Bible Strands
Judges 13:20
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Manoah and his wife stand at a rock altar immediately after Manoah offers a young goat and grain offering. They witness the angel of the LORD depart as the flame rises toward the sky.
The words — The Hebrew בַּעֲלֹת (ba'ălōṯ) means "when it went up," tracking the flame's movement from the altar. The verb וַיַּעַל (wayyaʿal) translates "and he went up," describing the angel's simultaneous ascent into the heavens.
The thread — Fire consuming offerings from the altar appears in Leviticus 9:24, while heavenly ascent and divine manifestation recur in 2 Kings 2:11 and 1 Chronicles 21:16. These references establish fire as the consistent medium for God's visible presence and departure.
Why it lands — The text states that Manoah and his wife fell facedown upon seeing the angel ascend, then notes in Judges 13:21 that the angel's absence confirmed the identity of the visitor. The passage requires readers to accept divine revelation as complete when visible signs cease, without demanding further proof.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Matthew 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.
- Genesis 17:3 Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
- 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.
- 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.
- Psalms 47:5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD with the sound of the horn.
- Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.