A Vow of a Nazarite (Numbers 6:2)

2023-03-09

The word Nazarite also translates “was separate from” and “vine undressed.” However, the Nazarite vow is something that a person did to separate himself or herself to the Lord for a particular task. “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD” (Numbers 6:2).

They had to abstain from wine and strong drink, but also grapes and raisins. The strong drink is for good practical reason, since the Nazarite was focused on a task and could not be distracted from it. Since the word also means “vine undressed,” there is also symbolism of separation from the fruit of the vine, and visually with the uncut hair. It is said of the Year of Jubile: “A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed” (Leviticus 25:11).

The Nazarite also did not touch dead bodies, even if they were a close relative. Dead bodies were unclean, so this is part of the reason. Perhaps the vow had the Nazarite so focused that they could not even take time to mourn the dead.

Samuel, Samson and John the Baptist were Nazarites from birth, though a Nazarite vow could be just for a specific task. Samson’s lifelong task was to deliver the people from the Philistines. “For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). He violated his vow, and he was sold into the hands of the Philistines at the end of his life.

As for John, we read, “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). His task was told by the Lord: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:1).

Samuel was also likely one. Hannah said, “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there” (1 Samuel 1:28). And again, “And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head”(1 Samuel 1:11).

The Nazarite vow is something we would not do explicitly today, for it required the sacrificial system. However, we all are set apart to the Lord for His tasks: the Great Commission, living a holy life, and walking with Him.