Ep. 47. Numbers 6 | The Nazirite Vow

EPISODE 47

NAZIRITE VOW: NUMBERS 6

A Nazirite is not a nationality but a designation for someone under a specific vow to God. The Bible does not give us much information about the purpose of this vow, but it gives a lot of detail about what was involved in observing it. The Nazirite, for the duration of his vow, was to avoid strong drinks, eat nothing from the grapevine, not cut his hair, and not go near a dead body.

The most famous Nazirite in the Bible is, of course, Samson. Samson was a Nazirite from his mother's womb and set apart from God to bring about the deliverance of the Hebrew people from Philistine oppression. Samson was a horrible example of someone whose life was dedicated to God, but God's faithfulness has always been greater than man's failure. One of the key moments of his life is when Delilah shaves Samson's head, and the power of God departs from him. We should not take this to mean that the Nazirite lost his connection with God or the power of God at the conclusion of the vow. Instead, we should note that Samson had allowed his heart to be far from God, and as a result, the power of God departed from him. We should not seek to apply this to ourselves since we, by faith, are always righteous and welcomed in God's presence.

I have always been encouraged by Judges 16:22, "But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." I absolutely love that! It was a sign that God wasn't done with him. Again, don't attribute these sins and the absence of God's power in Samson's life as an accurate picture of the Nazirite.

When the Nazirite finished their vow, however long that might be, they would shave their head and offer their hair to God. Paul does this in Acts after he leaves Corinth. I like thinking of Paul rocking some shoulder-length hair. In Acts 21, Paul, when he was in Jerusalem, is encouraged to take four brothers to the temple and pay their fee so they may cut their hair at the completion of their vows. Again, we are woefully unaware of why these men were under a vow or the purpose.

The only other mention of significance in the Scripture of the Nazirite is found in Amos. God uses the prophet to rebuke the Israelites, saying, "I raised up prophets and Nazirites in your midst, but you made the Nazirites drink wine and forbade the prophets from speaking." Amos was addressing the waywardness of the people of Israel and their disregard for the things of God. I do find it interesting that the Nazirite is put right alongside the prophet in this text.

What else is there to say about the Nazirite? I wish there were more, but without going into extrabiblical sources, there's not a lot to add.

I do love the blessing of Aaron on the people of God. I am reminded that my aunt used to speak this blessing over my cousins every night before bed. When we would stay over for a visit, she'd put her hand on our forehead and proclaim the blessing over us. I'm not sure that is a correct application of this text, but I still think about it fondly.

ADDITIONAL READING: Acts 21:17-24; Acts 18:18; Amos 2:11-12; Judges 13-16