Numbers 6:2
New International Version
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the LORD as a Nazirite,

New Living Translation
“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. “If any of the people, either men or women, take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the LORD in a special way,

English Standard Version
“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,

Berean Standard Bible
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD,

King James Bible
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:

New King James Version
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD,

New American Standard Bible
“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special vow, namely, the vow of a Nazirite, to live as a Nazirite for the LORD,

NASB 1995
“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the LORD,

NASB 1977
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the LORD,

Legacy Standard Bible
“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself as a Nazirite to Yahweh,

Amplified Bible
“Say to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, that is, one separated and dedicated to the LORD,

Christian Standard Bible
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow, to consecrate himself to the LORD,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow, to consecrate himself to the LORD,

American Standard Version
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself unto Jehovah,

Contemporary English Version
to say to the people of Israel: If any of you want to dedicate yourself to me by vowing to become a Nazirite,

English Revised Version
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself unto the LORD:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Speak to the Israelites and tell them: A man or a woman may make a special vow to live as a Nazirite dedicated to the LORD.

Good News Translation
to give the following instructions to the people of Israel. Any of you, male or female, who make a special vow to become a nazirite and dedicate yourself to the LORD

International Standard Version
"Tell the Israelis that a man or woman who commits to the vow of the Nazirite, is to be separated to the LORD,

Majority Standard Bible
?Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD,

NET Bible
"Speak to the Israelites, and tell them, 'When either a man or a woman takes a special vow, to take a vow as a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD,

New Heart English Bible
"Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD,

Webster's Bible Translation
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves to the LORD.

World English Bible
“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to Yahweh,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and you have said to them: When a man or woman does extraordinarily by vowing a vow of a Nazarite, to be separate to YHWH,

Young's Literal Translation
'Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, When a man or woman doeth singularly, by vowing a vow of a Nazarite, to be separate to Jehovah;

Smith's Literal Translation
Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, When a man or woman shall separate to vow a vow, being consecrated, to be separated to Jehovah:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: When a man, or woman, shall make a vow to be sanctified, and will consecrate themselves to the Lord:

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: A man or a woman, when they have made a vow so that they may be sanctified, and when they are willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord,

New American Bible
Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When men or women solemnly take the nazirite vow to dedicate themselves to the LORD,

New Revised Standard Version
Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When either men or women make a special vow, the vow of a nazirite, to separate themselves to the LORD,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, When a man or woman shall separate himself to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate himself to the LORD,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Speak with the children of Israel and say to them: ‘A man or a woman who will separate and will vow the vow of a Nazarite and will be separated to LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When either man or woman shall clearly utter a vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to consecrate himself unto the LORD,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Whatsoever man or woman shall specially vow a vow to separate oneself with purity to the Lord,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Nazirite Vow
1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, 3he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.…

Cross References
Judges 13:5
For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Amos 2:11-12
I raised up prophets from your sons and Nazirites from your young men. Is this not true, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. / “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

Acts 18:18
Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

Acts 21:23-24
Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. / Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

Luke 1:15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Leviticus 27:2
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons,

Deuteronomy 23:21
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Judges 16:17
Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

Jeremiah 35:6
“We do not drink wine,” they replied, “for our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine.

Lamentations 4:7
Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.


Treasury of Scripture

Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves to the LORD:

when

Numbers 6:5,6
All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no rasor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow…

Exodus 33:16
For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

Leviticus 20:26
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

separate themselves.

to vow

Leviticus 27:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.

Judges 13:5
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 1:28
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

to separate themselves.

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Numbers 6
1. The law of the Nazarite in the days of his separation
13. And after their completion
22. The form of blessing the people














Speak to the Israelites
This phrase establishes the audience of the directive, the Israelites, God's chosen people. The Hebrew root for "speak" is "דבר" (dabar), which implies not just casual conversation but a formal declaration or command. This highlights the importance of the message that follows, as it is a divine instruction meant for the entire community of Israel. Historically, the Israelites were a covenant people, bound by the laws given through Moses, and this command is part of that covenantal relationship.

and say to them
The repetition of the command to "say" underscores the importance of clear communication. The Hebrew word "אמר" (amar) is used here, which often conveys the idea of making something known or declaring. This emphasizes the role of Moses as a mediator between God and His people, ensuring that God's will is communicated accurately and authoritatively.

