This verse serves as background and closes the episode concerning the angel of the LORD. Even though the verse begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction, the majority of versions omit it in this background verse.

The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and his wife is literally “And the angel of Yahweh did not add again to appear to….” After Yahweh’s messenger leaves Manoah and his wife, he does not reappear. For appeared see verse 13.3.

Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD: Finally Manoah believes that the person he saw was Yahweh’s messenger. Manoah came to this belief because he saw the angel ascend in the fire, not because the angel appeared no more. To avoid misunderstanding concerning this, Good News Translation combines and rearranges verses 20-21. Then does not render the Hebrew waw conjunction, but the stronger connector ʾaz, which may be translated “finally” (New Living Translation). Interestingly, only Manoah is cited here as knowing that the man was Yahweh’s angel. It is impossible to know whether his wife already realized it or whether the mention of Manoah includes his wife. Knew in this context means “realized” or “understood” (see verse 13.16). The pronoun he refers to the man who was talking with Manoah. We might say “He finally realized that man was Yahweh’s messenger.”

A translation model that combines verses 20-21 is:

• While Manoah and his wife watched, flames went up skyward from the altar, and Yahweh’s messenger went up with them. The messenger did not reappear. But Manoah and his wife finally understood that the man was Yahweh’s messenger. They bowed low to the ground in awe.

If translators wish to retain the traditional numbering and not rearrange the events, a possible model for verse 21 alone is:

• Yahweh’s messenger did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. And now finally, Manoah understood that the man was Yahweh’s messenger.

Though some versions see 13.21-24 as a subsection, this background verse seems to close the section describing the second encounter with the angel.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .