In Numbers 6:1-21, God gave guidelines for those who wished to dedicate themselves to Him in a special way. It is quite possible that this was something that was already familiar to the people and God was merely showing His approval of it and giving the specifics of how He wanted it done. Joseph is spoken of as being naziyr (separate, a Nazarite) though our English translations do not show that.
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Genesis 49:26
The Hebrew word naziyr (which is translated “Nazarite”) and its related forms (nazar, nezer) portray several concepts that were part of the significance of being a Nazarite. Here are some samples of other verses where these words are found that give us an idea of their meanings:
naziyr–
That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. Leviticus 25:5
God claimed ultimate ownership of all the land. For six years the “tenants” (those who “owned” the land) would cultivate it and harvest its produce for their personal needs and profit, but in the seventh year, when the land was allowed to rest, it was left untended, the grapevines were unpruned (“undressed”). Its produce that year was dedicated to God for His purposes and He gave it freely to all – the “owners,” their servants, the poor, the animals. (vv. 6, 7) The Nazarite dedicated himself totally to God for His purposes.
nazar–
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himselffrom me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: Ezekiel 14:7
This verse speaks of a person who separates from God and turns to others. The Nazarite separated himself from others and turned wholeheartedly to God.
nezer–
And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Exodus 39:30
Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. Leviticus 21:12
The High Priest was “crowned” with anointing oil and the golden Crown of Holiness to show that his head (his thoughts, plans, etc.) belonged to God. The Nazarite wore his uncut hair as a “crown” to show that his head belonged to God.
Another word that deserves notice is used in the introduction to the Nazarite specifications.
. . . When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: (v. 2)
The word “separate” in this verse is interesting when we look at the original Hebrew word (pala) which it comes from. In the majority of places where this particular Hebrew word occurs, it is referring to a wonderful, marvelous thing that God does.
And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. Exodus 3:20
And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. Exodus 34:10
So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. Judges 13:19
As it is used in this verse (Numbers 6:2) it may not be describing a marvelous thing but surely an extraordinary or unique thing – to choose to make the vow of a Nazarite. In Numbers 6, God was making special provision for (and possibly inviting) those who wished to show special devotion to Him and live their life totally for sacred purposes. This was not the ordinary life; it was extraordinary and unique. We have record of three who were Nazarites for their whole lives – Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. It appears that Paul took a short-term Nazarite vow (Acts 18:18). Jesus was a Nazarene (a resident of Nazareth) but not a Nazarite.
In our modern world, we seem to have a rather narrow and warped view of what it means to be a really dedicated Christian. When we see someone who is very zealous, who wants to do everything possible to live a pious life, who wants to spend their time in total service to God, who does some “unique” things out of their deep convictions, avoiding certain things or doing certain other things that are different from the “normal” Christian, we call them a “fanatic” or a “legalist.” But what does God think of them??? I would like to propose that He considers them modern “Nazarites” and appreciates their dedication and fervor.
This reminds me of an incident recorded in Numbers 11. Moses was feeling stressed because of the heavy responsibility he carried for the leadership of 2 million complaining people. God came to him and said He would lighten his burden by dividing the responsibility among 70 other leaders. When the chosen men came together at the Tabernacle, God put His Spirit on them and they prophesied. Two of the 70, Eldad and Medad, did not come to the Tabernacle but received God’s Spirit anyway and prophesied in the camp. Someone came running to Moses with the news and when Joshua heard it, he told Moses, “You need to stop this.” But Moses responded, “I wish all of God’s people were prophets.”
Another incident that comes to mind in relation to this is recorded for us in Matthew 11 and Luke 7 where Jesus commented on the people’s response to the life and ministry of John the Baptist as compared to His own. They considered John to be much too conservative (and crazy) and Jesus too liberal.
But wisdom is justified of all her children. Luke 7:35
When we see a modern “Nazarite,” would it not be more appropriate to respect them for their deep spirituality and wish that all of God’s people were that dedicated than to condemn and shun them for being odd, strange, crazy, a “fanatic,” a “legalist?”
To take the vow of a Nazarite was not a matter to be taken lightly. There was a cost involved; there were restrictions, and consequences for mistakes. It was a very solemn thing and, though the guidelines given in the Law did not specify a time limit, later rabbinical rules stated that it should not be for less than 30 days. To permit the vow to be taken for very short periods would diminish its solemnity and estimation. It was an honorable thing and God encouraged it, but it was not easy. A Nazarite even had to struggle against peer pressure at times when fellow Jews would tempt him to break his vow.
And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD. But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. Amos 2:11, 12
A Nazarite could not use any grape products: fresh, dried (raisins), juice, wine, etc. (Numbers 6:3, 4)
Grapes seem to symbolize luxury, abundance, affluence, delight (Numbers 13:23-27; Deuteronomy 32:14). Wine and other alcoholic drinks are mind-altering and symbolize excess and intensity of emotion and/or fleshly lusts (Proverbs 20:1; Ephesians 5:18; Revelation 14:8, 10; 16:19; 18:3).
The Nazarite was saying, “I purposely choose a plain, simple life, giving up luxury and pleasure, for the purpose of being fully dedicated to God. I choose to preserve my mind and body in the best condition possible, untainted by any substance that might interfere, so that I can focus more clearly on God’s will and way.”
