Numbers 6 19

Numbers 6:19 kjv

And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven:

Numbers 6:19 nkjv

'And the priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them upon the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated hair,

Numbers 6:19 niv

"?'After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast.

Numbers 6:19 esv

And the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, and one unleavened loaf out of the basket and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite, after he has shaved the hair of his consecration,

Numbers 6:19 nlt

After the Nazirite's head has been shaved, the priest will take for each of them the boiled shoulder of the ram, and he will take from the basket a cake and a wafer made without yeast. He will put them all into the Nazirite's hands.

Numbers 6 verses

Numbers 6 19 Meaning

Numbers 6:19 describes a specific ritual in the completion ceremony of the Nazirite vow. The verse outlines that the priest is to take the boiled shoulder (or thigh) of the ram offered as a peace offering, along with one unleavened loaf and one unleavened wafer from a special basket. These items are then placed by the priest onto the hands of the Nazirite. This action occurs immediately after the Nazirite has shaved the hair of his or her dedication, signifying the end of the consecrated period. This physical transfer of the holy elements onto the Nazirite's hands is a pivotal moment, marking the transition from intense separation back into communal life, while acknowledging the fulfillment of the vow and God's acceptance. It symbolizes the Nazirite's part in the offering and their re-entry into a common, yet purified, state.

Numbers 6 19 Context

Numbers chapter 6 details the institution and practices surrounding the Nazirite vow. This was a unique, voluntary commitment of intense personal dedication to God, undertaken by men or women for a specified period. The Nazirite set themselves apart by abstaining from wine and other grape products, refraining from cutting their hair, and avoiding contact with any dead body. Verse 19 specifically describes a critical step in the ceremonial conclusion of this vow. It follows the presentation of a specific set of offerings (a burnt offering, a sin offering, and a peace offering, alongside a grain offering and drink offering – detailed in Num 6:14-17) and, most significantly, the Nazirite's cutting off and burning of their long, dedicated hair on the altar (Num 6:18). This act of placing specific, cooked elements on the Nazirite's hands before they were officially waved (as described in Num 6:20) signified the complete fulfillment of the vow, the priestly appropriation of their portion, and the Nazirite's return to regular life, having completed a consecrated period before the Lord.

Historically, such precise rituals ensured order and proper mediation between God and His people in ancient Israel. They affirmed the holiness of God, the need for purification, and the specific role of the Levitical priesthood in managing the nation's spiritual life. The detailed instructions emphasized the covenant relationship, providing clear boundaries and expressions of devotion that distinguished Israelite worship from pagan practices of the surrounding cultures, which often lacked such ethical foundations and ordered rituals, instead involving erratic, unpredictable, or self-harming dedications.

Numbers 6 19 Word analysis

• And the priest: In Hebrew, וְלָקַח הַכֹּהֵן ( welaqakh hakkohen ). The term hakkohen (the priest) denotes an individual from the Aaronic lineage, set apart by God for divine service, mediator between God and man in cultic worship. His active role underscores that this is an divinely appointed, authorized ritual, not a self-initiated act. The priest facilitated the Nazirite's return to the community and their proper standing before God.
• shall take: The Hebrew verb is laqakh (לָקַח), meaning "to take" or "to receive." This emphasizes the priest's active appropriation of the items from the sacrificial offerings.
• the shoulder: Hebrew הַשֹּׁק ( hashshoq ). This term refers to the "thigh" or "leg," particularly the right thigh, of the sacrificial animal. In peace offerings, this specific portion was often designated as the priest's share from the peace offering, signifying a permanent due to them (Lev 7:32-34, Exod 29:27-28). It implies the strength and support of the animal, symbolically providing strength to the priest and the people's ongoing communion with God. It represents God's provision for His ministers.
• of the ram: Hebrew מִן-הָאַיִל ( min-ha'ayil ). This indicates the specific animal from which the shoulder came. This ram was designated as a "peace offering" (Num 6:14), a sacrifice of fellowship, thanksgiving, and covenant maintenance, signifying the Nazirite's renewed communion with God and community.
• when it is boiled: Hebrew מְבֻשָּׁל ( mevushal ). This specifies the method of preparation – cooked in water. While burnt offerings were wholly consumed by fire and sin offerings partially burned, the peace offering was typically eaten by the worshipper, priest, and their families (portions thereof). Boiling prepared it for consumption and indicates that it was fully processed and ready for the communal aspect of the offering. This stands in contrast to raw meat or meat prepared by roasting.
• and one unleavened loaf: Hebrew וְחַלַּת מַצָּה אַחַת ( vechallat matztzah achat ). Challah is a "cake" or "loaf," and matztzah refers to "unleavened bread." Unleavened bread symbolizes purity, sincerity, and freedom from corruption or malice, often associated with the Passover (Exod 12:8; 1 Cor 5:7-8). It signifies the new, pure life the Nazirite would live post-vow.
• out of the basket: Hebrew מִסַּל ( missal ). The basket was a designated vessel holding the various flour-based elements for the offering (Num 6:15), emphasizing order and preparation.
• and one unleavened wafer: Hebrew וּרָקִיק מַצָּה אֶחָד ( veraqiq matztzah echad ). Raqiq means a thin, flat cake or "wafer." Like the loaf, its unleavened nature signifies purity, and its form as a wafer might symbolize humility or dedication. These are components of the grain offering that accompanies the peace offering.
• and shall put them: Hebrew וְנָתַן ( venatan ), meaning "to put," "to place," or "to give." This signifies the deliberate act of the priest transferring the consecrated items to the Nazirite.
• on the hands: Hebrew עַל-כַּפֵּי ( al-kappey ), meaning "on the palms of" or "on the open hands of." Placing items on the hands symbolizes a transfer of ownership, presentation for dedication, or the bestowing of blessing and status. It allows the Nazirite to personally participate in the subsequent wave offering (Num 6:20) by holding the items as the priest assists.
• of the Nazirite: Hebrew הַנָּזִיר ( hannāzir ). From the root nazar, meaning "to separate," "to consecrate," or "to dedicate." It refers to the individual who undertook the voluntary vow of separation to the Lord.
• after he has shaved: Hebrew אַחַר הִתְגַּלַּח ( acḥar hitgallach ). The Hebrew verb hitgallach means "he has shaved himself," indicating the Nazirite's active participation in marking the vow's end. Shaving was the public and physical symbol of the conclusion of the dedicated period.
• the hair of his dedication: Hebrew שְׂעַר נִזְרוֹ ( se'ar nizro ). This refers to the hair that was left uncut throughout the vow, serving as the visible sign of their consecration and separation unto the Lord. The act of shaving and burning this hair (Num 6:18) completed the outward sign of the vow's termination.

