Judges 13:20

18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

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.

21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.

22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because 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

    And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 2:11

    And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 21:16

    And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 1:28

    As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 17:6

    And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 1:3

    Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

    Read in context
  • Genesis 17:3

    And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 21:26

    And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

    Read in context