THE NAZIRITE VOW

 WHAT IS A NAZIRITE VOW?

The term NAZIRITE

 describes a type of vow

 either a man or woman could make

 before God. 

It could be in effect for various lengths of time

 depending upon the person making the vow.

The first reference to this subject is found in Numbers 6, where the rules for the vow are explained. God lists some restrictions of food, drink and personal grooming. 

Those under a Nazirite vow were prohibited from:

• Drinking any beverage made from grapes or any alcoholic drink.

• Eating any form of grape, fresh or dried.

• Cutting their hair.

• Going near a dead body.

At the end of the vow period, they were to shave their head and burn their hair as an offering to God, because it was holy to God (Numbers 6:18). If they had to break their vow before it came to an end, they were also commanded to shave their heads at that time (verse 9).

Samson

lived his whole life 

under the NAZIRITE VOW.

Samson was set apart by God from birth to be under this vow. His story is told in the book of Judges chapters 13-16. His birth and dedication to God for his whole life through the Nazirite vow is found in Judges 13:7.

Samson was given supernatural powers by God so he could defeat the Philistines.

But when he was tricked into breaking the NAZIRITE VOW, he lost all his power and became a prisoner of his enemy. 

Fortunately, his hair grew again and with that, his powers returned and he was able to destroy the Philistines eventually. 

Samson is also seen to be breaking another NAZIRITE rule: he killed a lion with his bare hands but when he saw a honeycomb inside its carcass on his return, he got tempted to break the rule of not touching or going near a dead body in order to appease his hunger. 

John the Baptist 

was another person who lived 

under the NAZIRITE VOW. 

In the Gospel of Luke, John's father Zechariah was told by the angel to dedicate his son under this vow. (Verse 1:15) So we see that John too was under the NAZIRITE VOW all his life.

Other references to the vow appears in the First Book of Samuel where Hannah, Samuel's mother made this vow in order to conceive a son. Samuel, later, became a great prophet of his time.

In the book of Acts, we see Paul fulfilling his vow and thus shaving his head as a result of the vow ending. (Refer 18:18)  Again, when accused of not being a good Jew, he accompanied four Nazirites to the Temple to get their heads shaved as per the rules. (21:26)

In general there are two types of Nazirites:

• A NAZIRITE for a set time.

• A permanent NAZIRITE.

Each one of these has slightly different laws. For example, a permanent Nazirite is allowed to cut his hair once a year if the hair is bothersome. These types of Nazirites have no source in the Bible but are known through tradition.

How does a Nazarite end his/her vow?

At the end of the NAZIRITE VOW, the Nazirite brings three sacrificial offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem. The first is a ewe for a chatat (sin offering), the second is a lamb for an olah (elevation offering), and finally a ram as a shelamim (peace offering) along with a basket of matzah and their grain and drink offerings. 

After bringing the sacrificial offerings, the Nazirites would shave their heads in the outer courtyard of the Temple. Part of the Nazir's commencement offering is given to the Kohen.

Was Jesus a NAZIRITE? 

Did he take this VOW?

 What do you think? 

Share your answer in comments.