Nazirite

Not to be confused with Nazarene (sect) or Nazarene (disambiguation).

In the Hebrew Bible, a nazirite or a nazarite (Hebrew: נָזִיר Nāzīr)[1] is an Israelite (i.e. Jewish[2][3]) man or woman[4] who voluntarily took a vow which is described in Numbers 6:1–21. This vow required the nazirite to:

  • Abstain from wine and all other grape products, such as vinegar and grapes[5]
  • Refrain from cutting the hair on his head[6]
  • Not to become ritually impure by contact with corpses or graves, even those of family members.[7]

After following these requirements for a designated time period (which would be specified in the individual's vow), the nazirite would offer a specific animal sacrifice; along with it, the nazirite's hair was to be shorn and burned.

The nazirite is described as being "holy" and "holy unto God";[8] yet at the same time, he or she must bring a sin offering. This has led to divergent approaches to the nazirite in the Talmud, and later authorities, with some viewing the nazirite as an ideal, and others viewing the nazirite as a sinner.

  1. ^ "Strong's Hebrew: 5139. נָזִיר (nazir) -- one consecrated, devoted". biblehub.com.
  2. ^ "Nazirite vow Archives". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  3. ^ Posner, Menachem. "The Nazir and the Nazirite Vow". Chabad.org. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  4. ^ Numbers 6:2
  5. ^ Numbers 6:3–4
  6. ^ Numbers 6:5
  7. ^ Numbers 6:6–7
  8. ^ Numbers 6:5, Numbers 6:8