Numbers 6:12

He must rededicate his time of separation to the LORD and bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. But the preceding days shall not be counted, because his separation was defiled.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses conveys divine instruction to the Israelite community regarding a Nazirite who has contracted ritual defilement through contact with a dead body. The command addresses the immediate procedural response required before the vow can be resumed.

The words — וְהִזִּיר (ve.hizir) literally means "he will be a Nazirite" or "he will rededicate," and כֶּבֶשׂ (keves) translates to "a lamb." These terms specify the act of renewed consecration and the exact animal required for the guilt offering.

The thread — The requirement for a guilt offering aligns with the patterns in Leviticus 5:6 and Leviticus 14:24, while the forfeiture of prior days mirrors the principle of lost righteousness in Ezekiel 18:24.

Why it lands — The text states that defiled days are voided and the separation clock restarts from day one. A reader must apply the literal demand that ritual breach nullifies prior progress and requires full restitution before continuity is permitted.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְהִזִּ֤ירve./hi.Zirand/ he will be a Nazirite לַֽיהוָה֙la./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh אֶת־'et-<obj.>יְמֵ֣יye.Mei[the] days of נִזְר֔וֹniz.R/oNazirite vow/ his וְהֵבִ֛יאve./he.Vi'and/ he will bring כֶּ֥בֶשׂKe.vesa lamb בֶּן־ben-[the] son of שְׁנָת֖וֹshe.na.T/oyear/ its לְאָשָׁ֑םle./'a.Shamto/ a guilt offering וְהַיָּמִ֤יםve./hai./ya.Mimand/ the/ days הָרִאשֹׁנִים֙ha./ri.sho.Nim<the>/ former יִפְּל֔וּyi.pe.Luthey will fall כִּ֥יkifor טָמֵ֖אta.Me'it has become unclean נִזְרֽוֹ׃niz.R/oNazirite vow/ his

King James Version

And he shall consecrate unto the Lord the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.

Cross-references

Leviticus 5:6 and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.
Leviticus 14:24 The priest shall take the lamb for the guilt offering, along with the log of olive oil, and wave them as a wave offering before the LORD.
Ezekiel 18:24 But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
Matthew 3:15 “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
Matthew 24:13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
John 8:29 He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.