The Nazirite vow (nazir, 'separated') represents a voluntary path to extraordinary holiness within Israel's ordinary life, permitting anyone—man or woman—to abstain from grape products (wine, vinegar, grapes, raisins), refrain from cutting the hair, and avoid corpse defilement for a period they specify, creating a countercultural witness to covenant dedication. The three prohibitions form a unified theological statement: abstinence from grape products renounces wine's typical use in celebration and covenant meals; the uncut hair displays a visible mark of separation and vulnerability; and the avoidance of corpses rejects the contagion of death itself. The completion ritual involves the Nazirite's presentation at the tabernacle with burnt and sin offerings, a wave offering, and a peace offering, transforming the end of the vow into a liturgical moment of reconciliation and restoration. The Aaronic Blessing (verses 24–26)—'The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace'—encodes the priestly blessing's three petitions in the structure of God's luminous presence, with the triple invocation of the divine name intensifying the blessing's power. Later Nazirites like Samson and John the Baptist embody this vow in covenant history, making Numbers 6 a template for extraordinary faithfulness that reappears throughout Scripture. The chapter's theological significance lies in its vision of holiness as something freely chosen by individuals, not merely imposed by birth or office, and as something communally celebrated through ritual completion.
Numbers 6:21
This is the law of the Nazirite who hath vowed his offering unto the LORD for his separation — the summation clause concludes the Nazirite regulations, indicating that the protocol is fixed and authoritative for all who undertake the vow.
Numbers 6:22
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying — the divine word shifts to the Aaronic Blessing, concluding Numbers 6 with the priestly benediction. The transition from Nazirite regulations to the priestly blessing indicates that Numbers' concern moves from individual consecration to communal blessing.
Numbers 6:23
Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying: On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel — the blessing (brachah) is not Aaron's own composition but divinely prescribed language. The specification 'on this wise' (koh) indicates that the precise wording is mandated.
Numbers 6:24
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee — the first blessing invokes God's active favor ('bless') and protection ('keep'), addressing both the experience of divine goodness and the security that comes from divine oversight. The blessing uses singular forms, addressing each person individually despite the corporate context.
Numbers 6:25
The LORD make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee — the second blessing emphasizes the revelation of God's favor through the illumination of the divine 'face' (panim). Gracious favor (chen) is the divine attitude animating the blessing.
Numbers 6:27
So shall they put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them — the concluding formula indicates that the priests' pronouncement of blessing effects what it declares. The placement of God's name upon Israel through the blessing establishes a permanent link between the people and their God, ensuring that the blessing's reality persists beyond the moment of utterance.
Numbers 6:26
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace — the third blessing culminates in shalom (peace), the comprehensive well-being encompassing both internal wholeness and external stability. The lifting up of God's countenance signifies approval and favor, while peace represents the comprehensive goal of all blessing.
Numbers 6:20
And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD — the wave offering (tenufah) presents the Nazirite's completion sacrifice to God, ritually offering it to the divine before the priest's consumption. The gesture indicates that all offerings belong ultimately to God.
Numbers 6:8
All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD — the reiteration of holiness status emphasizes that the Nazirite's entire being is set apart. No part of the Nazirite's person or time falls outside the consecration.
Numbers 6:9
And if any man die very suddenly beside him — the third Nazirite restriction addresses death defilement, requiring the Nazirite to avoid contact with the dead. The 'very suddenly' (pitom) indicates unexpectedness, emphasizing that even accidental defilement requires attention.
Numbers 6:10
He shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it — the inadvertent defilement protocol requires a seven-day purification process and complete shaving of the head (signifying loss of the Nazirite mark). The shaving represents a temporary discontinuation of the vow.
Numbers 6:11
And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest — the purification offering (pigeons or turtledoves) is the poorest acceptable sacrifice in the temple economy, accessible to those of limited means. The specific enumeration indicates that the protocol is fixed and mandatory.
Numbers 6:12
And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by reason of the dead — the offerings address both the sin of defilement and the restoration of the burnt offering relationship. The atonement (kapurah) purifies the defilement, allowing the vow to resume.
Numbers 6:13
And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation — the reconsecration of the vow after defilement restores the Nazirite status. The new counting of days begins fresh, though the previous vow period is not necessarily voided.
Numbers 6:14
And he shall bring a he-lamb of the first year for a guilt offering — the completion of the Nazirite vow requires a guilt offering (asham), acknowledging that the period of separation has concluded. The lamb's specific age (first year) indicates that the offering must be perfect and unblemished.
Numbers 6:15
And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil — the completion offerings include grain offerings (representing the Nazirite's daily sustenance, now offered to God). The detailed enumeration indicates that the completion ritual is comprehensive and elaborate.
Numbers 6:16
And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering and his burnt offering — the completion offerings parallel the dedication sacrifices offered at the tabernacle's consecration (Exodus 29), indicating that the Nazirite's completion parallels priestly ordination.
Numbers 6:17
And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread — the peace offering (shelem) at completion indicates restoration of normal communion with God. The Nazirite's period of special separation ends with a meal of peace, restoring the person to ordinary covenant participation.
Numbers 6:18
And the Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace offerings — the shaving of the accumulated hair, burned under the peace offering, marks the formal conclusion of the vow. The burning of the hair signifies the surrender to God of the visible sign of separation.
Numbers 6:19
And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket — the priest's receipt of portions of the Nazirite's completion offerings parallels the priestly portions of other sacrifices, indicating that Nazirite vows support the priesthood.
Numbers 6:1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying — the divine word introduces the Nazirite vow, a unique form of consecration available to all Israel, male and female, not just the priesthood.
Numbers 6:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When either man or woman shall make a special vow — the Nazirite vow (neder nezirut) is described as a 'special vow,' indicating extraordinary devotion beyond ordinary covenant commitment. The availability to both men and women emphasizes the vow's universality within Israel.
Numbers 6:3
The vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself unto the LORD — the Nazirite status involves 'separation' (leh-hazeir), creating a categorical distinction between the Nazirite and ordinary Israel. Separation from the common means dedication to the divine.
Numbers 6:4
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink — the Nazirite's first restriction prohibits grape fermentation products (wine, vinegar) and strong drink (shechar), including any byproduct of the grape. The grape restriction symbolizes renunciation of natural pleasure and worldly indulgence.
Numbers 6:5
He shall eat nothing that is made of the grape vine, from the kernels even to the husk — the comprehensive prohibition extends to all grape products, including raisins and grape seeds, indicating that no aspect of the grape may be consumed. The totality of the restriction emphasizes complete separation from grape cultivation and use.
Numbers 6:6
All the days of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head — the Nazirite's second restriction prohibits shaving or cutting the hair, allowing the hair to grow long as a visible sign of consecration. The uncut hair (pe'ot) becomes the Nazirite's distinctive mark, visible to all Israel.
Numbers 6:7
Until the days be fulfilled in which he separates himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy unto the LORD — the Nazirite's holiness status is not conferred by external ordination but is inherent in the vow commitment. The person becomes sanctified through dedicated intention and external practice.