Numbers 6:13-21 | The Way of Scripture

Numbers 6:13-21

How is the completed vow brought to a close?

Berean Standard Bible

13 Now this is the law of the Nazirite when his time of separation is complete: He must be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 14 and he is to present an offering to the LORD of an unblemished year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, an unblemished year-old female lamb as a sin offering, and an unblemished ram as a peace offering— 15 together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—and a basket of unleavened cakes made from fine flour mixed with oil and unleavened wafers coated with oil. 16 The priest is to present all these before the LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. 17 He shall also offer the ram as a peace offering to the LORD, along with the basket of unleavened bread. And the priest is to offer the accompanying grain offering and drink offering. 18 Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite is to shave his consecrated head, take the hair, and put it on the fire under the peace offering. 19 And the priest is to take the boiled shoulder from the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them into the hands of the Nazirite who has just shaved the hair of his consecration. 20 The priest shall then wave them as a wave offering before the LORD. This is a holy portion for the priest, in addition to the breast of the wave offering and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine. 21 This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD for his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford; he must fulfill whatever vow he makes, according to the law of his separation.”

What is the context?

At the end of the period the Nazirite comes to the sanctuary with burnt, sin, and peace offerings and the accompanying food and drink offerings. The person shaves the consecrated hair, which is placed on the fire under the peace offering.

The priest presents the portions as directed, and afterward the Nazirite may drink wine. The vow is therefore completed through the appointed public actions, with its ending as ordered as its beginning. Additional gifts depend on what the person has vowed and can afford.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley emphasizes the public completion and the return to ordinary permitted practices. The USCCB notes connect the law with New Testament accounts of vows and purification. Completion is not described as failure simply because the person resumes drinking wine afterward.

Where does this fit in God's plan?

Acts 21:20–26 describes four men under a vow, their head-shaving and offerings, and Paul joining purification and paying expenses. The shared features support reading the episode against this law of completed dedication. Acts states what Paul does in that situation; it does not command every Christian to take this vow.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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