Numbers 6 7

Numbers 6:7 kjv

He 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.

Numbers 6:7 nkjv

He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.

Numbers 6:7 niv

Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head.

Numbers 6:7 esv

Not even for his father or for his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head.

Numbers 6:7 nlt

Even if the dead person is their own father, mother, brother, or sister, they must not defile themselves, for the hair on their head is the symbol of their separation to God.

Numbers 6 verses

Numbers 6 7 Meaning

Numbers 6:7 states a strict command for a Nazarite: he must not ritualistically defile himself by contact with a dead body, even that of his closest family members—father, mother, brother, or sister—when they die. The fundamental reason for this stringent separation is that his visible sign of consecration and dedication to God is literally "on his head," symbolizing his total, unqualified commitment to the Lord for the duration of his vow. This command highlights the supreme claim God has on the Nazarite's life, surpassing even the most powerful human ties of kinship and grief.

Numbers 6 7 Context

Numbers chapter 6 delineates the specific regulations for the Nazarite vow (Hebrew: neder nazir), a voluntary vow taken by men or women to consecrate themselves in a special way to the Lord for a limited period. This unique form of dedication allowed lay individuals to enter a state of heightened ritual purity and separation, traditionally reserved for priests or for special divine appointments. The vow involved three primary prohibitions: abstinence from wine and strong drink (including all grape products), not cutting one's hair (allowing it to grow freely as a visible sign of consecration), and avoiding any contact with a dead body, whether human or animal, including those of closest family members. This particular verse (v. 7) emphasizes the severe prohibition against corpse defilement, even stricter in this aspect than the regulations for the High Priest (who was only restricted from defiling himself for his immediate parents, Lev 21:11). Historically and culturally, the strictures underscored a profound dedication to God, signifying that the Nazarite was entirely set apart, embodying a living "tabernacle" of holiness, prioritizing God's call above all human attachments and conventions of mourning. It also stood in stark contrast to contemporary pagan death rituals involving various forms of defilement or self-mutilation.

