The Nazirite vow was a special vow taken by certain people in the Bible to consecrate themselves to God for a period of time. The word “Nazirite” comes from the Hebrew word “nazir” meaning “consecrated” or “separated.” The Nazirite vow involved abstaining from wine and fermented drink, refraining from cutting one’s hair, and avoiding corpse contamination. The purpose was to devote oneself fully to the Lord during the duration of the vow.
The Nazirite vow is first mentioned in the Old Testament book of Numbers chapter 6. The LORD told Moses, “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, 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 of 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” (Numbers 6:1-4 ESV). This establishes the key prohibitions involved in taking a Nazirite vow – no alcohol, no wine, no grapes or raisins, nothing related to vineyards.
In addition, the Nazirite was commanded not to cut their hair for the duration of the vow: “All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is 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” (Numbers 6:5 ESV). Letting one’s hair grow long was a visible and external sign of the Nazirite’s consecration to God.
The third requirement was to avoid corpse contamination: “All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body. Not even for his father or for his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD” (Numbers 6:6-8 ESV). Contact with the dead was seen as ceremonially defiling, so the Nazirite was to avoid this.
At the conclusion of the Nazirite vow, there was a ritual for the person to complete their vow. We read in Numbers 6:13-15: “And this is the law for the Nazirite, when the time of his separation has been completed: he shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and he shall bring his gift to the LORD, one male lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a peace offering, and a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings. And the priest shall bring them before the LORD and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering.” Part of closing the vow involved shaving the head and burning the hair that had grown long in dedication to God (Numbers 6:18).
There are several prominent figures in the Bible who took a Nazirite vow. Samson was a lifelong Nazirite, chosen by God before his birth to “begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5 ESV). His long hair was a symbol of his spiritual commitment, and when it was cut, he lost his strength. Samuel was likely also a lifelong Nazirite, as his mother Hannah made this vow even before he was conceived (1 Samuel 1:11). John the Baptist followed the Nazirite restrictions even from birth, when the angel told his father Zechariah, “he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:15 ESV). The apostle Paul took Nazirite vows on at least one occasion, as described in Acts 18:18 and Acts 21:17-26.
In summary, the Nazirite vow typically involved three key commitments – abstaining from wine and grapes, refraining from cutting one’s hair, and avoiding corpse contamination for a set period of time. The purpose was to focus on consecration to the Lord in a unique way. The vow was voluntary (except in Samson’s case), and the duration could vary. At the end of the vow period, there were specific sacrifices to be made before the person’s restrictions were lifted. While not commanded for everyone, the Nazirite vow gave some believers the opportunity to devote themselves with greater focus to the things of God for a season.
The Nazirite vow is not commonly practiced today, as it was specifically part of Israelite ceremonial law. However, the principles behind it can still challenge believers to consider tangible ways to demonstrate their dedication to the Lord from time to time. Setting aside distractions, developing spiritual disciplines, fasting, focused prayer, and giving generously are some examples of how we can voluntarily devote ourselves to intensified spiritual commitment in seasons of life today.
Though we are not under the ceremonial law, the passionate desire to separate oneself to the Lord that motivated the Nazirite vow can still inspire believers to seek to honor Him above all else. As Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
The Nazirite vow required much sacrifice and discipline for those who took it. While it is no longer required, it remains as an example of the lengths some would go to devote themselves to the Lord. In modern days, without the constraints of detailed ceremonial law, we actually have even more freedom to pursue creative ways to focus on the Lord with all we are and have. The spirit of the Nazirite vow can live on today in believers who seek to honor the Lord with an intense season of undistracted devotion.
The key aspects of the Nazirite vow were abstaining from alcohol, letting one’s hair grow long, and avoiding corpse contamination for a set time of focused dedication to God. This was completely voluntary. When the term of the vow was finished, there were specific sacrifices and rituals to be completed. The Nazirite vow provides a model of consecration and separation to the Lord that, while not mandated today, can still inspire believers to pursue times of heightened spiritual devotion.
Though no longer a requirement, the Nazirite vow stands as a challenge to consider tangible ways we can demonstrate our dedication to the Lord in special seasons of life. Whether through fasting, focused prayer, generous giving, or other disciplines, believers have great freedom to creatively devote themselves to intensified spiritual commitment for a time. The passionate desire to honor God above all else that exemplified the Nazirite vow can inspire us still today.
The Nazirite vow was a voluntary, time-limited opportunity in the Old Testament for a person to devote themselves completely to God by abstaining from wine, not cutting their hair, and avoiding corpse contamination. This allowed them to focus singularly on worshipping and serving the Lord during that season. While not practiced today, the spirit of the Nazirite vow can still inspire believers to pursue creative, sacrificial ways to intensify their spiritual commitment for a period of time.
