Translation commentary on Numbers 6:4

The list in verse 3 already makes it clear that Nazirites are forbidden to eat or drink anything that comes from grapevines. Verse 4 underlines this point.

All the days of his separation: The religious separation of a Nazirite is not intended to continue indefinitely, but only for a certain time. The Hebrew word for separation comes from the same root as the word for “Nazirite,” which Revised Standard Version indicates by its footnote. Good News Translation provides a good model for this phrase, saying “As long as you are a nazirite.” Another possible model is “For as long as they have separated themselves as Nazirites.”

He shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins: This clause emphasizes that a Nazirite must not eat anything that comes from grapevines, not even the seeds of grapes or their skins.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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