Numbers 6:4

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 6:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the kernels even to the husk.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the kernels even to the husk.
Numbers 6:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the kernels even to the husk.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, etc.] Of its leaves, branches, and fruit, especially the latter, put into any sort of food, or infused into any liquor, or mixed with any sauce for food: the days or time of separation were according as the vow was made, for a shorter or longer time; though the Jews f64 say, where the vow is, absolutely expressed, it is always to be understood of thirty days, during which time the Nazarite was not to eat or drink of any composition that had anything the vine in it: from the kernels even to the husk; the Jews f65 are divided about the two words here used, which of them signifies the outermost part of the grape,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The law of the Nazarite is appropriately added to other enactments which concern the sanctity of the holy nation. That sanctity found its highest expression in the Nazarite vow, which was the voluntary adoption for a time of obligations to high and strict modes of self-dedication resembling, and indeed in some particulars exceeding, those under which the priests were placed. The present enactments do not institute a new kind of observance, but only regulate one already familiar to the Israelites Numbers 6:2. Numbers 6:2 A Nazarite - Strictly, Nazirite. This term signifies “separated” i. e., as the words following show, “unto God.” It became a technical term at an early date; compare Judges…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“All the days of his separation - Which were sometimes more, sometimes fewer, as he thought fit to appoint. Numbers 6:5”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“separation: or, Nazariteship, Num 6:5, Num 6:8, Num 6:9, Num 6:12, Num 6:13, Num 6:18, Num 6:19, Num 6:21 vine tree: Heb. vine of the wine Numbers 6:5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification