NAZIRITE

(Nazʹi·rite) [Heb., na·zirʹ, meaning dedicated, separated, singled out].

Prior to his birth an angel appeared to his mother and announced that she would bear a son who was to be a Nazirite from birth and “take the lead in saving Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judg. 13:1-5, 24; 16:17)

But, on account of her persistent pestering, he finally gave in and revealed to her that his strength lay in his being a Nazirite from birth.

The Hebrew word neʹzer meant the sign or symbol of holy dedication worn as a crown upon the sanctified head of a high priest, or on the head of an anointed king; it also meant one with a Nazirite vow.

When one took the Nazirite vow to Jehovah he was not to cut his hair or shave his beard as long as the vow was upon him.

A person (man or woman) taking a vow to live as a Nazirite was holy during the period of the vow.

The Nazirite had to observe certain legal requirements; a violation would make him unclean.

The names Nazarene and Nazirite are not to be confused, for, though spelled similarly in English, they stem from altogether different Hebrew words with different meanings.—See NAZIRITE.

So too it was a divine regulation that a Nazirite was not to drink any alcoholic beverage while under this special vow. (Num. 6:2-4, 13-20; Amos 2:12)

Because Samson was to be a Nazirite from birth, his mother was not allowed to touch wine or liquor during her pregnancy. (Judg. 13:4, 5, 7, 14)

If a Nazirite became defiled, then at the time of establishing his purification he shaved his head. (Num. 6:9)

For human death to occur in the presence or alongside of one under a Nazirite vow canceled out the time he had already spent under the vow, and necessitated the offering of a sacrifice.—Num. 6:8-12; see SAMSON.

Rather, on the basis of such foreknowledge, Jehovah foreordained that Samson should live according to the Nazirite vow and should initiate the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, that Jeremiah should serve as a prophet, and that John the Baptist should do a preparatory work as a forerunner of the Messiah. (Judg. 13:3-5; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:13-17)

The head of a Nazirite was under a vow, his long hair attesting to the fact. (Num. 6:5, 18-20)

Samson was another child specially devoted to God’s service as a Nazirite.—Judg. 13:2-5, 11-14; compare the father’s authority over a daughter as outlined in Numbers 30:3-5, 16.

This son would be a lifetime Nazirite, as was Samson.

Must keep vows; man or woman could take Nazirite vow (Deut. 23:21-23; Num. 6:2-12; 30:2)

One day an angel appeared to Manoah’s barren wife, announcing that she would give birth to a son who would be a Nazirite of God.

They were also acceptable in connection with the Nazirite’s cleansing from defilement.—Num. 6:10.

One under a Nazirite vow was not to use a razor on his head until the completion of the period of his vow. (Num. 6:5, 18; Judg. 13:5; 16:17; Acts 21:23, 24)

Promised to the service of Jehovah as a Nazirite by his mother Hannah before conception (1 Sam. 1:11), Samuel was taken to the tabernacle at Shiloh upon being weaned (perhaps at the age of three years at least; compare 2 Chronicles 31:16) and left there in the charge of High Priest Eli. (1 Sam. 1:24-28)

Those under Nazirite vows were sanctified for the period of their vow. (Num. 6:1-8)

The officiating priest was given the shoulder of a ram of the Nazirite’s sacrifice at the completion of his vow, this constituting a part of the priest’s portion.—Num. 6:19, 20; see also Deuteronomy 18:3; see LEG.

The apostle Paul made a vow, whether a Nazirite vow or not is uncertain; also, whether he had made the vow before becoming a Christian is not stated.