Speak to the children of Israel, and you shall say to them: A man or woman who sets himself apart by making a Nazarite vow to abstain for the sake of HaShem [Bamidbar / Numbers 6:2]

The Nazarite vow is taken by individuals who had voluntarily dedicated themselves to HaShem. The vow is a decision, action, and desire on the part of people whose desire is to yield themselves to HaShem completely. By definition, the Hebrew word nazir simply means to be separated or consecrated. The Nazarite vow, which appears in Bamidbar / Numbers 6:1-21, has five features. It is voluntary, can be done by either men or women, has a specific time frame, has specific requirements and restrictions, and at its conclusion a sacrifice is offered.

First, the individual enters into this vow voluntarily. The Bible says, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to HaShem as a Nazarite’” (Bamidbar / Numbers 6:2). This shows that it is individuals who take the initiative to consecrate themselves to HaShem. There is no divine command involved. While generally done by the individual by his own choice, two individuals in the Torah, and one in the Besorah HaTovah (Good News), were presented to HaShem by their parents. Samuel and Samson in the Torah, (1 Samuel 2:8-28; Judges 13:1-5), and Yochanan Ben Zecharya (John son of Zechariah) in the Besorah HaTovah (Good News) received the Nazarite vow from birth (Luke 1:13-17).

Secondly, both men and women could participate in this vow, as Bamidbar / Numbers 6:2 indicates, “a man or woman.” The Nazarite vow was often taken by men and women alike purely for personal reasons, such as thanksgiving for recovery from illness or for the birth of a child. However, the vow or oath of a single woman could be rescinded by her father, and that of a married woman be rescinded by her husband (Bamidbar / Numbers 30).

Third, the vow had a specific time frame, a beginning and an end as these two statements indicate, “Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to HaShem… Now this is the law for the Nazarite when the period of his separation is over” (Bamidbar / Numbers 6:8, 13a). So the Nazarite vow usually had both a beginning and an end.

Fourth, there were specific guidelines and restrictions involved with the Nazarite vow. Three guidelines are given to the Nazarite. Bamidbar / Numbers 6:3-7 tells us that he/she was to abstain from wine or any fermented drink, nor was the Nazarite to drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins, not even the seeds or skins. Next, the Nazarite was not to cut his hair for the length of the vow. Last, he was not to go near a dead body because that would make him ceremonially unclean. Even if a member of his immediate family died, he was not to go near the corpse.

Bamidbar / Numbers 6:13-20 shows the procedure to follow to complete the vow. A sacrifice was made (vv.13-17), the candidate’s hair was cut and put on the altar, and the priest did the final task of completing the sacrificial process, which ends the vow (v. 20). This section concludes with the statement, “This is the law of the Nazarite who vows his offering to HaShem in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazarite” (6:21).

 Paul took on himself the Nazarite vow. This could only be terminated by his going up to Jerusalem to offer up the hair which till then was to be left uncut. But it seems to have been allowable for persons at a distance to cut the hair, which was to be brought up to Jerusalem, where the ceremony was completed. This Paul did at Cenchrea just before setting out on his voyage into Syria (Acts 18:18).

On another occasion (Acts 21:23-26), at the feast of Pentecost (Shavuot), Paul took on himself again the Nazarite vow.

"The ceremonies involved took a longer time than Paul had at his disposal, but the law permitted a man to share the vow if he could find companions who had gone through the prescribed ceremonies, and who permitted him to join their company. This permission was commonly granted if the new comer paid all the fees required from the whole company, and finished the vow along with the others.

Four believers were performing the vow, and would admit Paul to their company, provided he paid their expenses. Paul consented, paid the charges, and when the last seven days of the vow began he went with them to live in the Beit HaMidasha (Temple), giving the usual notice to the priests that he had joined in regular fashion, was a sharer with the four men, and that his vow would end with theirs.

Nazarites retired to the temple during the last period of seven days, because they could be secure there against any accidental defilement"

As Messianic Jewish believers we should be willing to separate ourselves from the world (olam Hazeh) and serve HaShem our God with every aspect of our being. It is time to do a mitzva!

Shabbat Shalom!