And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh’s angel said to him, “Why do you ask about my name, since it is incomprehensible?”
- KJV And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
- BSB “Why do you ask my name,” said the angel of the LORD, “since it is beyond comprehension?”
- ESV And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”
- NASB But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, for it is wonderful?”
- NLT “Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The angel replies that his name is 'incomprehensible' or 'wonderful.' His answer points to a divine identity beyond human grasp.
Overview
The word translated 'incomprehensible' or 'wonderful' echoes the language used of God Himself, including Isaiah's title 'Wonderful' for the coming Messiah (Isaiah 9:6). The reply signals that this is no mere creature but a manifestation of the Lord. Many faithful interpreters see here a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, the Wonderful One.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Gen 32:29Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” He blessed him there.
- Isa 9:6For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Judg 13:6Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 13:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.