Numbers 6 7 Word analysis

• he shall not make himself unclean (לֹא יִטַּמָּא – lo yitamma):
  • לא (lo): A strong negative particle, conveying a definitive prohibition, "not" or "shall not."
  • יִטַּמָּא (yitamma): Hithpael imperfect of the verb טָמֵא (ṭāmēʾ), meaning "to be unclean" or "to defile oneself." The Hithpael stem denotes a reflexive or reciprocal action, emphasizing the Nazarite's active responsibility to prevent any defilement of himself. It is not a passive state but an active choice or avoidance to remain ritually pure. This type of impurity (טֻמְאַת מֵת - ṭumʾat mēt, corpse impurity) was the highest degree of ritual defilement in Israel, requiring the most extensive purification rituals (e.g., Numbers 19).
• for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister (לְאָבִיו וּלְאִמּוֹ לְאָחִיו וּלְאַחֹתוֹ - lĕʾāvîw ulĕʾimmo lĕʾāḥîw ulĕʾăḥōtô):
  • This enumeration specifies the closest familial relationships. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, familial bonds were paramount, and mourning practices involved close physical proximity to the deceased. This command explicitly overrides even the deepest and most universal human duty to bury and mourn one's kin, illustrating the absolute and superior claim God has over the consecrated individual. It's more restrictive than regulations for ordinary priests (Lev 21:1-3) and even the High Priest (Lev 21:10-12), who could defile for parents but not for siblings (though traditional interpretation limits the high priest further). This highlights the Nazarite's unique and temporary elevated status of holiness.
• when they die (בְּמֹתָם - bĕmōtām):
  • Signifies the event leading to corpse impurity. The simple death of even immediate family causes an inherent state of ritual uncleanness upon contact, necessitating the Nazarite's complete avoidance.
• because (כִּי - kî):
  • A conjunction meaning "because" or "for," introducing the reason or justification for the preceding command.
• his consecration to God (נֵזֶר אֱלֹהָיו - nezer ʾĕlōhāyw):
  • נֵזֶר (nezer): Means "consecration," "separation," or "crown." In the context of the Nazarite vow, it specifically refers to the uncut hair (mentioned in Num 6:5) that served as a visible emblem and reminder of their vow. It also conveys the idea of royal or priestly distinction, implying that the Nazarite holds a distinct, hallowed status during their period of dedication. This nezer is not just a physical crown of hair but represents the entire set-apart status and dedication of the individual.
  • אֱלֹהָיו (ʾĕlōhāyw): "His God" or "his gods" (here, his singular God). It signifies that the Nazarite's consecration is specifically to Yahweh, the God of Israel. This is a personal dedication directed towards a covenant relationship with God.
• is on his head (עַל רֹאשׁוֹ - ʿal rōʾšô):
  • עַל (ʿal): "Upon" or "on."
  • רֹאשׁוֹ (rōʾšô): "His head." This is a literal reference to the Nazarite's uncut hair, which was the most prominent and visible sign of the vow (Num 6:5, 18). Symbolically, the head often represents the entire person, the source of thought and will. Thus, the consecration on his head underscores that his entire being—his identity, his thoughts, his actions—is dedicated and subject to God. It highlights that the consecration is complete and absolute, governing his choices, even in the most personal and difficult situations.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "he shall not make himself unclean for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister, when they die": This phrase details the absolute requirement of ritual purity, extending to the avoidance of defilement even by the death of the closest family members. This highlights the unparalleled commitment required of the Nazarite, superseding deeply ingrained societal and filial obligations. It means no contact with the corpse, no attendance at the funeral in a manner that would cause ritual defilement. This absolute prohibition distinguishes the Nazarite from common Israelites and even priests, placing him in a uniquely dedicated position for a defined period.
  • "because his consecration to God is on his head": This phrase provides the ultimate justification for the strictness of the command. The uncut hair, "the crown of his God," is not merely a sign but the very embodiment of his set-apart status. His entire identity and purpose during the vow are defined by this separation to God. This demonstrates that God's holiness and His claim on the dedicated individual override all earthly attachments, including the fundamental bonds of family and the societal rituals of mourning. The consecrated head represents a life entirely yielded to divine authority and purity.

Numbers 6 7 Bonus section

The concept of nezer (consecration/crown) is multifaceted in the Old Testament. It is used not only for the Nazarite's hair (Num 6) but also for the High Priest's anointing oil and his golden plate on the turban (Exod 29:6, Lev 8:9), signifying their holy status. Furthermore, nezer also refers to the king's crown (2 Sam 1:10), linking the Nazarite's distinct holiness with a form of royal or priestly authority, implying their direct service to God. The Nazarite was thus a living symbol of devotion, purity, and spiritual royalty, directly consecrated to God without requiring levitical lineage. The radical separation from family at death challenges conventional human priorities and societal norms of the ancient world, reinforcing the absolute supremacy of God's covenant and His claim on His dedicated ones. This strictness underscores God's standard of holiness as beyond human sentiment.

Numbers 6 7 Commentary

Numbers 6:7 encapsulates the radical nature of the Nazarite vow, particularly the depth of its demand for ritual purity and devotion. The command to avoid defilement, even from the corpses of immediate family, places the Nazarite's dedication on a level of commitment that transcends the most sacred human ties. This severity emphasizes that the Nazarite, for the period of their vow, was symbolically functioning as a "living temple" or a personified "altar" unto the Lord, where common concerns, even those as profound as family death, had to yield to God's holiness. Their "consecration," visibly manifested in their uncut hair (the "crown of his God" on his head), signified an exclusive claim by God over their being. This principle points to the broader biblical theme that those truly set apart for God's purposes must often embrace levels of separation from worldly defilement and temporal attachments to embody divine holiness. For the New Testament believer, this translates into a spiritual commitment to God, prioritizing His will and kingdom above all else, keeping oneself pure from spiritual defilement (e.g., Rom 12:1-2, 2 Cor 6:17-18). For example, radical dedication might involve foregoing personal desires or popular conventions when they conflict with a deeper commitment to Christ and His calling.