Understanding the Nazirite Vow (Part 1)

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The Nazirite Vow
Part One


John of AllFaith © 11.29.02 (updated 1.21.08)



The name of our Noahide Nazarene Way refers to our being descendants of Noah, our acceptance of the universal Noahide Covenant made through him to us, our acceptance Master Y'shua of Nazareth (Yeshua ben Miriam) as our teacher and spiritual guide, and of our desire to walk the Way he taught. More information about the Noahide Nazarene Way is available elsewhere on this domain.


A similar biblical term refers to a particular vow that the Tanakh describes in some detail. Among those who are seeking to understand the original Way of our Master, are some who refer to themselves as "Nazirites" and who place themselves under this vow according to their understandings.


The subject of this present study is the Nazirite Vow, its implications and applications for today. Is it possible for Noahide Nazarenes to place themselves under the Nazirite vow in the our modern world?


That the vow is authorized by the Tanakh is evident:

Numbers 6:2:

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazirite, to separate themselves unto יהוה

From this verse, we see that the Nazirite Vow is a specific vow that can be undertaken by both men and women of people Israel. The instructions for the Vow are, as recorded here, given, "unto the children of Israel." There may be a proscription imagined here in that Gentiles, even Noahides (who are not under the Mosaic Law) are hence not eligible to take part in this vow. The reason this might be a problem is that:

Numbers 6:

13 And this is the law of the Nazirite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
14 And he shall offer his offering unto יהוה, 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,

Typically, such offerings were only made by people under the Holy Mosaic Covenant, and hence not by Gentiles. Ignoring the fact of the absence of the Jewish Holy Temple for the moment, as Noahides are not under the sacrificial Torah Laws it may be argued that they can't bring forth their sacrifices, as the Jews did, and hence they cannot enter into this vow. This obstacle may be countered however in that there are sacrifices rightly performed by the "strangers" (ie. the ger or "resident aliens," us.):

Leviticus 22:18

Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto יהוה for a burnt offering.

It is certainly easy to make the case that faithful Noahides, "those who worship the God Whose Temple is in Jerusalem," would qualify as ger tzadeq or "righteous Gentiles" considering that the ger toshav or resident aliens are allowed to sacrifice to יהוה and to make vows. While they are not Jews, and typically not Judaeans, they do worship the God of Israel and therefore may enter into vows with HaShem as well as the children of Moses.
Therefore scripturally nothing about the Nazirite Vow itself would disqualify Noahides from participating in its blessings and responsibilities.
However, the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE and the Third has yet to be built as of the time of this writing (2002 CE). Without the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, few of the requisite sacrifices can be performed as directed in the Torah. Therefore no one, neither Jews nor Noahides (the ger tzaddiks) may undertake the Nazirite Vow as directed in the Torah.
This does not negate the spirit behind the Nazirite Vow however. As Noahide Nazarenes it is the spirit of the Torah that we, following Master Y'shua's teachings, seek to fulfill, not the ritualistic details. Consider Jeremiah 6:

16 Thus saith יהוה, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

As important as the Holy Temple was (and will be) it is not required to please יהוה. Even when sacrifices were correctly offered, as we see from verses like this, יהוה still may refuse our offerings if the key ingredient in all sacrifices is missing. What is this critical element without which יהוה will reject sacrifices?:

Micah 6:6-8:

6. With what shall I come before יהוה,
And bow myself before the high God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?

7. Will be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8. He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what יהוה requires of you:
Only to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God.

There are several things we Noahides are not allowed to do according to the Torah, as well as many things we are required to do. Master Y'shua stressed this essential element of divine service time and time again. Whether we are Jews or Noahides, what does יהוה require of us? Only to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God in the light we have been given.
Part of being a Noahide or a Noahide Nazarene then (as opposed to a non-observant Gentile), is the recognition of the unique place held by People Israel. We can and indeed should study the Torah and learn from its wisdom and apply its lessons to our lives, however we are not to do this by mechanically obeying the "letter of the Law," but by honoring its spirit. This was a very important teaching of the Master and his central critique of people Israel:

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

One of the things we learn in the Torah is the holiness related to the Nazirite Vow. Under the Vow, a person consecrates him/her self to יהוה by meeting specific conditions. As a result of this added level of dedication and commitment to יהוה, the person is blessed and comes into a deeper realization of the truth of the blessings of our common Noahide Covenant.


This is something greatly to be desired by Noahide Nazarenes! Therefore, by understanding the spirit of the Nazirite vow and agreeing to observe its righteous precepts, the Noahide Nazarene does a good thing (a mitzvah). It can be argued that due to the absence of the sacrificial offering, the Noahide is not technically a Nazirite in the literal, historic sense of the term. Despite this, Noahides may still enter into a deeper relationship with יהוה due to the commitment and added discipline of observing the heart of the Vow, the spirit of this level of dedication.


Master Y'shua of Nazareth was very clear that יהוה rejects the haughty and the religiously hypocritical (comp. Rev. 3:14-19). One should therefore never undertake this or any other sacred vow for the wrong reasons!

Part Two Coming Soon!

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