The Nazarite Vow and Other Laws: Reflections on Numbers 5-6
February 25th – Bible Briefs by Jake Schotter
The Nazarite Vow and Other Laws: Reflections on Numbers 5-6
February 25th – Bible Briefs by Jake Schotter
As Israel prepared to leave Mt. Sinai and given the wilderness trek ahead of them, certain laws were deemed appropriate for emphasis. In these chapters, we see the removal of unclean people, like those who died in the wilderness (5:1-4; cf. Leviticus 15:1-33), the restitution for wrongdoing (5:5-10; cf. Leviticus 6:1-7), and the trying of a woman suspected of adultery (5:11-31). It is important to note that the woman has not been caught in the act of adultery (5:13; cf. John 8:1; Deuteronomy 22:22).
Numbers 6 also details the laws regarding the Nazarite vow. The Hebrew word “Nazir” means “one separated” for the Lord (6:2, 8). There are 3 marks of one engaged in the Nazarite vow (6:3-12):
1. He cannot eat or drink anything of the grapevine (6:3-4)
2. He cannot cut his hair (6:5)
3. He cannot encounter a dead body (6:6-7)
The Nazarite vow is one of the most famous vows in the Bible. The most famous example of someone who took this vow was Samson (Judges 13:5). There are no indications in Scripture that Jesus never took a Nazarite vow. The Nazarite vow did not have a specific duration. It was not necessarily for life but a particular period (6:13; cf. Judges 13:5). A man or a woman could take this vow (6:2). Furthermore, provision was made for uncleanness compromising the vow, like encountering a dead body (6:9-12).
For a New Testament Christian, the Nazarite vow is a powerful symbol of consecration, spiritual discipline, and living a life wholly devoted to God—mirroring the calls to holiness and self-denial found throughout the New Testament. The vow was typically for individuals who desired to set themselves apart for a special purpose or calling. The Nazarite Vow is relevant for Christians because of what it emphasizes. Being set apart for God reflects a life of devotion focused on holiness and separation from worldly influences and contamination (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:15-16). This vow serves as a reminder to live differently from the culture around us and consistently with God’s will.
This vow is also connected with spiritual strength. While Christians do not gain physical strength through vows like Samson, the New Testament speaks of spiritual strength through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:10).
Unlike the Old Testament Nazarite vow, which was often temporary, Christians are called to live in permanent devotion to God. However, intense devotion to God can also mirror seasons of more profound and deeper commitment or spiritual discipline in the Christian life.