2 The law of the consecration of the Nazirites. 24 The manner to bless the people.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man or a woman doth separate themselves to vow a vow of a [a]Nazirite, to separate himself unto the Lord,

He shall abstain from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no sour wine nor sour drink, nor shall drink any liquor of grapes, neither shall eat fresh grapes nor dried.

As long as his abstinence endureth, shall he eat nothing that is made of the wine of the vine, neither the kernels nor the husk.

While he is separated by his vow, the (A)razor shall not come upon his head, until the days be out, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

During the time that he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall come at no [b]dead body:

He shall not make himself unclean at the death of his father or mother, brother, or sister: for the consecration of his God is upon [c]his head.

All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the Lord.

And if any die suddenly by him, or he beware, then the [d]head of his consecration shall be defiled, and he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing: in the seventh day he shall shave it.

10 And in the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons to the Priest, at the door of the tabernacle of the Congregation.

11 Then the Priest shall prepare the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and shall make an atonement for him, because he sinned by [e]the dead: so shall he hallow his head the same day.

12 And he shall [f]consecrate unto the Lord the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of a year old for a trespass offering, and the first [g]days shall be void: for his consecration was defiled.

13 ¶ This then is the law of the Nazirite: when the time of his consecration is out, he shall come to the door of the tabernacle of the Congregation,

14 And he shall bring his offering unto the Lord, an he lamb of a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, and a she lamb of a year old without blemish, for a sin offering, and a ram without blemish, for peace offerings,

15 And a basket of unleavened bread, of (B)Cakes of fine flour, mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings:

16 The which the Priest shall bring before the Lord, and make his sin offering and his burnt offering.

17 He shall prepare also the ram for a peace offering unto the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread, and the Priest shall make his meat offering, and his drink offering.

18 And (C)the Nazirite shall shave the head [h]of his consecration at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his consecration, and [i]put it in the fire which is under the peace offering.

19 Then the Priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and an unleavened cake out of the basket, and a wafer unleavened, and put them upon the hands of the Nazirite, after he hath shaven his consecration.

20 And the Priest shall (D)shake them to and fro before the Lord: this is an holy thing for the Priest [j]besides the shaken breast, and besides the heave shoulder: so afterward the Nazirite may drink wine.

21 This is the law of the Nazirite, which he hath vowed, and of his offering unto the Lord for his consecration, [k]besides that that he is able to bring: according to the vow which he vowed, so shall he do after the law of his consecration.

22 ¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

23 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, Thus shall ye [l]bless the children of Israel, and say unto them,

24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee,

25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be merciful unto thee,

26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

27 So they shall put my [m]Name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 6:2 Which separated themselves from the world, and dedicated themselves to God: which figure was accomplished in Christ.
  2. Numbers 6:6 As at burials, or mournings.
  3. Numbers 6:7 In that he suffered his hair to grow, he signified that he was consecrated to God.
  4. Numbers 6:9 Which long hair is a sign that he is dedicated to God.
  5. Numbers 6:11 By being present where the dead was.
  6. Numbers 6:12 Beginning at the eighth day, when he is purified.
  7. Numbers 6:12 So that he shall begin his vow anew.
  8. Numbers 6:18 In token that his vow is ended.
  9. Numbers 6:18 For the hair which was consecrated to the Lord, might not be cast into any profane place.
  10. Numbers 6:20 Or, with the breast.
  11. Numbers 6:21 At the least he shall do this, if he be able to offer no more.
  12. Numbers 6:23 That is, pray for them.
  13. Numbers 6:27 They shall pray in my Name for them.

The Nazirite

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow(A), a vow of dedication(B) to the Lord as a Nazirite,(C) they must abstain from wine(D) and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar(E) made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes(F) or raisins. As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

“‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor(G) may be used on their head.(H) They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.

“‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body.(I) Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean(J) on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.

“‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication,(K) they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing.(L) 10 Then on the eighth day(M) they must bring two doves or two young pigeons(N) to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(O) 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering[a](P) and the other as a burnt offering(Q) to make atonement(R) for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. 12 They must rededicate themselves to the Lord for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb(S) as a guilt offering.(T) The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication.

13 “‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over.(U) They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.(V) 14 There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect(W) for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering,(X) a ram(Y) without defect for a fellowship offering,(Z) 15 together with their grain offerings(AA) and drink offerings,(AB) and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.(AC)

16 “‘The priest is to present all these(AD) before the Lord(AE) and make the sin offering and the burnt offering.(AF) 17 He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering(AG) to the Lord, together with its grain offering(AH) and drink offering.(AI)

18 “‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication.(AJ) They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

19 “‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast.(AK) 20 The priest shall then wave these before the Lord as a wave offering;(AL) they are holy(AM) and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.(AN) After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.(AO)

21 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite(AP) who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows(AQ) they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’”

The Priestly Blessing

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless(AR) the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “‘“The Lord bless you(AS)
    and keep you;(AT)
25 the Lord make his face shine on you(AU)
    and be gracious to you;(AV)
26 the Lord turn his face(AW) toward you
    and give you peace.(AX)”’

27 “So they will put my name(AY) on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 6:11 Or purification offering; also in verses 14 and 16