Bible Person

Manoah

Meaning: rest; a present · Male · 14 cross references

Manoah is the Danite father of Samson, living in the dark period of Philistine oppression before Samson's birth. He is remembered alongside his wife in the annunciation scene that introduces one of Judges' most dramatic deliverers. First appears in Judg 13:2.1

AI summary: Manoah matters because the cross references present him as part of a family set apart before the child's birth for a distinctive saving role. He receives the angelic message secondhand and then directly, asks careful questions, offers hospitality, and responds in awe when the divine messenger departs in flame. Though Samson becomes the central figure, Manoah's reverence and concern help frame the story from the start as one of divine initiative rather than human planning. Taken together, the material presents Manoah as a faithful father in a troubled time, standing at the threshold of Samson's calling.1

Central Figure

Manoah

Meaning: rest; a present

Rest, a Danite, the father of Samson (Judg.