The Nazirite Vow and the Priestly Blessing
Numbers 6
The Lord gives the law for anyone who vows a special separation to the Lord, covering abstinence from wine, uncut hair, avoidance of the dead, and the offerings required if the vow is broken or completed. The chapter ends with the blessing the Lord instructs Aaron and his sons to pronounce over the children of Israel.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAGAIN the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγων, λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ,
KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
2
ThomsonSpeak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, When a man or a woman shall make a solemn vow to preserve the strictest purity for the Lord, they must abstain from wine, and strong drink.
BrentonSpeak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Whatsoever man or woman shall specially vow a vow to separate oneself with purity to the Lord,
Greekκαὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνὴ, ὃς ἂν μεγάλως εὔξηται εὐχὴν ἀφαγνίσασθαι ἁγνείαν Κυρίῳ,
KJVSpeak 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:
JPSSpeak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When either man or woman shall clearly utter a vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to consecrate himself unto the LORD,
3
ThomsonSuch a one shall not drink vinegar made of wine, nor vinegar made of strong drink; nor shall such a one drink any thing made of the grape; nor eat any grapes, fresh pulled, or dried, all the days of the vow. From every thing produced from the grape, including wine; from the pulp to the stone,
Brentonhe shall purely abstain from wine and strong drink; and he shall drink no vinegar of wine or vinegar of strong drink; and whatever is made of the grape he shall not drink; neither shall he eat fresh grapes or raisins,
Greekἀπὸ οἴνου καὶ σίκερα ἁγνισθήσεται· καὶ ὄξος ἐξ οἴνου καὶ ὄξος ἐκ σίκερα οὐ πίεται· καὶ ὅσα κατεργάζεται ἐκ σταφυλῆς οὐ πίεται· καὶ σταφυλὴν πρόσφατον καὶ σταφίδα οὐ φάγεται πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ·
KJVHe 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.
JPShe shall abstain from wine and strong drink: he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.
4
Thomsonsuch a one shall abstain all the days of the purification.
Brentonall the days of his vow: he shall eat no one of all the things that come from the vine, wine from the grape-stones to the husk,
Greekἀπὸ πάντων ὅσα γίνεται ἐξ ἀμπέλου, οἶνον ἀπὸ στεμφύλων ἕως γιγάρτου οὐ φάγεται πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ ἁγνισμοῦ·
KJVAll the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
JPSAll the days of his Naziriteship shall he eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the pressed grapes even to the grapestone.
5
ThomsonA razor shall not come upon his head, until the days which he hath vowed to the Lord be fulfilled.
Brentonall the days of his separation:—a razor shall not come upon his head, until the days be fulfilled which he vowed to the Lord: he shall be holy, cherishing the long hair of the head,
Greekξυρὸν οὐκ ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, ἓως ἄν πληρωθῶσιν αἱ ἡμέραι, ὅσας ηὐξατο Κυρίῳ· ἅγιος ἔσται τρέφων κόμην τρίχα κεφαλῆς πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς Κυρίῳ·
KJVAll 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.
JPSAll the days of his vow of Naziriteship there shall no razor come upon his head; until the days be fulfilled, in which he consecrateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long.
6
ThomsonBeing hallowed, he shall let the hair of his head grow all the days of his vow to the Lord. He shall not come near any dead body.
Brentonall the days of his vow to the Lord: he shall not come nigh to any dead body,
Greekἐπὶ πάσῃ ψυχῇ τετελευτηκυίᾳ οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται ἐπὶ πατρὶ καὶ μητρὶ,
KJVAll the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.
JPSAll the days that he consecrateth himself unto the LORD he shall not come near to a dead body.
7
ThomsonFor a father or a mother, or for a brother or a sister, if they chance to die, he shall not defile himself; for the vow of his God is on his head.
Brentonto his father or his mother, or to his brother or his sister; he shall not defile himself for them, when they have died, because the vow of God is upon him on his head.
