Numbers 6:7
New International Version
Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head.

New Living Translation
Even if the dead person is their own father, mother, brother, or sister, they must not defile themselves, for the hair on their head is the symbol of their separation to God.

English Standard Version
Not even for his father or for his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head.

Berean Standard Bible
Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the symbol of consecration to his God is upon his head.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.

New American Standard Bible
He 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 to God is on his head.

NASB 1995
‘He shall not make himself unclean for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.

NASB 1977
‘He shall not make himself unclean for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.

Legacy Standard Bible
He shall not defile himself for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister, when they die, because the Nazirite vow to his God is on his head.

Amplified Bible
He shall not make himself [ceremonially] unclean for his father, mother, brother, or sister, when they die, because [the responsibility for] his separation to God is on his head.

Christian Standard Bible
He is not to defile himself for his father or mother, or his brother or sister, when they die, while the mark of consecration to his God is on his head.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He is not to defile himself for his father or mother, or his brother or sister, when they die, because the hair consecrated to his God is on his head.

American Standard Version
He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because his separation unto God is upon his head.

English Revised Version
He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because his separation unto God is upon his head.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister dies, they must not make themselves unclean by going near them. Nazarites show their vow to God with their long hair.

International Standard Version
He is not to defile himself on account of his father, mother, brother, and sister when they die, because the crown of his consecration to God is on his head.

Majority Standard Bible
Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the symbol of consecration to his God is upon his head.

NET Bible
He must not defile himself even for his father or his mother or his brother or his sister if they die, because the separation for his God is on his head.

New Heart English Bible
He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because his separation to God is on his head.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister—he does not become unclean for them at their death, for the separation of his God [is] on his head;

Young's Literal Translation
for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister -- he is not unclean for them at their death, for the separation of his God is on his head;

Smith's Literal Translation
For his father, and for his mother, for his brother and for his sister, he shall not be defiled for them in their dying: for the consecration of his God upon his head.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither shall he make himself unclean, even for his father, or for his mother, or for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because the consecration of his God is upon his head.

Catholic Public Domain Version
nor shall he contaminate himself, even over the funeral of his father, or his mother, or his brother, or his sister. For the consecration of his God is upon his head.

New American Bible
Not even for their father or mother, sister or brother, should they defile themselves, when these die, since their heads bear their dedication to God.

New Revised Standard Version
Even if their father or mother, brother or sister, should die, they may not defile themselves; because their consecration to God is upon the head.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He shall not defile himself for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister when they die; because the crown of consecration of his God is upon his head.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he shall not be defiled by them, with his father or with his mother or with his brother or with his sister, in their death, because the crown of his God is on his head.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
to 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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Nazirite Vow
6Throughout the days of his separation to the LORD, he must not go near a dead body. 7Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the crown of consecration to his God is upon his head. 8Throughout the time of his separation, he is holy to the LORD.…

Cross References
Leviticus 21:11
He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.

Ezekiel 44:25
A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so,

Leviticus 10:6
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveled and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of the fire that the LORD has ignited.

Leviticus 21:1-3
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people, / except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother, / or his unmarried sister who is near to him, since she has no husband.

Amos 2:11-12
I raised up prophets from your sons and Nazirites from your young men. Is this not true, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. / “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

Judges 13:5
For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Lamentations 4:7
Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.

Acts 18:18
Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

Acts 21:23-24
Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. / Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

1 Corinthians 9:13
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.


Treasury of Scripture

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 on his head.

unclean

Numbers 9:6
And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:

Leviticus 21:1,2,10-12
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people: …

Ezekiel 44:25
And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.

Consecration.

