Numbers 6:4

4 All the days of their Nazariteship they shall eat nothing that is made of the wine vine, from the kernels even to the husk.

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 Speak unto the sons of Israel and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to dedicate themselves unto the LORD,
3 they shall separate themselves from wine and strong drink and shall drink no vinegar of wine or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall they drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes or dried.
4 All the days of their Nazariteship they shall eat nothing that is made of the wine vine, from the kernels even to the husk.
5 All the days of the vow of their Nazariteship no razor shall come upon their head, until the days are fulfilled of their separation unto the LORD; they shall be holy and shall let the locks of the hair of their head grow.
6 All the days that they separate themselves unto the LORD they shall come in unto no dead body.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010