Greekκαὶ ἐπʼ ἀδελφῷ καὶ ἐπʼ ἀδελφῇ, οὐ μιανφήσεται ἐπʼ αὐτοὶς ἀποφανόντων αὐτῶν, ὅτι εὐχὴ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ·
KJVHe 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.
JPSHe shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because his consecration unto God is upon his head.
8
ThomsonAll the days of his vow he shall be holy to the Lord.
BrentonAll the days of his vow he shall be holy to the Lord.
GreekΠάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ ἅγιος ἔσται Κυρίῳ.
KJVAll the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.
JPSAll the days of his Naziriteship he is holy unto the LORD.
9
ThomsonAnd if any one die suddenly by him, the head of his vow will be immediately defiled, he shall therefore shave his head on the day when he is cleansed.
BrentonAnd if any one should die suddenly by him, immediately the head of his vow shall be defiled; and he shall shave his head in whatever day he shall be purified: on the seventh day he shall be shaved.
GreekἘὰν δέ τις ἀποθάνῃ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἐξάπινα, παραχρῆμα μιανθήσεται ἡ κεφαλὴ εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ξυρήσεται τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ καθαρισθῇ· τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ξυρηθήσεται.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd if any man die very suddenly beside him, and he defile his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.
10
ThomsonOn the seventh day it shall be shaved, and on the eighth day he shall bring two turtle doves, or two young pigeons to the priest, to the doors of the tabernacle of the testimony;
BrentonAnd on the eighth day he shall bring two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the doors of the tabernacle of witness.
GreekΚαὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ οἴσει δύο τρυγόνας, ἢ δύο νοσσοὺς περιστερῶν πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα, ἐπὶ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου.
KJVAnd 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:
JPSAnd on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting.
11
Thomsonand the priest shall offer one for a sin offering, and the other for a whole burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for the failures of which he hath been guilty by the dead.
BrentonAnd the priest shall offer one for a sin-offering; and the other for a whole-burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him in the things wherein he sinned respecting the dead body, and he shall sanctify his head in that day,
GreekΚαὶ ποιήσει ὁ ἱερεὺς μίαν περὶ ἁμαρτίας, καὶ μίαν εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα· καὶ ἐξιλάσεται περὶ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἱερεὺς περὶ ὧν ἥμαρτε περὶ τῆς ψυχῆς· καὶ ἁγιάσει τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ᾗ ἡγιάσθη Κυρίῳ, τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς εὐχῆς·
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the priest shall prepare one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and make atonement for him, for that he sinned by reason of the dead; and he shall hallow his head that same day.
12
ThomsonAnd on that day he shall hallow his head which was consecrated to the Lord, for the days of his vow, and bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: And the former days shall not be counted, because the head of his vow was defiled.
Brentonin which he was consecrated to the Lord, all the days of his vow; and he shall bring a lamb of a year old for a trespass-offering; and the former days shall not be reckoned, because the head of his vow was polluted.
Greekκαὶ προσάξει ἀμνὸν ἐνιαύσιον εἰς πλημμέλειαν· καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι αἱ πρότεραι ἄλογοι ἔσονται, ὅτι ἐμιάνθη ἡ κεφαλὴ εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his Naziriteship, and shall bring a he-lamb of the first year for a guilt-offering; but the former days shall be void, because his consecration was defiled. .
13
ThomsonNow this is the law of him who hath made the vow:—When the days of his vow are fulfilled;
BrentonAnd this is the law of him that has vowed: in whatever day he shall have fulfilled the days of his vow, he shall himself bring his gift to the doors of the tabernacle of witness.
GreekΚαὶ οὗτος ὁ νόμος τοῦ εὐξαμένου· ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ πληρώσῃ ἡμέρας εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ, προσοίσει αὐτὸς παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου.
