help ...the nazirite vow....

[Sister Alvear]

The vow of a Nazirite.





Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "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,'"



To separate himself to the Lord: The vow of the Nazirite was to express one’s special desire to draw close to God and to separate one’s self from the comforts and pleasures of this world.



“The English word Nazirite transliterates Hebrew nazir, meaning “set apart.” (Wenham)



There were several remarkable Nazirites in the Bible: Samson (Judges 13:5), John the Baptist (Luke 1:15), and Paul (Acts 18:18); the vow was certainly open to women, but we have no Biblical example of a woman taking the vow, except for Maybe (?) Manoah’s wife during her pregnancy with Samson (Judges 13:4).


I was asked today if a woman could take this vow??? Would someone give me a biblical opinion...

I know we could make a joke from the question but the person is serious...I told the person I would ask those that know more than I do about these things...

[Hoovie]

First of all I would seriously inquire; Why does she wish to do this?

We are complete in Christ. After the transitional era of the New Covenant we don't find Christians making these vows. Rather, it seems much more appropriate to preach our completeness in Christ.

[U376977]

IMO the vow is not for today, man or woman. I'm not sure, but I think one of the stipulations of the vow was to not have sexual relations with a woman during the time of the vow. Something that would not apply to a woman of God!
In any case, your friend can make any dedication, or consecration without it being this vow. There are no Nazirites today...only Christian (Christ-like) people. I think we have a higher standard to try to live up to (Christ) not a Nazirite. Just my opinion.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by U376977

IMO the vow is not for today, man or woman. I'm not sure, but I think one of the stipulations of the vow was to not have sexual relations with a woman during the time of the vow. Something that would not apply to a woman of God!
In any case, your friend can make any dedication, or consecration without it being this vow. There are no Nazirites today...only Christian (Christ-like) people. I think we have a higher standard to try to live up to (Christ) not a Nazirite. Just my opinion.

The vow could be taken by a man or woman.

Num 6:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 6:2 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:

I don't know about taking the vow today--at least, with the same stipulations, but the NT does mention husbands and wives being separate from one another (with consent), for a time of fasting and prayer. I think it's the same principle at work.

[jaxfam6]

Originally Posted by U376977

IMO the vow is not for today, man or woman. I'm not sure, but I think one of the stipulations of the vow was to not have sexual relations with a woman during the time of the vow. Something that would not apply to a woman of God!
In any case, your friend can make any dedication, or consecration without it being this vow. There are no Nazirites today...only Christian (Christ-like) people. I think we have a higher standard to try to live up to (Christ) not a Nazirite. Just my opinion.

I see nothing here about no sexual relations. Besides how could Samson have been a Nazarite if he was looking for a bride and he was a Nazarite from birth. If he was to NOT have sexual relations he would have given up his vow it that was not allowed.

Numbers 6
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Speak 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:

3He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

4All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.

5All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor 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.

6All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.

7He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.

8All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.

and it DOES SAY MAN OR WOMAN

I do not see it as something necessary for our day but IF a person wanted to I think God would honor it. I do think though that you had better FOLLOW the vow to the letter though if you are going to do it.

[Sister Alvear]

she does not wish to do it I think she wanted more or less to know why would any woman ever take this vow and was it just for men or were women included...

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

she does not wish to do it I think she wanted more or less to know why would any woman ever take this vow and was it just for men or were women included...

The meaning of the Nazirite (Nazarite) oath has created varying opinions and theories. The stipulations of this vow are found in Numbers 6. There it’s explained that both Men and Women could be a Nazirite so long as they separated themselves from wine, dead bodies, haircuts, and products from the vine. At the end of the man’s oath, he would shave his head and offer an animal sacrifice. Afterward he would go back to his normal diet, life, and haircuts. The Bible does not mention anyone keeping the Nazirite oath fully. Also, nowhere does it mention a woman ever keeping any aspect of the Nazirite oath.

God placed the Nazirite oath and its stipulations in His Word. But growing long uncut hair, not drinking or eating grape products, and not touching a dead body do not guarantee a man is truly separated unto God. Those who did take a Nazirite oath were called to walk separated from this world and unto God. Jesus calls men and women today to also walk a life of separation.

