Numbers 6:5

For the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. He must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God commands the Israelites regarding the physical requirements for a Nazirite during the period of separation.

The words — תַּעַר (Ta.'ar) = a razor and לֹא (lo') = not, forming the literal phrase "a razor will not pass over."

The thread — This razor prohibition appears in Judges 13:5 for Samson’s consecration at birth and Judges 16:17 when Samson reveals his vow’s termination.

Why it lands — The text mandates that the Nazirite allow his head hair to grow uncut until the separation period ends, establishing physical restraint as the visible marker of holiness.

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

King James Version

All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”
Judges 13:5 For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
Judges 16:17 Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”
Judges 16:19 And having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him.
Lamentations 4:7 Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
1 Corinthians 11:10 For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.