KJVAnd 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:
JPSAnd this is the law of the Nazirite, when the days of his consecration are fulfilled: he shall abring it unto the door of the tent of meeting;
14
Thomsonhe shall bring to the doors of the tabernacle of the testimony and present as his gift to the Lord, a lamb of the first year without blemish for a whole burnt offering, and a ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, for a sin offering, and a ram without blemish for an offering of thanksgiving,
BrentonAnd he shall bring his gift to the Lord; one he-lamb of a year old without blemish for a whole-burnt-offering, and one ewe-lamb of a year old without blemish for a sin-offering, and one ram without blemish for a peace-offering;
GreekΚαὶ προσάξει τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ Κυρίῳ ἀμνὸν ἐνιαύσιον ἄμωμον ἕνα εἰς ὁλοκαύτωσιν, καὶ ἀμνάδα ἐνιαυσίαν μίαν ἄμωμον εἰς ἁμαρτίαν, καὶ κριὸν ἕνα ἄμωμον εἰς σωτήριον,
KJVAnd 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,
JPSand he shall present 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,
15
Thomsonand a basket of unleavened bread, of fine flour—the loaves tempered with oil, and unleavened cakes anointed with oil, and their sacrifice of flour and their libation:
Brentonand a basket of unleavened bread of fine flour, even loaves kneaded with oil, and unleavened cakes anointed with oil, and their meat-offering, and their drink-offering.
Greekκαὶ κανοῦν ἀζύμων σεμιδάλεως ἄρτους ἀναπεποιημένους ἐν ἐλαίῳ, καὶ λάγανα ἄζυμα κεχρισμένα ἐν ἐλαίῳ, καὶ θυσίαν αὐτῶν, καὶ σπονδὴν αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSand a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings.
16
Thomsonand the priest shall offer them before the Lord. When he hath offered the sin offering and the whole burnt offering,
BrentonAnd the priest shall bring them before the Lord, and shall offer his sin-offering, and his whole-burnt-offering.
GreekΚαὶ προσοίσει ὁ ἱερεὺς ἔναντι Κυρίου, καὶ ποιήσει τὸ περὶ ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ ὁλοκαύτωμα αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering:
JPSAnd the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin-offering, and his burnt-offering.
17
Thomsonhe shall then offer the ram, the sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread.
BrentonAnd he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace-offering to the Lord with the basket of unleavened bread; and the priest shall offer its meat-offering and its drink-offering.
GreekΚαὶ τὸν κριὸν ποιήσει θυσίαν σωτηρίου τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐπὶ τῷ κανῷ τῶν ἀζύμων· καὶ ποιήσει ὁ ἱερεὺς τὴν θυσίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν σπονδὴν αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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 the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
18
ThomsonAnd when the priest hath offered the sacrifice thereof, and the libation thereof, then he who made the vow shall have the head of his vow shaved at the doors of the tabernacle of the testimony, and shall lay the hairs on the fire which is under the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
BrentonAnd he that has vowed shall shave the head of his consecration by the doors of the tabernacle of witness, and shall put the hairs on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace-offering.
GreekΚαὶ ξυρήσεται ὁ ηὐγμένος παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου τὴν κεφαλὴν τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπιθήσει τὰς τρίχας ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ, ὅ ἐστιν ὑπὸ τὴν θυσίαν τοῦ σωτηρίου.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the door of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair of his consecrated head, and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace-offerings.
19
ThomsonAnd the priest shall take the boiled shoulder from the ram, and one unleavened loaf from the basket, and one unleavened cake, and lay them on the hands of him who made the vow, after he hath shaved his consecrated head;
BrentonAnd the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened loaf from the basket, and one unleavened cake, and shall put them on the hands of the votary after he has shaved off his holy hair.