The key biblical passages about the Nazirite vow are Numbers 6:1-21, which establishes the regulations about abstaining from wine and grapes, letting the hair grow long, and avoiding corpses; Judges 13, where Samson is set apart as a lifelong Nazirite; Acts 18:18 and Acts 21:17-26, where Paul takes a Nazirite vow; and Amos 2:11-12, which mentions Nazirites.
Though no longer practiced, the voluntary Nazirite vow stands as an example of deep spiritual devotion, separation, and self-sacrifice to the Lord. The principles behind this special season of consecration can challenge believers today to consider creative, practical ways to demonstrate their dedication to God through spiritual disciplines and undistracted focus for a time.
The Nazirite vow required refraining from wine and grapes, letting the hair grow out, and avoiding corpse contamination for a set period of intensified devotion to God. Though no longer required, it represents a height of commitment that can inspire us to pursue voluntary times of focused spiritual consecration today through prayer, fasting, simplicity, and service.
The key aspects of the Nazirite vow were:
- Refraining from all wine, grapes, raisins, vinegar, and anything from the grapevine (Numbers 6:3-4)
- Letting the hair grow long and not cutting it for the duration of the vow (Numbers 6:5)
- Avoiding corpse contamination by not going near a dead body (Numbers 6:6-7)
- The vow was voluntary and usually time-limited (Numbers 6:2)
- At the completion of the vow period, offering sacrifices and shaving the head (Numbers 6:13-18)
The purpose was special devotion and consecration to God. Samson and Samuel were lifelong Nazirites, while Paul took the vow temporarily. Though not practiced today, it represents height of commitment and can inspire seasons of focused spiritual devotion.
The key aspects of the Nazirite vow were:
- Abstaining from alcohol and the produce of vineyards
- Not cutting one’s hair and allowing it to grow long
- Avoiding corpse contamination
- For a set period of time to focus devotion on God
- Offering sacrifices once the term of the vow was complete
The Nazirite vow was voluntary and demonstrated intense dedication to the Lord. The principles behind this consecration and separation can inspire believers today to pursue creative ways to devote themselves to spiritual focus for a season through prayer, fasting, generosity, and simplifying life.
Here is a summary of key points about the Nazirite vow:
- It was voluntary – not required of all Israelites
- Involved abstaining from all grape products, wine and alcohol
- Required letting the hair grow long without cutting it
- Prohibited contact with corpses to avoid ritual impurity
- For a set period of time – a season of special dedication
- Associated with Samson and Samuel (lifetime vows)
- Paul took the vow temporarily in Acts
- Ended with ritual sacrifices and shaving of the hair
- No longer practiced but exemplifies spiritual devotion
- Its principles can inspire creative devotion today
The Nazirite vow was a demonstration of heightened commitment to God for a season, representing the ideals of consecration, devotion, and sacrifice that can motivate us still today.
The Nazirite vow in the Old Testament allowed an Israelite to voluntarily commit to a period of deeper devotion to God by abstaining from alcohol, letting their hair grow long, and avoiding corpse contamination. Here are some key details:
- Voluntary act of dedication and separation to God
- Established in Numbers 6
- Restrictions involved no wine/grapes, uncut hair, no corpses
- Associated with Samson and Samuel (life-long)
- Paul took the vow temporarily in Acts
- Sacrifices offered at completion
- No longer practiced but exemplifies spiritual devotion
- Principles can inspire creative commitment today
Though no longer required, the Nazirite vow represents the heights of devotion believers may go to honor God with their lives.
The Nazirite vow was a voluntary act of special dedication to God for a set period of time in ancient Israel. Here are some key features:
- Refraining from wine, grapes, vinegar, alcohol (Numbers 6:3-4)
- Letting the hair grow long without cutting it (Numbers 6:5)
- Avoiding corpse contamination (Numbers 6:6-7)
- Sometimes lifelong (Samson, Samuel), sometimes temporary (Paul in Acts)
- Sacrifices to conclude the vow (Numbers 6:13-20)
- No longer practiced but represents spiritual devotion
- Can inspire creative pursuit of focus on God today
The principles behind this intensive season of devotion continue to challenge believers in their walk with God.
The Nazirite vow in the Old Testament was a time-bounded opportunity for Israelites to dedicate themselves fully to God by abstaining from alcohol, letting their hair grow long, and avoiding corpses. Key points:
- Voluntary special vow of separation to God
- Restrictions on wine, haircuts, and corpse contamination
- Usually temporary but sometimes lifelong (Samson)
- Concluded with sacrifices when completed
- No longer practiced but exemplifies spiritual devotion
- Challenge us today to creative commitment to focus on God
Though no longer required, the zeal and sacrifice of the Nazirite vow can inspire us to intensified spiritual devotion in our own day.