Judges 13:17Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you?"
The setting
Zorah, ancient Israel, ~1100 BC. Manoah realizes he's speaking with someone extraordinary and wants to give proper credit when the prophecy comes true. Modern location: near Beit Shemesh, Israel.
The emotion here: eager anticipation mixed with reverent curiosity
The original word
shem (שֵׁם) — name, but implies reputation, character, and authority
Why it matters
In ancient culture, knowing someone's name gave you power to invoke them and their authority
Read with care
What most readers miss in Judges 13:17
Manoah is planning ahead - he wants to properly credit this messenger when the prophecy is fulfilled
Common misconceptionPeople think Manoah was being nosy, but he was actually planning to give proper honor when the prophecy came true - a mark of integrity.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Judges 13:17
Bible Genome reading
Judges 13:17 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Judges 13:17 comes from the book of Judges, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Manoah. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine encounter. Notable phrases: What is your name.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Judges 13:17 mean to you, today?
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