Nazarite*, Nazirite — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Person who was either chosen or consecrated for life or for a set period of time to complete a vow to God. The Nazirite (Nazarite) devoted himself to self-imposed discipline in order to perform some special service (Nm 6:1-21).

Israelite tradition viewed the Nazirite as consecrated for life. Samson was the ancient hero of the Nazirites. He was “consecrated to God” through the vow of his mother (Jgs 13:5; 16:17) and remained under that vow to the “day of his death” (13:7). As long as Samson’s hair was not cut, he was able to receive the Spirit of the Lord and thereby perform amazing physical feats.

Show passage in OET: JDG 13:5

OET-RV JDG 13:5

5 because you’ll definitely become pregnant and will give birth to a son. His hair must never be cut because he’ll be a Nazirite to God from his conception. He will begin to rescue Yisrael (Israel) from the oppression of the Pelishtim.”

OET-LV JDG 13:5

5 If/because HERE_you will _be_pregnant and_you _will _bear a _son and_(a)_razor not it _will _go _up on his/its_head if/because a _Nāzīr _of god he _will _be the_lad from the_womb and_he he _will _begin to_deliver DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_the _hand _of the_Pəlishtiy.

Show passage in OET: JDG 16:17

OET-RV JDG 16:17

17 So finally he told her his secret, “My hair has never been cut because I’ve been a Nazirite to God since my birth. If my head would be shaved, then my strength would leave me, and I’d become weak—I’d be just like any other man.”

OET-LV JDG 16:17

17 And_he _told to/for_her/it DOM all _of his/its_heart and_he/it _said to/for_her/it a _razor not it _has _come _up on my_head if/because am_a _Nāzīr _of god I from_the _womb _of my _mother _of_my if I _was _shaved and_it _will _depart from_me strength _of_my and_I _will _be _weak and_I _will _be like_every _of the_humankind.

Show passage in OET: JDG 13:7

OET-RV JDG 13:7

7 Then he told me, ‘You’re definitely pregnant and you’ll give birth to a son. So now, you mustn’t drink wine or strong drink, and you mustn’t eat anything prohibited by our rules, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from conception until the day of his death.’ ”

OET-LV JDG 13:7

7 And_he/it _said to_me HERE_you will _be_pregnant and_you _will _bear a _son and_now do _not drink wine and_strong _drink and_do _not eat any _of uncleanness if/because a _Nāzīr _of god he _will _be the_lad from the_womb until the _day _of his _death _of_his.

Jump to OET JDG 13:5 section.

Jump to OET JDG 16:17 section.

Jump to OET JDG 13:7 section.

Early Nazirite vows may have been associated with holy-war ceremonies. Combatants were consecrated to God and perhaps wore long hair (Jgs 13:5). The prophet Samuel did not cut his hair because of his mother’s vow that no razor would touch his head (1 Sm 1:11); the Septuagint adds that he was not to drink wine. The Nazirite vow of uncut hair was associated with being consecrated to God’s service and was especially common during the charismatic days of Israel’s early leaders.

Show passage in OET: SA1 1:11

OET-RV SA1 1:11

11 Then she made a vow, saying, “Commander Yahweh, if you would only notice the misery of your female servant and remember me. Don’t ignore me. Help your female servant to give birth to a son, then I’ll give him to you for his entire life, and he’ll never have his hair cut.”

OET-LV SA1 1:11

11 And_she/it _vowed a _vow and_she/it _said Oh_YHWH soldiers/messengers if really _(look) you _will _look in _the_affliction your(ms)_female _slave and_you(ms)_will _remember_me and_not you _will _forget DOM your(ms)_female _slave and_you(ms)_will _give to/for_your(ms)_female _slave offspring _of men and_I _will _give_him/it to/for_YHWH all _of the _days _of his/its_life and_(a)_razor not it _will _go _up on his/its_head.

Jump to OET SA1 1:11 section.

Naziritism developed into a ritual for those who sought to consecrate themselves temporarily to God. During the period of consecration, the devotee abstained from drinking wine, allowed his hair to grow, and avoided all contact with dead bodies.

Uncut hair symbolizes strength and life. Perhaps this is the intended meaning of nazir when used to describe Joseph in the blessing of Jacob (Gn 49:26) and in the blessing of Moses (Dt 33:16). Vineyards that were not pruned in sabbatical or jubilee years were said to be nazir.

