Numbers 6 20

Numbers 6:20 kjv

And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.

Numbers 6:20 nkjv

and the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the LORD; they are holy for the priest, together with the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering. After that the Nazirite may drink wine.'

Numbers 6:20 niv

The priest shall then wave these before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

Numbers 6:20 esv

and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. They are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed. And after that the Nazirite may drink wine.

Numbers 6:20 nlt

Then the priest will lift them up as a special offering before the LORD. These are holy portions for the priest, along with the breast of the special offering and the thigh of the sacred offering that are lifted up before the LORD. After this ceremony the Nazirites may again drink wine.

Numbers 6 verses

Numbers 6 20 Meaning

Numbers 6:20 marks the final step in the completion of a Nazirite's vow, where the offerings presented are dedicated. The verse specifies the disposition of the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution (also called heave offering), indicating they are "holy" and belong to the priest as his consecrated portion. Crucially, after this offering ritual, the Nazirite is permitted to drink wine again, signaling the termination of the temporary period of special consecration and their reintegration into ordinary Israelite life. It signifies the fulfillment of their self-imposed period of separation unto the Lord.

Numbers 6 20 Context

Numbers Chapter 6 describes the specific laws concerning the Nazirite vow, a voluntary commitment by an Israelite to consecrate themselves specially to the Lord for a limited period. This vow involved distinct prohibitions: refraining from wine and strong drink, not cutting hair, and avoiding contact with any dead body. The chapter outlines the initial taking of the vow, the period of separation, and then details the elaborate process for concluding the vow. Verse 20 specifically falls within the instructions for ending the vow (Num 6:13-21). It details the distribution of portions from the sacrificial offerings brought by the Nazirite, confirming the priest's designated share and marking the Nazirite's release from their sacred obligations, permitting them to resume normal life, including drinking wine. Historically, this ritual ensured purity and sacred order within the community and underscored the temporary, self-imposed nature of this type of separation, distinct from permanent consecration.

Numbers 6 20 Word analysis

• and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord;

  • priest: kôhēn (כֹּהֵן) - a sacred intermediary between God and man. Their role in this ritual validates the Nazirite's completed vow and mediates the presentation to God.
  • wave them: The Hebrew root is nûph (נוּף), meaning "to wave, to sway, to shake." This action (the tnûphah) symbolized presenting the offering to God, who then symbolically returned it to the offerer or priest for consumption. It was a formal act of presentation, a 'showing' or 'dedication' of the item to Yahweh, acknowledging His ownership.
  • wave offering: tnûphah (תְּנוּפָה) - a specific type of offering involving a waving motion, typically performed by the priest. This denoted an offering made specifically to the Lord but subsequently designated as a portion for the priests. It signifies divine receipt and human consumption under sacred conditions.
  • before the Lord: Emphasizes the sacred nature of the act, directly in the presence and for the acceptance of God, not merely a human transaction. It highlights divine sovereignty over all sacrifices.

• this is holy for the priest, together with the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution;

  • holy: qôdesh (קֹדֶשׁ) - "set apart," "consecrated," "sacred." It indicates that this portion is divinely designated for the priests, distinct from common use. Its holiness implies its pure, untouchable status by unauthorized persons.
  • for the priest: Reaffirms the priest's specific claim to these portions. These provisions were a vital part of the priest's sustenance and income, directly from the offerings of the people. This demonstrates God's provision for His ministers.
  • breast: khazeh (חָזֶה) - specifically, the brisket. This part was associated with life and vitality. It was a significant portion designated for the priest.
  • thigh: shôq (שׂוֹק) - also the shoulder or leg. This was another prominent and substantial portion. Both breast and thigh were considered prime cuts and symbolized strength and nourishment.
  • contribution: terûmah (תְּרוּמָה) - also translated as "heave offering." This type of offering was "lifted up" as a dedication to God. Like the wave offering, it was distinctively a priest's due. It represents a portion 'lifted out' and set aside for sacred use or priestly support.

• and afterward the Nazirite may drink wine.

  • afterward: Marks the precise moment of transition. It is only after the full, proper completion of the sacred rites that the Nazirite is released from the restrictions. This highlights the order and meticulousness of biblical law.
  • the Nazirite: nāzîr (נָזִיר) - one who is "separated," "consecrated." Here, it refers to the person who has completed their special period of separation unto the Lord.
  • may drink wine: This signifies the culmination of the vow and the lifting of the most prominent prohibition (from Num 6:3-4). It represents a return to common, albeit pure, life and a state of liberty from their self-imposed, temporary restrictions. It is not a call to intemperance, but a symbol of rejoining ordinary life.

Words-group analysis

• "and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord": This phrase encapsulates the climactic priestly action in the Nazirite ritual. The waving action signifies presentation and dedication, while "before the Lord" underscores the sacred divine audience. This act ritually transfers the offerings' holiness to the priesthood as God's portion.
• "this is holy for the priest, together with the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution": This segment clarifies the disposition of the specific animal parts, explicitly designating them as the consecrated portion (qôdesh) for the officiating priest. It underscores divine provision for the Levitical priesthood through sacred offerings. These portions are not merely compensation, but part of a divine distribution of holy things.
• "and afterward the Nazirite may drink wine": This concluding phrase signals the successful completion and the lifting of the vow's central restriction. The ability to "drink wine" symbolizes the Nazirite's release from their unique sacred status and their reintegration into normal community life. It underscores the temporary nature of this specific form of separation to God.

Numbers 6 20 Bonus section

The ritual surrounding the Nazirite vow, particularly its completion, parallels broader biblical themes of sacrifice, priestly mediation, and the temporary nature of certain legal stipulations in contrast to enduring spiritual principles. The Nazirite's re-entry into common life highlights that true holiness is not solely defined by external prohibitions but by the state of the heart. The temporary restrictions of the Nazirite foreshadow that ultimate liberation from external ordinances comes through Christ. Just as the Nazirite's burden was lifted after atonement, so too does Christ's finished work free believers from the legal demands of ritualistic adherence, allowing a different kind of freedom—freedom to serve God wholeheartedly without the burden of these temporary physical restrictions.

Numbers 6 20 Commentary

Numbers 6:20 stands as the culminating act in the Nazirite vow ritual, representing the fulfillment of a period of sacred separation. The careful detailing of the priest's portion—the wave-offered breast and the contributed thigh—highlights the sanctity of the offerings and God's faithful provision for His chosen ministers, emphasizing their distinct and essential role in the covenant community. These portions, termed "holy," underscore their divine origin and the consecrated nature of priestly sustenance. For the Nazirite, the freedom to "drink wine afterward" is profoundly symbolic. It is not an encouragement for indulgence, but the formal recognition that their self-imposed vow, with its stringent restrictions, has been fully discharged. This final permission marks their transition from extraordinary consecration back to ordinary life, having successfully completed their commitment to the Lord. The passage demonstrates God's desire for promises to be meticulously fulfilled and orderly reintegration, reinforcing the structure and purity within Israel's religious life.