The Nazirite

A Nazirite (Hebrew: Nazir, meaning “consecrated” or “separated”) was an ancient Hebrew who took a special vow of dedication to God. Both men and women could make this vow to “separate themselves to the LORD.” A Nazirite was forbidden to cut their hair, drink wine or any grape products, or touch a dead body.

Initially, a Nazirite was someone with special, extraordinary abilities, and they generally held this status for life. Later, those who willingly made a vow to consecrate themselves for a specific period of time were also called Nazirites. A Nazirite could end their vow by making a sacrifice. Famous Nazirites in the Bible include Samuel and Samson.

The Bible records:

[Numbers 6:1-2] The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord…'”

[Numbers 6:3-6] …he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice from grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the days are completed, for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long. All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body.