Judges 13:1-5

Contemporary English Version

Samson Is Born

13 Once again the Israelites started disobeying the Lord. So he let the Philistines take control of Israel for 40 years.

² Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was not able to have children, ^3-5 (A) but one day an angel from the Lord appeared to her and said:

You have never been able to have any children, but very soon you will be pregnant and have a son. He will belong to God^[a] from the day he is born, so his hair must never be cut. And even before he is born, you must not drink any wine or beer or eat any food forbidden by God's laws.

Your son will begin to set Israel free from the Philistines.