Daniel and his 3 friends did something similar in refusing what the king provided (Daniel 1). In Jeremiah 35 we have the story of a group of people called Rechabites who were in some ways similar to Nazarites. Their ancestor, Jonadab, the son of Rechab, had commanded them over 200 years earlier to never drink wine, nor own property, nor cultivate crops. They had followed that command faithfully, and God held them up to the rest of Judah as an example of faithfulness. There are still remnants of this group of people living in the Middle East in Iraq and Yemen. In the early 1800’s, Dr. Joseph Wolff spent some time among a group of Rechabites. (see The Great Controversy, p. 362)
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
God is still looking for people who will vow to follow Him faithfully regardless of what they may or may not have of this world’s goods or pleasures. In this time in history, the 21st century, we are surrounded and bombarded by all kinds of things that are hazards to our physical life and our spiritual life: harmful substances in our air and food and water, temptations to indulge the appetites of our mind and body, etc., etc. We need to purpose in our heart, like Daniel and the Rechabites, that we will do all we can to keep our minds and hearts and bodies pure and clean so that we can focus on being truly and completely God’s.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:15
The Nazarite would not cut his hair during the time of his vow and at the end would cut it all off and give it to God as part of his offering. (Numbers 6:5, 18)
Abundant and luxurious hair was to some extent a symbol of strength and beauty (2 Samuel 14:25-26). Baldness was considered a blemish (2 Kings 2:23; Isaiah 3:24). The High Priest’s golden crown with “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” engraved on it was a nezer (Exodus 28:36; 29:6). During the time of his vow, the Nazarite’s hair would be longer than normal. After the end of the vow, he would be bald for a while. His uncut hair was an outward symbol of his total dedication to God in holiness. His hair, his nezer, was an indication of his spiritual state.
The Nazarite was saying, “I choose to be unique for God, consecrating all my powers and abilities to Him. I am willing to appear different from others by wearing this visible sign of my complete dedication to God.”
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. Revelation 14:1
God is looking for those who are willing to be visibly different. There is so much pressure to conform to the standards of the culture we live in, but God calls us to a higher standard. He doesn’t want us to be just like everyone else, “lukewarm” like our environment. Nor does He expect us to be odd or strange merely for the sake of being unique, but to be willing to be different when righteousness requires it.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter 2:9
We believe it wrong to differ from others, unless it be necessary to differ in order to be right. The Health Reformer, August 1, 1868
We as a people do not believe it our duty to go out of the world to be out of the fashion. If we have a neat, plain, modest, and comfortable plan of dress, and worldlings choose to dress as we do, shall we change this mode of dress in order to be different from the world? No, we should not be odd or singular in our dress for the sake of differing from the world, lest they despise us for so doing. Christians are the light of the world, the salt of the earth. Their dress should be neat and modest, their conversation chaste and heavenly, and their deportment blameless. Counsels on Health, p. 604
The Nazarite was to have no contact with death, even to the point of not attending the funeral of a family member. If someone died suddenly next to him (a situation beyond his control), his consecrated head was contaminated and he had to start over with his vow. (Numbers 6:6-12) This should not be thought of as a punishment for an infraction, but rather a provision for maintaining quality standards.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1, 2
God cannot condone persistently willful sin in those who claim to be His covenant people. A Nazarite had control over what he ate (no grape products), over the length of his hair (to be uncut), and over who he associated with (no contact with death). A deviation from his vow in any of these areas was a choice and disqualified him; but sudden, unexpected death next to him was not his choice. It could be remedied and his vow renewed.
Death was a symbol of sin and any Israelite, regardless of their status, was contaminated by contact with human death (war, funeral attendance, etc.) and needed to be purified by the ritual involving the ashes of the red heifer. (see Numbers 19) A Priest was allowed to attend the funeral of a close family member but not of any other person (Leviticus 21:1-3). The High Priest was not allowed to attend any funeral (Leviticus 21:10, 11). With this in mind, we could say that the consecration of a Nazarite was in some sense comparable to that of the High Priest and possibly even to a higher degree since the High Priest was chosen because of his family lineage whereas a Nazarite consecrated himself to this restricted life by personal choice.
God wanted to use the Nazarites to spur the people on to deeper dedication and remind them of their high calling. They were to be an example of purity, good health, and vigor like Daniel and the other 3 young Hebrews whose diet was pulse and water.
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Lamentations 4:7
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 19:5, 6
As I contemplate what it meant to take the vow of a Nazarite, a “Separated One,” I am reminded of what Jesus said in regard to being one of His followers: “Count the cost; then make your decision and don’t deviate from it.”
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26-33
A vow might be made when a person was requesting or had experienced some special intervention by God. (Jacob – Genesis 28:20-22; Jephthah – Judges 11:30-31) Many people today make “vows” to God when they are under dire circumstances and or have great needs (“O God, if you . . . , I will . . . .”) and when the crisis has passed, they forget what they said. Let us be careful what we promise to God. He does not take it lightly.
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5
I find it very interesting that right after God gave His guidelines for those who wanted to dedicate themselves to Him in this unique and extraordinary way by taking the Nazarite vow, He Himself gave a blessing to be pronounced on His people.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:22-27
Do you want a special blessing from God?
Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, “Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.” This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. Steps to Christ, p. 70
These guidelines regarding the Nazarite Vow are another Statute that helps clarify and reinforce the Ten Commandments, specifically the Third Commandment. Stated in this context, it could read, “Thou shalt not take the name of Nazarite in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who calls himself a Nazarite but does not live up to the qualifications.”
A thought to ponder:
The Nazarite Vow bears similarities to the qualifications of the 144,000 given in Revelation 14:1-5.