Words-group analysis:

• "The priest shall take the shoulder of the ram... and one unleavened loaf... and one unleavened wafer... and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite": This sequence encapsulates the core of the priestly mediation and the Nazirite's participation. It highlights the divine requirement of ritual precision and the proper channels for consecrated interactions. The combination of meat (representing fellowship and restitution from the peace offering) and bread (representing purity and the grain offering) shows the multifaceted nature of the Nazirite's relationship with God upon completing the vow. The "on the hands" signifies a ceremonial transfer and identification with the offering before the next stage (waving). This precise process distinguished Israelite religious practice from other forms of personal devotion in ancient Near Eastern religions, emphasizing order, divine command, and priestly authority over chaotic or self-directed rituals.
• "after he has shaved the hair of his dedication": This temporal clause fixes the exact moment within the entire Nazirite vow completion ceremony. The physical act of shaving and offering the hair marked the end of the strict separation. The presentation of the items directly after this significant act symbolized a ritual re-integration into common life, blessed and accepted by God, allowing the Nazirite to resume activities forbidden during the vow period.

Numbers 6 19 Bonus section

• The Wave Offering: While not explicitly mentioned in verse 19, the context (Num 6:20) clarifies that these specific items—the boiled shoulder, unleavened loaf, and unleavened wafer—are taken from the Nazirite's hands by the priest and then "waved as a wave offering before the Lord." The wave offering was a presentation to the Lord that often involved a motion of presenting toward and away from the altar, symbolizing God's reception of the offering and then His returning it as consecrated portion, particularly for the priest's sustenance. This underscores the theological principle of God owning all things, and His returning portions as a blessing for His consecrated servants.
• Shadows of Christ: The Nazirite vow and its completion ceremony serve as a prophetic foreshadowing. While Jesus did not literally take a Nazirite vow in the Old Testament sense, His entire life embodies absolute dedication, separation from sin, and singular devotion to God's will—a "Nazirite par excellence." His sacrifice as the ultimate peace offering and sin offering enables true communion and purity for believers. The unleavened bread, symbolizing purity and absence of sin, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, "the bread of life," who was without sin (1 Pet 2:22; John 6:35). The rituals of the Old Covenant, including this one, are often described as "shadows" whose "substance belongs to Christ" (Col 2:17).
• Significance of Boiled Meat: The boiling method stands out. While the ram's blood and fat were offered to God (burned on the altar), the edible parts were boiled. This ensured the meat was cooked through and signifies preparation for communal eating, as the peace offering was one of the few sacrifices from which the offerer (Nazirite in parts), the priest, and their families could partake, representing fellowship and shared blessing.
• Holiness Transferred: The sequence of events (hair offered, items placed on hands, items waved by priest) illustrates the concept of transferred holiness or sanctification. The items placed on the Nazirite's hands are consecrated through the sacrifice, symbolically cleansing and accepting the Nazirite who is transitioning from a highly consecrated state. The priestly handling of these sacred items highlights their ongoing role in mediating between the holy and the common for the people of Israel.

Numbers 6 19 Commentary

Numbers 6:19 is a meticulously detailed instruction within the Nazirite vow ritual, embodying profound theological and practical significance. It showcases the precise interplay between divine command, priestly function, and individual devotion. The priest's action of placing specific elements—the boiled ram's shoulder from the peace offering and two types of unleavened bread from the grain offering—onto the hands of the newly shaved Nazirite is crucial. This act is not merely symbolic; it represents a tangible transfer and an identification of the Nazirite with the sacrifices presented.

The "boiled shoulder" signifies God's provision and the portion designated for the priesthood, emphasizing their sustenance and active role. Its preparation by boiling implies that it is ready for consumption as part of a communion or fellowship meal, reflecting the renewed fellowship between the Nazirite and God, and also between the Nazirite and the community after a period of separation. The unleavened loaf and wafer stress purity and sincerity, qualities befitting someone who has consecrated themselves to the Lord.

The act of placing these items on the Nazirite's hands before they were "waved" (Num 6:20) by the priest implies that the Nazirite physically holds the "proof" of their finished vow, having presented their ultimate commitment and purity. This completed ritual signifies the Nazirite's acceptance by God and their official re-entry into the communal life, permitted to partake in regular activities previously forbidden, such as drinking wine. This intricate ceremony ensured that all aspects of the Nazirite's sacred period were brought to a divinely ordered, reverent, and purified close.