The vow of the Nazarite is an ancient Israelite religious practice which orders that all those taking the vow must let the locks of their hair grow, to abstain from wine and all produce taken from the grape vine, and to keep oneself from touching a dead body which would make the Nazarite ritually unclean and thus in turn bringing the days of his or her consecration to an end (Numbers 6). For the purpose of the Nazarite vow was to separate the devotee from the rest of the people by taking a strict oath, promising to totally dedicate oneself to the Lord God for a certain amount of time. Afterwards when the time of their separation was complete the Nazarite would be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and offer 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. The Nazarite would also shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. The vow of the Nazarite could be taken by both men and women and, if so desired, one could totally dedicate themselves to the Lord by choosing to remain a Nazarite for their entire life.
Now the term “Nazarite” can be broken down from the root word in Hebrew “naziyr” or “nazar” which has the meanings of “to separate”, “to consecrate” or “to set apart.” This word “nazar” would most appropriately describe the Nazarite as someone who was separated from the rest of society as they were set apart or made holy unto the Lord. To further expand on this austere rule of spiritual dedication, the Holy Bible provides a couple examples of prominent people in sacred history who were known Nazarites. In the Old Testament, scripture records two specific persons who were Nazarites: namely Samson and the prophet Samuel. In the New Testament, it is apparent that John the Baptist (the forerunner of Christ) also followed the path of the Nazarite. Not only are these three men all linked to one another by being Nazarites, but they were also life-long Nazarites who were all born from previously barren wombs. For instance, in the 13th chapter of the book of Judges, an angel appears to the barren wife of a man from the family of the Danites telling her that she will indeed conceive and bear a son, and that he will be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and that he would deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. The Bible goes on to say how this previously barren woman gave birth to a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. Interestingly, in Judges 16:13 it is written that Samson had seven woven locks upon his head, which has led many Rastafarians to conclude that not only was Samson a Nazarite, but that he also sported dreadlocks.
Now concerning the prophet Samuel his mother Hannah was also barren, yet she made a vow unto the Lord saying, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. (1 Samuel 1). In the New Testament we see a similar occurrence with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. For not only was St. Elizabeth barren, but she was also well advanced in years far past the age of fertility. Similar to the story of Samson an angel reveals to Elizabeth’s husband Zacharias that his wife will bear a son, and that his name shall be called John. The angel Gabriel goes on to inform Zacharias that his son shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. So from what we find written in both the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, it is clearly revealed that to be a Nazarite truly meant to be set apart as holy: someone special.
Additionally, although scripture does not come right out and say it, the prophet Elijah may also have been a Nazarite. For in 2 Kings 1:8 Elijah is described as being a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins, very similar to the way the Nazarite John the Baptist was dressed (Matthew 3:4). Even Christ Himself compared John the Baptist with Elijah, a similitude which may support the theory of Elijah being a Nazarite. Also, no where in the Old Testament is it recorded that Elijah drank wine, but in 1 Kings 19:6 it states that Elijah drank water. Another parallel between Elijah and John the Baptist is that neither of them was married. Going further, again Christ compared the preaching of John with that of Elijah, something which has led many to suggest that John the Baptist was the reincarnation of prophet Elijah. However, at the Transfiguration of Christ the Gospels tell us that Moses and Elijah appeared, not Moses and John the Baptist. For prior to the Transfiguration, John had been beheaded. So if John the Baptist was the reincarnation of Elijah then Elijah should have appeared on mount Tabor decapitated. Either that or there would have been the two incarnations of Elijah and John who showed up along with Moses. This analysis reveals that the belief in reincarnation is indeed bogus and against the teachings of God, the prophets, and the Church.
When it comes to our sweetest Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel describes the incarnate Word as a Nazarene and not a Nazarite. Though these words sound similar, there is indeed a difference between the two. For example, Jesus hailed from the city of Nazareth which by default made Him a Nazarene, someone originating from Nazareth. For in the Gospel of St. Matthew 2:23, it reads that Jesus, “…came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” This fulfillment of the prophets can be traced back to at least two different places in the Old Testament where the Hebrew root word of Nazarene can be found. For in the book of the prophet Isaiah 11:1 a Messianic prophecy reads, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” The word “Branch” in this passage of Isaiah points to the coming of the Messiah, and translated from the original Hebrew means “Netser.” Also, in the book of the prophet Daniel the same word for branch (netser) is also used in a prophetic utterance concerning the Messiah (Daniel 11:7). So the fact that the root word “netser” for the term Nazarene is found in two different prophetic books gives reliability to the Gospel of St. Matthew, since it is written that Jesus being called a Nazarene was spoken of by the prophets plural, and not singularly.
Due to the similarities between the terms Nazarite and Nazarene, this likeness has led many to conclude that Jesus was a Nazarite. Additionally, since ancient Christian icons depict Christ as having long hair, this has also provided the “evidence” to support the belief that Jesus Christ was indeed a Nazarite. However, we know from the Gospels that Jesus drank wine, something forbidden for Nazarites. So, this one fact eliminates the speculation which suggests that Jesus Christ was a Nazarite. But even though Christ was not a Nazarite, it is widely accepted that the Lord had long hair. Yet this would seem to contradict what St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:14, where it is written that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him. But as faithful Christians know, the Lord cannot be wrong. So, if Christ was not a Nazarite but had long hair, then there must be a reason why the Lord decided not to cut His hair. The fact that the Nazarites grew their hair long in order to reflect an external sign of their inner sanctity, may be why the Lord chose not to cut His hair. Remember to be a Nazarite was to fully dedicate oneself to God, just as Jesus the Son of God is completely dedicated to God the Father. So, even though Christ drank wine, yet at the same time had long hair, this apparent breaking of the Nazarite vow may be overlooked by the total dedication and perfect obedience which Jesus Christ demonstrated towards God.
References:
Strong, J. The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2010).
Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).