Numbers 6:1-7

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If a man or a woman have vowed the special vow of a Nazarite, to consecrate themselves to Jehovah;

3 he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink: he shall drink no vinegar of wine, nor vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat grapes, fresh or dried.

4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine, from the seed-stones, even to the skin.

5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head; until the days be fulfilled, that he hath consecrated himself to Jehovah, he shall be holy; he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

6 All the days that he hath consecrated himself to Jehovah, he shall come near no dead body.

7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister when they die; for the consecration of his God is upon his head.

Numbers 6:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 6

In this chapter is given the law concerning Nazarites, Nu 6:1,2; which directs what they were to abstain from, from drinking wine, or any strong liquors, from shaving their heads, and defiling themselves with the dead, Nu 6:3-8; and in case of a defilement, directions are given what offerings a Nazarite should bring to be offered for him, Nu 6:9-12; and when the time of his Nazariteship was up, an account is given of what rites and ceremonies should then be performed, Nu 6:13-21; and the chapter is concluded with the form of blessing the children of Israel, to be used by Aaron and his sons, Nu 6:22-27.

Footnotes

• [a]. 'Nazarite,' 'consecration,' 'separation' in this chapter are from the same Hebrew root nazar, see Lev. 21.12. Used also for 'crown,' 2 Kings 11.12; Ps. 89.39; 132.18, and for 'diadem,' Ex. 29.6; Lev. 8.9.
• [b]. Others, 'sour grapes.'
• [c]. Grow freely.