Numbers 6:4

4 cunctis diebus quibus ex voto Domino consecrantur quicquid ex vinea esse potest ab uva passa usque ad acinum non comedent

Numbers 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 6:4

All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is
made of the vine tree
Of its leaves, branches, and fruit, especially the latter, put into any sort of food, or infused into any liquor, or mixed with any sauce for food: the days or time of separation were according as the vow was made, for a shorter or longer time; though the Jews F20 say, where the vow is, absolutely expressed, it is always to be understood of thirty days, during which time the Nazarite was not to eat or drink of any composition that had anything the vine in it:

from the kernels even to the husk;
the Jews F21 are divided about the two words here used, which of them signifies the outermost part of the grape, and which the innermost; Ben Gersom agrees with us, but it matters not much who are in the right, since both are forbidden: by this part of the law, the people of God, who are spiritual Nazarites, are taught to live temperately and soberly, and to abstain from all appearance of sin: it is pretty remarkable what the Jews F23 say, that when the son of David comes, it will be free for a Nazarite to drink wine on sabbath days and festivals, though not on week days; from whence it appears, they seem to be conscious of a change of the ceremonial law in his days.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 Misn. Nazir, c. 1. sect. 3. & c. 6. sect. 3.
F21 Misn. Nazir, c. 6. sect. 2. Aben Ezra in loc.
F23 T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 43. 1.

Numbers 6:4 In-Context

2 loquere ad filios Israhel et dices ad eos vir sive mulier cum fecerit votum ut sanctificentur et se voluerint Domino consecrare
3 vino et omni quod inebriare potest abstinebunt acetum ex vino et ex qualibet alia potione et quicquid de uva exprimitur non bibent uvas recentes siccasque non comedent
4 cunctis diebus quibus ex voto Domino consecrantur quicquid ex vinea esse potest ab uva passa usque ad acinum non comedent
5 omni tempore separationis suae novacula non transibit super caput eius usque ad conpletum diem quo Domino consecratur sanctus erit crescente caesarie capitis eius
6 omni tempore consecrationis suae super mortuum non ingredietur
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.