When a man or woman
This phrase is inclusive, indicating that the following vow is not limited by gender. In the ancient Near Eastern context, religious vows and dedications were often male-dominated, but here, both men and women are given equal opportunity to participate in this spiritual commitment. This reflects the egalitarian aspect of the spiritual life in Israel, where both genders could express their devotion to God.

takes a special vow
The term "special vow" is translated from the Hebrew word "נדר" (neder), which refers to a solemn promise or commitment made to God. This vow is not ordinary; it is set apart, indicating a higher level of dedication and sanctity. In the cultural context, vows were serious commitments that required fulfillment, reflecting the seriousness with which one approached their relationship with God.

the vow of a Nazirite
The word "Nazirite" comes from the Hebrew "נזיר" (nazir), meaning "consecrated" or "separated." A Nazirite vow was a special form of dedication to God, involving specific abstentions and practices. Historically, Nazirites were individuals who chose to live under a special vow of holiness, often for a specific period, to draw closer to God. This vow included abstaining from wine, not cutting one's hair, and avoiding contact with the dead, symbolizing purity and separation from worldly defilement.

to separate himself to the LORD
The phrase "to separate himself" is derived from the Hebrew "להזיר" (lehazzir), which means to consecrate or dedicate oneself. This separation is not just physical but spiritual, indicating a deliberate setting apart for God's purposes. The act of separating oneself to the LORD signifies a deep, personal commitment to holiness and devotion, reflecting a desire to live in a manner that is pleasing to God. This separation is a form of worship, acknowledging God's sovereignty and the individual's dedication to His service.

VI.

(2) When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow . . . --Better, When a man or woman shall make a special (or singular) vow (as in Leviticus 27:2)--the vow of a Nazirite. The verb which is here used denotes the doing something wonderful or extraordinary, and the spiritual lesson seems to be that Christ's servants are expected and required to do something more than others (Matthew 5:46-47). The vows here referred to were made for a specific period. At a later time, however, some were consecrated or set apart as Nazirites during the entire period of their lives, as in the case of Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. This consecration, however, appears to have been made rather as the result of Divine revelation than of arbitrary appointment on the part of their parents. The meaning of the word Nazirite (Hebrew nazir) is contained in the concluding words of the verse--to separate (i.e., himself) unto Jehovah--where the cognate verb is used.

Verse 2. - Either man or woman. It was not a little remarkable that women could be Nazirites, because, generally speaking, the religious condition of women under the law was so markedly inferior and so little considered. But this is altogether consistent with the true view of the Nazirite vow, viz., that it was an exceptional thing, outside the narrow pale of the law, giving scope and allowance to the free movements of the Spirit in individuals. In this too it stood on the same plane as the prophetic office, for which room was left in the religious system of Moses, and which was designed to correct and supplement in its spiritual freedom the artificial routine of that system. As the prophetic office might be exercised by women, so the Nazirite vow might be taken by women. In either case we find a tribute to and a recognition of the Divine liberty of the Holy Ghost, and an anticipation of the time when the spirit of self-devotion should be poured out without distinction upon men and women. Shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord. Rather, "shall make a solemn vow, a Nazirite vow, to live consecrated unto the Lord." The two words translated "separate" are not the same. The first (from pala, to sever, to consecrate, to distinguish as exceptional) is of somewhat doubtful use here. In Judges 13:19 it appears to be used as an intensitive, "did wonderously," and the Septuagint has here μεγάλως εὔξηται εὐχὴν. The other word (from נזר, to separate) is used in a general sense in Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy 33:16, or with the addition, "unto the Lord," as in Judges 13:5. It had, however, acquired a technical sense before this, as appears from Leviticus 25:5, 11, where the undressed vines are called "Nazirites," as recalling the unshorn locks of those who had taken the vow. It is evident indeed, from the way in which the Nazirite vow is here spoken of, that it had been, perhaps long, familiar among the people. All that this commandment did was to recognize the practice, to regulate it minutely, and to adopt it into the religious code of Israel. Whence the custom was derived is wholly uncertain, for although the separate elements existed in many different quarters, yet the peculiar combination of them which made the law of the Nazirite is entirely peculiar. Vows of abstinence have, of course, been common among all religions. Mingled with much of superstition, self-will, and pride, they have sprung in the main from noble impulses and yearnings after a higher life, prompted by the Holy Spirit of God; and it may be said with some confidence, that in spite of all reproaches (deserved or undeserved), such voluntary vows of abstinence have done more than anything else to save religion from becoming an unreal profession. Hair offerings, on the other hand, springing from a simple and natural sentiment, have been common enough amongst the heathen. Compare the sacred locks of Achilles ('Iliad,' 23:142, sqq.), and the various use of the tonsure in pursuance of vows among the ancient Egyptians (Herod., 2:65) and amongst modern Mahomedans and Christians. The physical fact on which all these hair offerings rest is that the hair is the only portion of oneself which can be conveniently detached and presented.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Speak
דַּבֵּר֙ (dab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

and tell
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

them:
אֲלֵהֶ֑ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

If
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

or
אֽוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

woman
אִשָּׁ֗ה (’iš·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

makes a special
יַפְלִא֙ (yap̄·li)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6381: To separate, distinguish, to be, great, difficult, wonderful

vow,
לִנְדֹּר֙ (lin·dōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5087: To promise

the vow
נֶ֣דֶר (ne·ḏer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5088: A promise, a thing promised

of a Nazirite,
נָזִ֔יר (nā·zîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5139: Nazirite -- one consecrated, devoted

to separate himself
לְהַזִּ֖יר (lə·haz·zîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5144: To hold aloof, abstain, to set apart, devote

to the LORD,
לַֽיהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH


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OT Law: Numbers 6:2 Speak to the children of Israel (Nu Num.)
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