well-being, but about the consecration of her unborn child. Because Samson was to be a 'Nazarite from the womb' (Judges 13:5), his mother had to live a life set apart, mirroring the requirements of a Nazarite vow.
A Shared Consecration
What does 'wine or strong drink' and 'unclean thing' truly signify in this context? Explore the deeper meaning beyond just diet.
The prohibitions against wine, strong drink, and unclean foods for Manoah's wife served multiple purposes, all pointing towards the holiness and separation required for Samson's unique mission.
Beyond Physical Purity
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Understand the original words
tame' · Hebrew Adjective
Food or substances prohibited by the Mosaic Law. Consumption of these rendered a person ritually impure and unfit for divine service or community worship.
nazir · Hebrew Noun
A person who made a special vow to be set apart exclusively for God's service. This vow involved abstaining from wine, contact with the dead, and the cutting of hair as a sign of consecration.
yasha' · Hebrew Verb
To rescue, deliver, or grant victory. In Scripture, it is the act of God or His appointed instrument saving His people from bondage, oppression, or ultimate judgment.
The instructions in this verse are not just about diet; they're about preparing the mother's body as a pure vessel for the consecrated life of her son, Samson, from the very moment of conception.
c. 1100s BC
Philistine Domination of Israel
The period in which the Book of Judges is set was marked by significant Philistine oppression of the Israelites, who had settled in the land.
c. 1100s BC
Barrenness of Manoah's Wife
The wife of Manoah, from the tribe of Dan, was barren, a common affliction in the Old Testament narrative that often precedes a miraculous birth.
c. 1100s BC
Angel Appears to Manoah's Wife
An angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah's wife, announcing that she would conceive and bear a son, who was to be a lifelong Nazirite.
c. 1100s BC— this verse
Instructions for the Mother
The angel instructed the woman to abstain from wine, strong drink, and unclean foods during her pregnancy, setting the stage for the child's consecration.
c. 1100s BC
Samson's Birth and Nazirite Vow
The child, Samson, was born and began his life as a Nazirite from the womb, a special vow of separation and dedication to God.
This passage lays out the specific laws and requirements for a Nazarite vow, directly informing the restrictions placed upon Samson's mother in Judges 13:4 as Samson was to be a lifelong Nazarite.
Leviticus 11:1-47This chapter details the dietary laws regarding clean and unclean foods, providing the background for the prohibition against eating 'anything unclean' mentioned in Judges 13:4.
Luke 1:15This verse describes John the Baptist, who also abstained from wine and strong drink from birth, drawing a parallel to Samson's divinely ordained abstinence.
1 Corinthians 10:31This verse teaches that all actions, including eating and drinking, should be done for the glory of God, which resonates with the consecrated lifestyle required of Samson and his mother.
gillJudges 13:4: "Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:"
Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink,.... Any liquor inebriating and intoxicating, neither new wine nor old wine, as the Targum, and so Jarchi; the reason of this appears in the next verse, because the child she should conceive and bear was to be a Nazarite, and to be one from his mother's womb; and from all such liquors, Nazarites, according to…
clarkeJudges 13:4: "Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:"
Beware - drink not wine - As Samson was designed to be a Nazarite from the womb, it was necessary that, while his mother carried and nursed him, she should live the life of a Nazarite, neither drinking wine nor any inebriating liquor, nor eating any kind of forbidden meat. See the account of the Nazarite and his vow in the notes on Numbers 6:2 (note), etc.
This directive emphasizes that the mother's abstaining from wine and unclean foods isn't just about her own purity, but about the very nourishment and consecration of the child growing within her womb. It reveals a profound biblical concept: the mother's lifestyle directly impacts the spiritual state of her unborn child, preparing them for a life set apart for God even before birth.
An angel of the Lord appears to Manoah's wife, who is barren, to announce she will conceive a son. This child, destined to be Samson, must be a Nazirite from conception, so his mother is instructed to abstain from wine, strong drink, and all unclean foods during her pregnancy.
An angel of the Lord appears to Manoah's wife, who is barren, to announce she will conceive a son. This child, destined to be Samson, must be a Nazirite from conception, so his mother is instructed to abstain from wine, strong drink, and all unclean foods during her pregnancy.
"Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin t…" — This directive emphasizes that the mother's abstaining from wine and unclean foods isn't just about her own purity, but about the very nourishment and consecration of the child growing within her wom…
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Last reviewed October 2026
