The angel of Yahweh’s answer to Manoah’s question is a question. This question is verbatim as the questions asked to Jacob in Genesis 32:29, where Jacob asked for the name of the divine wrestling partner but received only this question. The “angel” here does add, however, that the name “is beyond understanding” (peli’y; for this root, cf. Gen 18:14 [“hard”]; Isa 9:6 [“Wonderful”]). The root of the verb pala’ is frequently used to refer to God’s marvelous acts in judgment and salvation (Exod 3:20; Judg 6:13; 1 Chr 16:9, 24; Pss 9:1; 26:7; 139:6). Although the divine messenger provides Manoah
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