Being separate for separation sake is never God’s will. He has always called men and women to separate themselves so as to allow them opportunity to mature in Him. Today Jesus calls His Church to live a life of separation. Such separation does not require a communes or monasteries. Instead it is done through dying to the flesh and living in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Such a life of holiness thereby allows opportunity for a man and woman to mature into Christlikeness.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

she does not wish to do it I think she wanted more or less to know why would any woman ever take this vow and was it just for men or were women included...

It was stated as being for either men OR women. Btw, there's also no part of Numbers 6 that requires separation from a husband or wife.

As far as the why...it would be for the same reason that we declare fasts, I would think.

The scripture in I Corinthians that talks about a time of prayer and fasting says "with consent", so my take is that any woman who wants to separate herself from her husband (or vice versa) must first have his approval.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

It was stated as being for either men OR women. Btw, there's also no part of Numbers 6 that requires separation from a husband or wife.

As far as the why...it would be for the same reason that we declare fasts, I would think.

The scripture in I Corinthians that talks about a time of prayer and fasting says "with consent", so my take is that any woman who wants to separate herself from her husband (or vice versa) must first have his approval.

The period of "abstention" in the oldest of Old Testament times was for the purposes of making war.

The Nazarite vow in the oldest Hebrew portions of the Old Testament (Judges 5) is equated with war. Most Hebrew scholars have come to see the Nazarite as a type of "Holy Warrior." The prohibitions against the use of intoxicating drinks and against sexual relations of any kind served to spare people from at least some of the ravages associated with war. Of course, this was the ideal, the truth was often more complicated.

Judges 5:2 is translated as: "when locks hung loose in Israel" instead of the KJV's "when the people willingly offered themselves..." There was more on this theme HERE on another thread dealing with long hair and beards. I'm at work and don't have all my resources, but HERE'S a commentary that gives a flavor of what I'm saying.

Urriah the Hittite protested when King David sent him home to his wife during a time of battle. The text seems to make it clear that David could have avoided some complications in his life had he kept to the warrior's creed regarding sex "when the kings go out to war..."

Absalom with his thick growth of hair was considered the proto-typical warrior, until being undone by the same hair.

Most ancient cultures and many into the modern age follow this same pattern. From the Chinese "queue" to the Samurai's uncut hair to the Celts and the Phillistines and the Greek, warriors would usually go without cutting their hair or their beards throughout a campaign season. This practice was followed by soldiers on both sides during the US Civil War.

Many NFL football players follow this same behavior, perhaps completely unaware of their connection to the warriors in the past.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by pelathais

The period of "abstention" in the oldest of Old Testament times was for the purposes of making war.

The Nazarite vow in the oldest Hebrew portions of the Old Testament (Judges 5) is equated with war. Most Hebrew scholars have come to see the Nazarite as a type of "Holy Warrior." The prohibitions against the use of intoxicating drinks and against sexual relations of any kind served to spare people from at least some of the ravages associated with war. Of course, this was the ideal, the truth was often more complicated.

Judges 5:2 is translated as: "when locks hung loose in Israel" instead of the KJV's "when the people willingly offered themselves..." There was more on this theme HERE on another thread dealing with long hair and beards. I'm at work and don't have all my resources, but HERE'S a commentary that gives a flavor of what I'm saying.

Urriah the Hittite protested when King David sent him home to his wife during a time of battle. The text seems to make it clear that David could have avoided some complications in his life had he kept to the warrior's creed regarding sex "when the kings go out to war..."

Absalom with his thick growth of hair was considered the proto-typical warrior, until being undone by the same hair.

Most ancient cultures and many into the modern age follow this same pattern. From the Chinese "queue" to the Samurai's uncut hair to the Celts and the Phillistines and the Greek, warriors would usually go without cutting their hair or their beards throughout a campaign season. This practice was followed by soldiers on both sides during the US Civil War.

Many NFL football players follow this same behavior, perhaps completely unaware of their connection to the warriors in the past.

Interesting comments, pel. Thanks.