Numbers 6:1-21 describes the Nazirite vow. Below is a description of this vow, but before getting to that, a quick note. Sometimes, people have understood Jesus to have taken a Nazirite vow, but this is not correct. Jesus lived in a town called Nazareth, meaning that He was a Nazarene, but He was not a Nazirite!
In Hebrew, the word for Nazirite (נָזִיר) derives from נזר, "used in the nifal and hifil to describe the withholding of self or something from a desired usage, a purposeful abstention or restriction."[1] It is related to the Hebrew term for vow (נדר).[2] "A Nazirite was an Israelite who consecrated himself or herself and took a vow of separation and self-imposed abstinence for the purpose of some special service . . . . There were two differing types of Naziritism, the temporary and the perpetual, of which the first was far more common. In fact, we know of only three of the latter class: Samson, Samuel and John the Baptist. The reason for taking a Nazirite vow were numerous. Such a vow might be assumed by a parent before the birth of a child; by an individual in some sort of distress or trouble; or by a woman suspected by her husband of unfaithfulness in their marriage relationship until the suspicion could be removed. Women and slaved could take vows only if sanctioned by their husbands or masters. The minimum period of time for a Nazirite vow was 30 days."[3]
1) Prohibitions (vv. 3-8)
• Wine
• Strong drink
• Vinegar
• Grape juice
• Fresh or dried grapes
• Any portion of the grape
• No cutting of the hair
• No touching of any dead person
2) Purification from Corpse Defilement (vv. 9-12)
If a person suddenly died near a Nazirite and his hair is defiled:
• The shaving of the head when he becomes clean on the seventh day (v. 9)
• The offering of two turtledoves or two young pigeons on the eighth day.
One is a sin offering, and the other is a burnt offering (v. 11)
• The offering of a year old male lamb as a guilt offering (v. 12a)
• The fulfillment of all the days of his vows; the former days are void (v. 12b)
3) Completion of the Nazirite Vow (vv. 13-20)
After the completion of the Nazirite vow, a person should offer:
• One year old male lamb without defect as a burnt offering (v. 14a)
• One year old ewe-lamb without defect as a sin offering (v. 14b)
• One ram without defect as a peace offering (v. 14c)
• A basket of unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil and unleavened
wafers spread with oil, along with their grain offering and drink offering
(v. 15)
• The Nazirite's head will be shaved at the doorway of the tent of meeting,
and the hair will be put on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace
offerings (v. 18)
• The breast and thigh of the ram offered as a wave offering (v. 20)
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