1 Corinthians 11:10
For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

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Account Ceremonially Consecration Death Die Dies Head Mother Oath Separation Sister Symbol Unclean
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Account Ceremonially Consecration Death Die Dies Head Mother Oath Separation Sister Symbol Unclean
Numbers 6
1. The law of the Nazarite in the days of his separation
13. And after their completion
22. The form of blessing the people














Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die
This phrase emphasizes the depth of commitment required of a Nazirite. In ancient Israel, family bonds were of utmost importance, and the death of a close relative was a significant event that demanded mourning and participation in burial rites. The Hebrew culture placed a high value on honoring one's parents and family, as seen in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12). However, the Nazirite vow required a higher level of dedication to God, even above familial obligations. This reflects the call to prioritize one's relationship with God above all else, a theme echoed in the New Testament when Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:26).

he is not to defile himself
The term "defile" in Hebrew is "טָמֵא" (tamei), which means to become ceremonially unclean. In the context of the Nazirite vow, maintaining ceremonial purity was crucial. Contact with a dead body was one of the most severe forms of defilement in Jewish law (Leviticus 21:1-4). This requirement underscores the holiness and separation expected of those who dedicate themselves to God. It serves as a reminder of the call to holiness for all believers, as seen in 1 Peter 1:15-16, where Christians are called to be holy in all their conduct.

because the crown of consecration to his God is upon his head
The "crown" here is metaphorical, representing the Nazirite's special status and dedication to God. The Hebrew word for "crown" is "נֵזֶר" (nezer), which is related to the word for "consecration" or "separation." This imagery signifies honor and divine favor, akin to a king's crown. The Nazirite vow was a visible sign of one's commitment to God, much like the anointing of kings and priests in the Old Testament. This consecration is a foreshadowing of the believer's call to be set apart for God's purposes, as seen in Romans 12:1-2, where Christians are urged to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.

is upon his head
The head is often symbolic of leadership, authority, and identity in biblical literature. In the case of the Nazirite, the uncut hair served as a physical manifestation of their vow and separation unto God. This visible sign was a constant reminder of their commitment and the presence of God's calling upon their life. It parallels the New Testament concept of the believer's identity in Christ, where the Holy Spirit marks the believer as God's own (Ephesians 1:13-14). The emphasis on the head also points to the idea of submission to God's authority and the acknowledgment of His sovereignty over one's life.

(7) He shall not make himself unclean . . . --The law of the Nazirite in this respect was equally stringent with that of the high priest (Leviticus 21:11), and more stringent than that which was imposed upon the priests generally (Leviticus 21:2-3).

The consecration.--Better, the separation (Hebrew, nezer). So also in Numbers 6:9.

Verse 7. - He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother. The same injunction had been given to the priests (Leviticus 21:12) - "for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him." A similar reason restrained the Nazirite. Because the consecration of his God is upon his head, i.e., because he wears the unshorn locks which are the outward sign of his separation unto God. The hair of the Nazirite was to him just what the diadem on the mitre was to the high priest, what the sacred chrism was to the sons of Aaron. Both of these are called by the word nezer (Exodus 29:6; Leviticus 21:12), from the same root as nazir. It was thought by some of the Jewish doctors that in these three particulars - the untouched growth of the hair, the abstinence from the fruit of the vine (cf. Genesis 9:20), and the seclusion from the dead - the separated life of the Nazirite reproduced the unfallen life of man in paradise. This may have had some foundation in fact, but the true explanation of the three rules is rather to be found in the spiritual truth they teach in a simple and forcible way. He who has a holy ambition to please God must

(1) devote to God the whole forces of his being, undiminished by any wont and use of the world;

(2) abstain not only from pleasures which are actually dangerous, but from such as have any savour of moral evil about them;

(3) subordinate his most sacred private feelings to the great purpose of his life.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Even if his father
לְאָבִ֣יו (lə·’ā·ḇîw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

or mother
וּלְאִמּ֗וֹ (ū·lə·’im·mōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

or brother
לְאָחִיו֙ (lə·’ā·ḥîw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

or sister
וּלְאַ֣חֹת֔וֹ (ū·lə·’a·ḥō·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

should die,
בְּמֹתָ֑ם (bə·mō·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

he is not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to defile himself,
יִטַּמָּ֥א (yiṭ·ṭam·mā)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

because
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the crown of consecration
נֵ֥זֶר (nê·zer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5145: Something set apart, dedication, unshorn locks, a chaplet

to his God
אֱלֹהָ֖יו (’ĕ·lō·hāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his head.
רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ (rō·šōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head


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OT Law: Numbers 6:7 He shall not make himself unclean (Nu Num.)
Numbers 6:6
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