Numbers 6 9

Numbers 6:9 kjv

And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.

Numbers 6:9 nkjv

'And if anyone dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it.

Numbers 6:9 niv

"?'If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite's presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication, they must shave their head on the seventh day?the day of their cleansing.

Numbers 6:9 esv

"And if any man dies very suddenly beside him and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it.

Numbers 6:9 nlt

"If someone falls dead beside them, the hair they have dedicated will be defiled. They must wait for seven days and then shave their heads. Then they will be cleansed from their defilement.

Numbers 6 verses

Numbers 6 9 Meaning

Numbers 6:9 outlines the protocol for a Nazirite whose vow is accidentally defiled by sudden exposure to death. If someone dies unexpectedly close to a Nazirite, causing ritual impurity, the Nazirite's period of separation to the Lord is nullified from that point. To address this defilement and enable the vow to restart, the Nazirite is required to shave their head on the seventh day of their cleansing period. This action symbolizes the resetting of their consecration and the need for new beginnings for the vow to continue.

Numbers 6 9 Context

Numbers chapter 6 details the regulations concerning the Nazirite vow, a voluntary commitment by an Israelite (male or female) to consecrate themselves to the Lord for a specific period. This consecration involved three key abstentions: from wine and all grape products, from cutting their hair, and from contact with any dead body (human or animal), even that of close relatives. Verse 9 specifically addresses an accidental defilement related to death. The preceding verses (Num 6:2-8) lay out the positive requirements and prohibitions of the vow, while the subsequent verses (Num 6:10-12) specify the sin offering, burnt offering, and trespass offering required for the purification and resetting of the Nazirite vow following such defilement. This law emphasizes the gravity of ritual impurity, particularly from death, within the Israelite system of holiness, and highlights the need for immediate, prescribed action to restore one's consecrated state to God.

Numbers 6 9 Word analysis

• And if (וְכִֽי, v'chi): This phrase introduces a hypothetical but expected scenario, indicating a conditional clause for unforeseen circumstances during the Nazirite vow.
• anyone dies (יָמוּת, yamut): From the Hebrew root mut (מוּת), meaning "to die." It signifies the occurrence of a death, not necessarily a dead body being found. The mere act of someone dying nearby initiates the defilement. This highlights that death is inherently a source of spiritual impurity within the Mosaic Law, regardless of physical contact.
• suddenly (פֶתַע, peta): This adverb emphasizes the unexpected and accidental nature of the death. It is crucial; the Nazirite is not held culpable for causing the impurity but is nonetheless affected by it. This distinction implies a path to ritual restoration, unlike intentional defilement, which would have different implications. This also implies an oversight or an unavoidable situation.
• beside him (עָלָיו, 'alav): Literally "upon him" or "over him." This signifies close proximity or proximity that somehow brings the defiled influence upon the Nazirite, causing contamination. It doesn't necessarily require physical touch but implies that the space around the Nazirite's person has become ritually unclean, impacting their state of separation.
• and defiles (וְטִמֵּא, v'timme'): From the root tamah (טָמֵא), meaning "to be unclean, defiled." This refers to ritual impurity, not moral sin. The presence of death ritually contaminates the Nazirite, breaking the integrity of their vow. This defilement makes them unfit for sacred service until purification is performed.
• the head of his consecration (רֹאשׁ נִזְרוֹ, ro'sh nizro):
  • Head (רֹאשׁ, ro'sh): Often symbolizes the entire person, the highest point, or leadership. Here, it directly refers to the hair of the Nazirite, which is the most prominent outward sign and repository of their consecration (Num 6:5).
  • Consecration/Separation (נִזְרוֹ, nizro): From nezer (נֵזֶר), meaning "separation, crown, diadem." This word embodies the Nazirite's vow – a state of being "separated" or "set apart" unto the Lord. The long, uncut hair is the visible 'crown' or 'sign' of this special dedication. When it states that the "head of his consecration" is defiled, it signifies that the very state of sacred separation has been breached and rendered ritually unclean. The symbol of the hair is impacted, symbolizing the entire consecrated state being undone from that point.
• then he shall shave (וְגִלַּח, v'gillakh): From galakh (גָּלַח), meaning "to shave off, cut off." This is an act of purification and resetting. The shaving of the hair is not an act of repentance for sin but a ritual act signifying the termination of the defiled part of the vow and a removal of the defiled symbol of consecration. It effectively 'restarts the clock' on the vow period.
• his head (רֹאשׁוֹ, ro'sho): Reiteration that the shaving applies to the head, where the consecrated hair resides.
• on the day of his cleansing (בְּיוֹם טָהֳרָתוֹ, b'yom tahorato): This refers to the specific day his ritual purification is completed.
  • Cleansing (טָהֳרָתוֹ, tahorato): From tahor (טָהוֹר), meaning "pure, clean." This denotes the process of purification from ritual defilement.
• on the seventh day (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, bayyom hashvi'i): Specifies the timing of the shaving, marking the culmination of a week-long purification process common for severe ritual impurities related to death (cf. Num 19:12, Lev 15). The individual was ritually impure for seven days before full cleansing.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And if anyone dies suddenly beside him and defiles": This entire phrase establishes the cause and impact of the accidental defilement. It highlights the power of death to convey impurity and the unexpected nature of the incident, which prevents culpability but requires rigorous ritual response. This contrasts with intentional defilement or failure to follow the vow, which would lead to greater punitive measures.
• "the head of his consecration": This critical phrase encapsulates the visible sign of the Nazirite's vow—the uncut hair—and directly links it to the state of their separated life to God. The defilement of the "head of his consecration" means the core symbolic representation of their Nazirite vow is breached, and the consecrated status itself is affected.
• "then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing on the seventh day": This sequence of actions prescribes the precise ritual response to the defilement. It signifies the formal termination of the defiled period of the vow and the prerequisite action for recommencing it. The shaving is an essential part of the purification ritual, marking the old (defiled) state as having passed and the beginning of a new consecrated period, emphasizing that partial defilement necessitates a complete ritual restart from the ground up, ensuring the sanctity of the entire Nazirite period.

