Judges 13:20

18 “Why do you ask my name,” said the angel of the LORD, “since it is beyond comprehension?”

19 Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the LORD. And as Manoah and his wife looked on, the LORD did a marvelous thing.

When the flame went up from the altar to the sky, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground.

21 And when the angel of the LORD did not appear again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it had been the angel of the LORD.

22 “We are going to die,” he said to his wife, “for we have seen God!”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When the flame went up from the altar to the sky, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground.
KJV
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.
WEB
For when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, the LORD’s angel ascended in the flame of the altar. Manoah and his wife watched; and they fell on their faces to the ground.
ASV
For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of Jehovah ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground.
DARBY
And it came to pass, as the flame went up from off the altar towards the heavens, that the Angel of Jehovah ascended in the flame of the altar; and Manoah and his wife looked on, and fell on their faces to the ground.
BLB
And it came to pass, in the going up of the flame from the altar toward the heavens, that the angel of YHWH ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife saw [it], and they fell on their faces to the ground.
ÅB
Da flammen steg opp fra alteret mot himmelen, fór Herrens engel opp i alterets flamme mens Manoah og hans hustru så på det, og de falt på sitt ansikt til jorden.
OTB
Da flammen steg fra alteret mot himmelen, steg Herrens engel opp i flammen. Da Manoah og hans kone så dette, falt de med ansiktene til jorden.
B1930
Da luen steg op fra alteret mot himmelen, fór Herrens engel op i alterets lue mens Manoah og hans hustru så på det, og de falt på sitt ansikt til jorden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Leviticus 9:24

    Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 2:11

    As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 21:16

    When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 1:28

    The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 17:6

    When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 1:3

    The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 17:3

    Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 21:26

    And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.

    Read in context