Overview
The Bible addresses nazarites across 32 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Numbers, Judges and Amos. Closely related themes include Nazarite, Abstinence, Total, Vows and Wine. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Paul, Priscilla and Aquila.
Key Bible verses about nazarites
Old Testament
Numbers
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: to separate: or, to make themselves Nazarites
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. separation: or, Nazariteship vine: Heb. vine of the wine
All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.
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. consecration: Heb. separation
All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.
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.
And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.
And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled. be lost: Heb. fall
And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings,
And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering:
And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.
And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.
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:
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.
Judges
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
New Testament
Acts
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
People in the Bible and nazarites
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying nazarites for yourself
- Begin with Leviticus 7:32, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Numbers, Judges and Amos each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Paul, Priscilla and Aquila and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Nazarite, Abstinence, Total, Vows and Wine.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about nazarites?
The Bible addresses nazarites across 32 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Numbers, Judges and Amos. Closely related themes include Nazarite, Abstinence, Total, Vows and Wine. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Paul, Priscilla and Aquila.
How many Bible verses are about nazarites?
The Bible references nazarites in 32 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention nazarites?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Leviticus 7:32: “And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with nazarites?
Paul, Priscilla and Aquila.
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