Numbers 6

God gives the law of the Nazirite, a man or woman who voluntarily sets themselves apart to the LORD for a time. The chapter ends with the great priestly blessing, which Aaron and his sons were to speak over Israel. Together they show a people who give themselves to God, and a God who gives Himself in blessing.

Numbers 6:1-2

The Nazirite vow was open to both men and women, not only to priests or Levites. It was freely chosen, not commanded. An ordinary Israelite could set himself or herself apart to the LORD for a season in a special way.

BSA: separate (“dedicate, set apart”): The vow is about being given to God, not only about giving things up.

Hebrew: נָזִיר (nazir, H5139) — “one set apart, consecrated.” The word comes from a root meaning to separate or dedicate. It can also point to the uncut hair, the ‘crown’ worn by the one devoted to God.

Numbers 6:3-4

For the length of the vow the Nazirite avoided wine, strong drink and every product of the grapevine, even seeds and skins. The ban went well beyond drunkenness. It put a wide fence around the vow, so that the person stayed far from anything that might loosen it.

BSA: abstain (“separate himself, dedicate”): Abstaining is a kind of separating, a deliberate choice to stand apart for God.

Numbers 6:5

The uncut hair was the visible sign of the vow. Everyone who saw the Nazirite knew he or she belonged to the LORD for this season. The long hair was a public mark of devotion, and the person was to be holy until the days were complete.

BSA: holy (“set apart, sacred, dedicated to God”): Holiness here means belonging to God, not just being morally clean.

See also: Judges 13:5.

Numbers 6:6-8

The Nazirite also avoided every dead body, even that of a parent or sibling. Death made a person ceremonially unclean, and the vow ranked devotion to God above even the closest family duty. The hair is called a crown, a sign of belonging to God.

BSA: crown (“consecration, dedication”): The hair is like a royal crown, showing whose the person is.

See also: Leviticus 21:10-11.

Numbers 6:9

A Nazirite could be defiled by accident, when someone died suddenly nearby. The vow was then broken through no deliberate fault. He shaved his head on the seventh day, the day of cleansing, to remove the hair that had been touched by death.

BSA: suddenly (“in an instant, without warning”): The defilement comes unplanned, so the law provides a way back.

See also: Numbers 19:11-12.

Numbers 6:10-11

On the eighth day he brought two birds, the offering of the poor, to the priest. One was a sin offering and one a burnt offering. Even an accidental contact with death called for atonement. The head was consecrated again that same day.

BSA: atonement (“to cover, reconcile, restore”): The offering covered the fault and restored him to a right place before God.

Hebrew: כִּפֶּר (kipper, H3722) — “to cover, make atonement.” This is the common Old Testament word for atonement. It pictures guilt being covered over so that a person can stand before God again.

See also: Leviticus 5:7.

Numbers 6:12

He had to start again. The earlier days did not count, and he brought a lamb as a guilt offering. This shows how seriously God took the vow. It also shows that the way back was open: a new beginning was offered, not a rejection.

BSA: guilt offering (“for a trespass, sin, or fault”): It acknowledged that something owed to God had been broken and made it right.

Numbers 6:13-15

When the vow period ended, the Nazirite came to the tabernacle entrance with a full set of offerings. These were a burnt offering, a sin offering and a peace offering, with grain, drink offerings and unleavened bread. Together they gave thanks and gave all back to God.

BSA: unblemished (“perfect, without defect”): God’s people were to bring their best, with nothing damaged or second rate.

Numbers 6:16-17

The priest presented everything before the LORD. The sin offering and burnt offering came first, then the peace offering with its bread, grain and drink. Even a completed vow of devotion needed an offering for sin, and then came a shared meal of fellowship with God.

BSA: peace offering (“a voluntary sacrifice, a gift of thanks”): It was a freewill gift of gratitude, eaten in fellowship with God.

Numbers 6:18

At the tabernacle door the Nazirite shaved his consecrated head and put the hair on the fire under the peace offering. The hair that marked his devotion was handed over to God. What he had grown for the LORD now went up to the LORD.

BSA: consecrated (“dedicated, set apart”): The hair had belonged to God throughout the vow, so it was burned on His altar.

Numbers 6:19-20

The priest took parts of the ram and the bread, placed them in the Nazirite’s hands, and waved them before the LORD. They then belonged to the priest as his portion. After this the vow was over and the Nazirite could drink wine again.

BSA: wave offering (“a ceremonial gesture, a sacred presentation”): Moving the gift back and forth showed it was offered up to God and then given back for the priest’s use.

Hebrew: תְּנוּפָה (tenufah, H8573) — “wave offering, a lifting and waving.” The word describes a gift held up and moved before God, so the worshiper shows it is presented to Him first.

Numbers 6:21

This sums up the law. A person could always add more than the minimum required, whatever he could afford. Whatever was vowed had to be carried out. A promise made to God is meant to be kept faithfully and fully.

BSA: fulfill (“carry out, complete”): A vow is not finished by good intention but by being completed.

See also: Ecclesiastes 5:4-5.

Numbers 6:22-23

The LORD now gives Moses a different command. Aaron and his sons, the priests, are to bless Israel with set words. The blessing is not their own invention. God gives it and tells them exactly how to say it.

BSA: bless (“praise, honor, kneel in worship”): The word carries the sense of bowing low, so God’s blessing flows from His greatness toward His people.

Numbers 6:24

The first line asks God to bless and keep His people. To bless is to give good gifts and favor. To keep is to guard and watch over, like a shepherd who does not let his flock out of sight.

BSA: keep (“protect, attend to, or guard”): God’s blessing includes His watchful protection.

Hebrew: יִשְׁמְרֶךָ (yishmerekha, H8104) — “may He keep you, guard you.” The root means to watch over carefully, as a guard watches a city or a shepherd a flock.

See also: Psalm 121:7-8.

Numbers 6:25

To have God’s face shine on you is to know His smile and favor, like a parent’s warm look at a child. Being gracious means He gives kindness that is not earned. Light is a picture of welcome, joy and goodwill.

BSA: face (“presence, being in front of”): God’s face means His own personal presence turned toward His people. gracious (“show kindness, favor”): Grace is undeserved kindness freely given.

See also: Psalm 67:1; Psalm 80:3.

Numbers 6:26

To lift up His countenance toward you is to look on you with attention and approval, not turning away. The result is peace, the Hebrew shalom, which means wholeness and well-being in every part of life, not only quiet from trouble.

BSA: peace (“shalom, completeness, wellness”): Peace here means a full, healthy life under God’s care.

Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם (shalom, H7965) — “peace, wholeness, well-being.” It comes from a root meaning complete or sound, so shalom covers health, safety and right relationship with God and others.

See also: John 14:27.

Numbers 6:27

When the priests spoke these words, they put God’s name on His people. The name stands for His character and ownership. Yet the blessing itself comes from God alone: He says, I will bless them. The priests speak it, but God gives it.

BSA: name (“My identity, character”): God’s name means who He is, and it marks His people as His.

See also: Deuteronomy 28:10; 2 Corinthians 13:14.