Numbers 6 6

Numbers 6:6 kjv

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

Numbers 6:6 nkjv

All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body.

Numbers 6:6 niv

"?'Throughout the period of their dedication to the LORD, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body.

Numbers 6:6 esv

"All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body.

Numbers 6:6 nlt

And they must not go near a dead body during the entire period of their vow to the LORD.

Numbers 6 verses

Numbers 6 6 Meaning

Numbers 6:6 details a specific restriction for an individual under a Nazirite vow: "All the days of his separation to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body." This signifies a radical degree of holiness and ritual purity required during the period of their vow. It emphasizes that contact with death, which ritually defiled ordinary Israelites, was absolutely forbidden for a Nazirite, ensuring their utter dedication and consecration solely to God, without compromise from common sources of impurity.

Numbers 6 6 Context

Numbers 6:6 is part of the law concerning the Nazirite vow, which immediately follows the instructions regarding atonement for unfaithfulness (Num 5) and the blessing given by priests (Num 6:22-27). This specific verse delineates one of the core prohibitions for a Nazirite. The chapter as a whole describes a unique form of voluntary dedication to God beyond the standard requirements for an Israelite. The vow required three specific abstentions: from wine and strong drink (v. 3-4), from cutting the hair (v. 5), and from contact with any dead body (v. 6-7). This high standard of purity, particularly the prohibition against corpse defilement, highlighted the Nazirite's absolute commitment and distinct separation "to the LORD." Historically, Israel was surrounded by nations that did not hold the same standards of ritual purity concerning death, often engaging in practices with the deceased that would be considered abhorrent to Israel's God, such as necromancy or cults of the dead. This command underscored Yahweh's nature as the God of life and purity, standing in stark contrast to the death-tainted idolatry of the surrounding peoples.

Numbers 6 6 Word analysis

• All the days (כָּל-יְמֵי, kol-y'mei):
  • Kol means "all" or "every." Y'mei means "days of."
  • Significance: Emphasizes the unbroken continuity of the restriction. It is not for a part of the vow, but for its entire duration. This highlights unwavering dedication.
  • Broader context: Points to sustained commitment, unlike temporary rituals.
• his separation (נִזְרוֹ, nizro):
  • Nizro is derived from the root נזר (nazir), meaning "to separate," "to consecrate," or "to dedicate." It is the very term for "Nazirite" (נזיר, nazir).
  • Significance: Defines the essence of the Nazirite vow as a state of active, devoted separation to God. This separation is not just from something, but for someone.
  • Literary connection: Directly links the individual's identity during the vow to the concept of consecrated separation.
• to the LORD (לַיהוָה, laYHWH):
  • La is the prefix meaning "to" or "for." YHWH is the personal, covenantal name of God.
  • Significance: Underscores the ultimate purpose and recipient of the Nazirite's devotion. The separation is not arbitrary or for personal gain, but entirely God-centered.
  • Polemics: Distinguishes this unique vow from any self-serving or idolatrous dedication in pagan cultures; it is explicitly for Israel's one true God.
• he shall not go near (לֹא יָבֹא, lo yavo):
  • Lo means "not." Yavo is a form of the verb "to come" or "to go in/near."
  • Significance: A strong, definitive prohibition. It indicates a complete avoidance, not just direct contact but even close proximity, emphasizing a high degree of ritual boundary.
  • Lexical choice: More than "he shall not touch," it signifies maintaining distance, creating an impermeable barrier against defilement.
• a dead body (נֶפֶשׁ מֵת, nefesh met):
  • Nefesh typically means "soul," "person," or "living being." Met means "dead" (as in "dead one" or "corpse"). Literally "a dead soul/person."
  • Significance: Specifies the absolute defilement. It applies to any dead human, reinforcing the sacredness of human life and the polluting nature of its cessation in the divine economy.
  • Cultural context: In the ancient Near East, death was often associated with spirits, chthonic deities, and sources of impurity or dark magic. For Israel, death was a reminder of sin and a stark contrast to God, the source of all life.
  • This phrase emphasizes that the Nazirite must keep their consecrated purity untainted by the primary source of ritual impurity.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "All the days of his separation to the LORD": This phrase establishes the non-negotiable temporal and spiritual parameters of the restriction. The holiness demanded is continuous throughout the entire consecrated period and directed solely to God. This elevates the vow beyond a simple rule-following exercise, transforming it into a spiritual posture.
• "he shall not go near a dead body": This defines the stringent and comprehensive nature of the prohibition. "Not go near" suggests avoidance of proximity, indicating an extreme level of caution to preserve the consecrated state. This restriction, more severe even than for common priests, highlights the unique, almost High Priestly level of sanctity required of the Nazirite during their vow. It signifies that life (God's realm) and death (a result of sin, opposite to God) are mutually exclusive states for the dedicated individual.

Numbers 6 6 Bonus section

The strict Nazirite laws, particularly concerning death, implicitly taught that true consecration to God required a break from all that represented the opposite of God's life and purity. The Nazirite's hair, symbolizing his life and vigor, was not to be cut (Num 6:5) until the end of the vow, yet paradoxically, it had to be shaved off upon accidental defilement by death (Num 6:9-12), symbolizing the complete forfeiture of that particular period of dedication. This demonstrates that holiness and defilement are mutually exclusive states under the Mosaic covenant, and a state of holiness could not simply 'coexist' with impurity from death, even if unintentional. The law effectively conveyed that nothing, not even the strongest family ties or a powerful, unintentional force like death, could supersede or negate the direct covenantal demands of God upon a consecrated individual. This profound emphasis on 'being separate from them' finds echo in the New Testament call for believers to be "holy as God is holy" (1 Pet 1:15-16), a separation not from physical death itself, which Christ conquered, but from the spiritual death and defilement of sin and the world's ways (2 Cor 6:17).

Numbers 6 6 Commentary

Numbers 6:6 encapsulates the radical nature of the Nazirite vow by imposing an extreme standard of ritual purity concerning death. Death, a potent symbol of human frailty, sin's consequence (Rom 5:12), and the ultimate antagonist to God's life-giving essence, ritually defiled ordinary Israelites, necessitating specific cleansing rituals. For the Nazirite, however, mere contact or proximity was absolutely forbidden for the entire duration of their dedication. This restriction, which was stricter than that for regular priests (Lev 21:1-3) and on par with or even surpassing the High Priest's purity (Lev 21:10-12), underscored the profound sanctity and focused devotion required of one consecrated to the LORD.

The prohibition reflects God's nature as life, purity, and holiness. Any contamination from death represented an antithesis to His divine essence. The Nazirite, in their separated state, became a living parable of God's perfect purity within the camp of Israel, a stark contrast to a world steeped in mortality and idolatry. It signified a complete set-apartness, a refusal to be tainted by the very force that diminishes life, thus presenting themselves as "alive to God" in a ceremonial sense. This physical separation mirrored a spiritual aspiration for unbroken communion and devotion to God. It highlights the principle that significant dedication to God often requires radical departures from common norms, even those considered acceptable or unavoidable in daily life. This vow also symbolically looked forward to Christ, who, though holy, would physically touch and even overcome death, demonstrating His ultimate power over impurity and the grave itself.