Show passage in OET: GEN 49:26

OET-RV GEN 49:26

26 I’ve been blessed more than my ancestors were—
⇔ even with being gifted those ancient hills.
⇔ May those blessings now transfer to Yosef (Joseph)—
⇔ the one who was separated from all his brothers.

OET-LV GEN 49:26

26 The _blessings _of your _father _of_your they _have _prevailed over the _blessings _of those(m)_who_conceived _me to desire _of hills _of antiquity may _they _belong to_the _head _of Yōşēf and_to_the _crown _of _the _head _of the _consecrated _one _of his _brothers _of_his.

Show passage in OET: DEU 33:16

OET-RV DEU 33:16

16 and from the bounty of the soil and from its fullness,
⇔ and the favour of the bush-dweller.
⇔ Let them come on Yosef’s (Joseph’s) head,
⇔ and on the top of the head of the leader of his brothers.

OET-LV DEU 33:16

16 And_from_the_excellent _gift _of the_earth and_what _of_fills _it and_the_favour _of the _one _who_dwelt _of (of)_the_bush may_it _come to_the _head _of Yōşēf and_to_the _crown _of _the _head _of the _consecrated _one _of his _brothers _of_his.

Jump to OET GEN 49:26 section.

Jump to OET DEU 33:16 section.

In later times, touching or coming in close proximity to a dead body was the most serious offense against the vow. Should anyone die in his presence, a Nazirite became impure. Such a contaminated Nazirite was expected to shave his “defiled head” on the day of cleansing. Next, he would bring two young pigeons to the priest, who would offer one as a sin offering. And finally, he must bring a male lamb for a guilt offering (Nm 6:9-12). Because of this defilement, the Nazirite had to begin his days of separation again.

Show passage in OET: NUM 6:9–12

OET-RV NUM 6:9

9 “However, if someone right next to them suddenly died, that would defile their consecrated head, and after the regular seven days of purification, they would have to shave their head.

OET-RV NUM 6:10

10 Then on the eighth day, they’d have to take two doves or young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the sacred tent,

OET-RV NUM 6:11

11 and he would take one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering—making atonement for their transgression with the corpse. Then they would consecrate their head again that day

OET-RV NUM 6:12

12 and restart their days of separation, as well as bringing a one-year old male lamb as a guilt offering. (Their initial days of separation won’t count because they were made ‘unclean’.)

OET-LV NUM 6:9

9 And_because/when a _dead_person he _will _die on/upon/above_him/it with_suddenness suddenly and_he _will _make _unclean the _head _of his _consecration _of_his and_he _will _shave his/its_head in/on_day his _purification _of_his in _the_day the_seventh he_will _shave _it.

OET-LV NUM 6:10

10 And_on_day (the)_eighth he _will _bring two _of turtle-doves or two _of young _ones _of a _dove to the_priest/officer to the _entrance _of the _tent _of meeting.

OET-LV NUM 6:11

11 And_ the_priest/officer _he _will _offer one_bird to_a _sin _offering and_one to_a _burnt _offering and_he _will _make _atonement on/upon/above_him/it because he _sinned on the_corpse and_he _will _consecrate DOM his/its_head in _the_day (the)_that.

OET-LV NUM 6:12

12 And_he _will _be _a _Nāzīr to/for_YHWH DOM the _days _of his _consecration _of_his and_he _will _bring a _lamb the _son _of its _year _of_his to_a _guilt _offering and_the_days (the)_former they _will _fall if/because consecration _of_his it _has _become _unclean.

Jump to OET NUM 6:9–12 section.

At the end of his period of separation he “desecrated” himself through a ceremony: he offered a sacrifice for sin and a communion sacrifice, then he shaved his head and burnt the hair. Thereafter, the Nazirite returned to his normal life and could drink wine (Nm 6:13-21).

Show passage in OET: NUM 6:13–21

OET-RV NUM 6:13

13 “Now these are the instructions for the Nazirites: Once their days of separation are fulfilled, someone must take them to the entrance of the sacred tent

OET-RV NUM 6:14

14 and they will present their offerings to Yahweh—an unblemished, one-year old, male lamb as a burnt offering, and an unblemished, one-year old, female lamb as a sin offering, plus an unblemished ram as a peace/fellowship offering,

OET-RV NUM 6:15

15 along with a basket of flat breads, flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with olive oil, and their grain and drink offerings.