Numbers 6 9 Bonus section

The Nazirite's ritual actions following this accidental defilement extended beyond shaving. Numbers 6:10-12 details the subsequent requirement to bring specific offerings: two turtledoves or pigeons (one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering) and a ram for a trespass offering. These offerings underline that defilement, even accidental, required atonement and ritual appeasement to God. Moreover, the defiled period counted for nothing; the Nazirite had to "consecrate to the Lord the days of his separation and bring a male lamb a year old as a trespass offering. But the former days shall be void, because his separation was defiled" (Num 6:12). This emphasized that the Nazirite vow demanded unblemished consecration for its entire duration, with no allowance for partially defiled time. This strictness distinguishes the Nazirite's temporary vow from the High Priest's perpetual, stringent vow concerning death (Lev 21:10-12), illustrating varying degrees of ritual demand within Israel. The Nazirite vow can be seen as a shadow of a life lived in complete dedication, much like Christian believers are called to be separate unto God, even when facing defilement from the 'world' or sin, there is a pathway of repentance and re-dedication provided by Christ's sacrifice.

Numbers 6 9 Commentary

Numbers 6:9 outlines the strict divine expectation for those voluntarily dedicating themselves to God. The Nazirite vow, marked by unique disciplines, symbolized a heightened state of holiness. Accidental defilement by death, despite being unintentional, necessitates a radical ritual reset. The defiling power of death, rooted in the Fall and a disruption of life's original purity, is so profound in God's eyes that it breaks the continuity of the Nazirite's sacred separation. The requirement to shave the "head of his consecration" — the hair, the visual manifestation of their vow — is a symbolic act of canceling the polluted portion of their dedicated time. This highlights that divine holiness demands complete purity; any blemish, even unforeseen, compromises the consecration. The seventh-day shaving, following a purification period, signifies a restart, allowing the Nazirite to regain their state of consecration to the Lord, demonstrating God's provision for restoration while maintaining His standard for purity.