A name eminent in Scripture, from the manifestation that the Lord made to him in a time when visions of God were rare. (See Judges 13:1-25) The name seems to be derived from Nuaeh, rest. When the reader hath turned to the chapter which relates this wonderful transaction, and read it, I beg him to pause over it, and consider the several interesting circumstances connected with it; and then let him judge for himself, who this person could be that appeared to the man and his wife but, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is certain, as far as we can judge, that both Manoah and his wife regarded their heavenly visitor but as a created angel, until that when in the flame of the sacrifice he ascended with it. But when they behold him thus go up in the flame, to give an acceptableness to their poor sacrifice, then they knew that it was that Glorious Holy One whom JEHOVAH had sworn into his office as High Priest for ever. The man knew by this that it was JEHOVAH the Son, and not a created angel; and as such, he said, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God," agreeably to the Lord's own declaration, "Thou canst not see my face and live?" (Exodus 33:20)
There is one beauty more in this transaction, and which serves to confirm this blessed doctrine, that this supposed angel was Christ; and that is, that when Manoah asked his name, the angel of the Lord said unto him, "Why askest thou my after name seeing it is secret?" In the margin of the Bible it is rendered, "seeing it is wonderful." And the name Wonderful is Christ's well-known name (Isaiah 9:6) Reader, what think you of the subject? Was it not Jesus, as if longing for the time of his coming to tabernacle openly with his people?