OET-RV NUM 6:16

16 The priest must present all that to Yahweh, and handle their sin offering and burnt offering.

OET-RV NUM 6:17

17 The ram and the basket of flat breads will be offered as a peace offering to Yahweh, and the priest will offer their grain and wine offerings.

OET-RV NUM 6:18

18 Then the Nazirite must shave their head of separation at the opening to the sacred tent, and taking the hair, must put it on the fire under their peace offering sacrifice.

OET-RV NUM 6:19

19 “The priest will then take the boiled shoulder from the ram, and one flat bread roll and one wafer from the basket, and place them on the palms of that Nazirite with their consecrated head that’s been shaved.

OET-RV NUM 6:20

20 Then the priest will raise them as a raised offering to Yahweh. Those raised breads and the shoulder are now sacred and belong to the priest. Then the Nazirite can drink some wine.

OET-RV NUM 6:21

21 Those are the instructions for the Nazirite who makes a solemn oath to Yahweh for their separation, plus what they’re able to give. They must do exactly what they promised as per these instructions.”

OET-LV NUM 6:13

13 And_this is_the _law _of the _Nāzīr in/on_day the _days _of his _consecration _of_his are _completed someone _will _bring DOM_him/it to the _entrance _of the _tent _of meeting.

OET-LV NUM 6:14

14 And_he _will _bring _near DOM offering _of_his to/for_YHWH a _lamb the _son _of its _year _of_his unblemished one to_a _burnt _offering and_a _ewe-lamb one the _daughter _of its _year _of_her unblemished to_a _sin _offering and_a _ram one unblemished to_a _peace _offering(s).

OET-LV NUM 6:15

15 And_a _basket _of unleavened _bread(s) fine _flour _of cakes mixed with_oil and_wafers _of unleavened _bread(s) smeared with_oil and_their _grain _of_offering and_their _drink _of_offerings.

OET-LV NUM 6:16

16 And_ the_priest/officer _he _will _bring_them_near to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH and_he _will _offer DOM offering _of_his _sin and_DOM offering _of_his _burnt.

OET-LV NUM 6:17

17 And_DOM the_ram he _will _offer a _sacrifice _of peace _offerings to/for_YHWH with the _basket _of the _unleavened _bread(s) and_ the_priest/officer _he _will _offer DOM his/its_donation/offering and_DOM offering _of_its _drink.

OET-LV NUM 6:18

18 And_ the_Nāzīr _he _will _shave the _entrance _of the _tent _of meeting DOM the _head _of his _consecration _of_his and_he/it _will _take DOM the _hair _of the _head _of his _consecration _of_his and_he/it _gave on the_fire which is_under the _sacrifice _of the _peace _offerings.

OET-LV NUM 6:19

19 And_ the_priest/officer _he/it _will _take DOM the_arm boiled from the_ram and_a _cake _of unleavened _bread one from the_basket and_a _wafer _of unleavened _bread one and_he/it _gave on the _palms _of the _Nāzīr after he_has _shaved _himself DOM consecration _of_his.

OET-LV NUM 6:20

20 And_ the_priest/officer _he _will _wave them a _wave-offering to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH is_a _holy _portion it for_priest with the _breast _of the _wave-offering and_with the _thigh _of the _contribution and_after the_Nāzīr he _will _drink wine.

OET-LV NUM 6:21

21 This is_the _law _of the _Nāzīr who he _will _vow offering _of_his to/for_YHWH will _be_on consecration _of_his (from)_besides _of that_which his/its_hand it _will _reach according_to _the _mouth _of his _vow _of_his which he _will _vow so he _will _do on the _law _of his _consecration _of_his.

Jump to OET NUM 6:13–21 section.

Paul completed a similar vow at Cenchrea in NT times (Acts 18:18) and, then again, along with four other Nazirites in Jerusalem (Acts 21:23-24). In the Talmud the period of time for the consecration was usually 30 days. It was customary for the wealthy to aid poor Nazirites in the purchase of their offerings. During the Maccabean period, the Nazirites were unable to complete their rites because the temple was profaned (1 Macc 3:49-51).