GreekΚαὶ λήψεται ὁ ἱερεὺς τὸν βραχίονα ἐφθὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ κριοῦ, καὶ ἄρτον ἕνα ἄζυμον ἀπὸ τοῦ κανοῦ, καὶ λάγανον ἄζυμον ἕν, καὶ ἐπιθήσει ἐπὶ τὰς χεῖρας τοῦ ηὐγμένου μετὰ τὸ ξυρήσασθαι αὐτὸν τὴν εὐχὴν αὐτοῦ,
KJVAnd 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:
JPSAnd the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram when it is sodden, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazirite, after he hath shaven his consecrated head.
20
Thomsonand the priest shall offer these as a dedication laid on hands before the Lord. It shall be consecrated for the priest, over and above the breast, which was dedicated by being laid on hands, and the shoulder which was dedicated by setting it apart. And after these things, he who made the vow may drink wine.
BrentonAnd the priest shall present them as an offering before the Lord; it shall be the holy portion for the priest beside the breast of the heave-offering, and beside the shoulder of the wave-offering: and afterwards the votary shall drink wine.
Greekκαὶ προσοίσει αὐτὰ ὁ ἱερεὺς ἐπίθεμα ἔναντι Κυρίου· ἅγιον ἔσται τῷ ἱερεῖ ἐπὶ τοῦ στηθηνίου τοῦ ἐπιθέματος, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ βραχίονος τοῦ ἀφαιρέματος· καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πίεται ὁ ηὐγμένος οἶνον.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD; this is holy for the priest, together with the breast of waving and the thigh of heaving; and after that the Nazirite may drink wine.
21
ThomsonThis is the law for him who hath made the vow—who may have vowed to the Lord—his gift to the Lord for his vow, besides what he may be able to do more, according to the nature of the vow which he may have made, according to the law of strict purity.
BrentonThis is the law of the votary who shall have vowed to the Lord his gift to the Lord, concerning his vow, besides what he may be able to afford according to the value of his vow, which he may have vowed according to the law of separation.
GreekΟὗτος ὁ νόμος τοῦ εὐξαμένου, ὃς ἂν εὔξηται Κυρίῳ δῶρον αὐτοῦ Κυρίῳ περὶ τῆς εὐχῆς, χωρὶς ὧν ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ, κατὰ δύναμιν τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτοῦ, ἣν ἂν εὔξηται κατὰ νόμον ἁγνείας.
KJVThis is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.
JPSThis is the law of the Nazirite who voweth, and of his offering unto the LORD for his Naziriteship, beside that for which his means suffice; according to his vow which he voweth, so he must do after the law of his Naziriteship.
22
ThomsonMoreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγων,
KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
23
ThomsonSpeak to Aaron and his sons and say, In this manner you shall bless the children of Israel, saying,
BrentonSpeak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, Thus ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them,
Greekλάλησον Ἀαρὼν καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ, λέγων, οὕτως εὐλογήσετε τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ, λέγοντες αὐτοῖς,
KJVSpeak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
JPS’Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying: On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel; ye shall say unto them:
24
ThomsonThe Lord bless thee and keep thee —
BrentonThe Lord bless thee and keep thee;
Greekεὐλογήσαι σε Κύριος, καὶ φυλάξαι, σε.
KJVThe LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
JPSThe LORD bless thee, and keep thee;
25
ThomsonThe Lord make his countenance to shine upon thee, and be gracious to thee—
Brentonthe Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and have mercy upon thee;
GreekἘπιφάναι Κύριος τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σὲ, καὶ ἐλεήσαι σε.
KJVThe LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
JPSThe LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;
26
ThomsonThe Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Brentonthe Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
GreekἘπάραι Κύριος τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σὲ, καὶ δῴη σοι εἰρήνην.
KJVThe LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
JPSThe LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
27
ThomsonSo they shall put My name on the children of Israel; and I the Lord will bless them.
BrentonAnd they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I the Lord will bless them.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπιθήσουσι τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐγὼ Κύριος εὐλογήσω αὐτούς.
KJVAnd they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
JPSSo shall they put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.’