King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He is not to make himself unclean for his father, mother, brother or sister when they die, since his consecration 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 crown of consecration to his God is upon 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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He shall not make himself unclean{H2930} for his father{H1}, or for his mother{H517}, for his brother{H251}, or for his sister{H269}, when they die{H4194}: because the consecration{H5145} of his God{H430} is upon his head{H7218}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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
- ¶ 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:
Leviticus 21:2
- But for his kin, that is near unto him, [that is], for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,
Leviticus 21:10
- ¶ And [he that is] the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
Leviticus 21:12
- Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God [is] upon him: I [am] the LORD.
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.
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Commentary for Numbers 6:7
Numbers 6:7 is a part of the instructions given by God to Moses regarding the Nazirite vow, which is found in Numbers 6:1-21. The Nazirite vow was a special, voluntary vow that an Israelite could take to dedicate themselves to God for a specific period of time. The vow involved abstaining from wine, strong drink, grapes, and any product of the vine; not cutting the hair on one's head; and avoiding contact with the dead.
The specific instruction in Numbers 6:7 addresses the last aspect of the Nazirite vow. It states that even in the event of the death of a close family member, such as a father, mother, brother, or sister, the Nazirite is not to defile themselves by touching the corpse or participating in the usual mourning rites that would render them ceremonially unclean. This is because the consecration, or the state of being set apart for God, remains upon the Nazirite's head—a reference to the hair that is left uncut as a sign of their vow. The verse reflects the high level of holiness required of a Nazirite, emphasizing that their commitment to God supersedes even the most sacred family obligations.
In its historical context, the Nazirite vow was a way for an individual to express devotion to God and to live out a heightened state of holiness. It was a temporary state, unlike the lifelong vow taken by individuals like Samson (Judges 13:5) and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11), who were dedicated as Nazirites from birth. The regulations surrounding the vow, including those in Numbers 6:7, served to distinguish the Nazirite as someone wholly dedicated to the Lord, embodying a unique form of sanctity within the Israelite community.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2930
There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָמֵא
Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
Pronunciation: taw-may'
Description: a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated); defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H251
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָח
Transliteration: ʼâch
Pronunciation: awkh
Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. - Strong's Number: H269
There are 301 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָחוֹת
Transliteration: ʼâchôwth
Pronunciation: aw-khoth'
Description: irregular feminine of אָח; a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively); (an-) other, sister, together. - Strong's Number: H4194
There are 155 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָוֶת
Transliteration: mâveth
Pronunciation: maw'-veth
Description: from מוּת; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin; (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d). - Strong's Number: H5145
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶזֶר
Transliteration: nezer
Pronunciation: neh'-zer
Description: or נֵזֶר; from נָזַר; properly, something set apart, i.e. (abstractly) dedication (of a priet or Nazirite); hence (concretely) unshorn locks; also (by implication) a chaplet (especially of royalty); consecration, crown, hair, separation. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.