Nazarite

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Nazarite \Naz"a*rite\, prop. n.
     A Jew bound by a vow to leave the hair uncut, to abstain from
     wine and strong drink, and to practice extraordinary purity
     of life and devotion, the obligation being for life, or for a
     certain time. The word is also used adjectively.
     [1913 Webster]



From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Nazarite
     (Heb. form Nazirite), the name of such Israelites as took on
     them the vow prescribed in Num. 6:2-21. The word denotes
     generally one who is separated from others and consecrated to
     God. Although there is no mention of any Nazarite before Samson,
     yet it is evident that they existed before the time of Moses.
     The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things, (1)
     abstinence from wine and strong drink, (2) refraining from
     cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the
     continuance of the vow, and (3) the avoidance of contact with
     the dead.
     
       When the period of the continuance of the vow came to an end,
     the Nazarite had to present himself at the door of the sanctuary
     with (1) a he lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering, (2) a
     ewe lamb of the first year for a sin-offering, and (3) a ram for
     a peace-offering. After these sacrifices were offered by the
     priest, the Nazarite cut off his hair at the door and threw it
     into the fire under the peace-offering.
     
       For some reason, probably in the midst of his work at Corinth,
     Paul took on himself the Nazarite vow. This could only be
     terminated by his going up to Jerusalem to offer up the hair
     which till then was to be left uncut. But it seems to have been
     allowable for persons at a distance to cut the hair, which was
     to be brought up to Jerusalem, where the ceremony was completed.
     This Paul did at Cenchrea just before setting out on his voyage
     into Syria (Acts 18:18).
     
       On another occasion (Acts 21:23-26), at the feast of
     Pentecost, Paul took on himself again the Nazarite vow. "The
     ceremonies involved took a longer time than Paul had at his
     disposal, but the law permitted a man to share the vow if he
     could find companions who had gone through the prescribed
     ceremonies, and who permitted him to join their company. This
     permission was commonly granted if the new comer paid all the
     fees required from the whole company (fee to the Levite for
     cutting the hair and fees for sacrifices), and finished the vow
     along with the others. Four Jewish Christians were performing
     the vow, and would admit Paul to their company, provided he paid
     their expenses. Paul consented, paid the charges, and when the
     last seven days of the vow began he went with them to live in
     the temple, giving the usual notice to the priests that he had
     joined in regular fashion, was a sharer with the four men, and
     that his vow would end with theirs. Nazarites retired to the
     temple during the last period of seven days, because they could
     be secure there against any accidental defilement" (Lindsay's
     Acts).
     
       As to the duration of a Nazarite's vow, every one was left at
     liberty to fix his own time. There is mention made in Scripture
     of only three who were Nazarites for life, Samson, Samuel, and
     John the Baptist (Judg. 13:4, 5; 1 Sam. 1:11; Luke 1:15). In its
     ordinary form, however, the Nazarite's vow lasted only thirty,
     and at most one hundred, days. (See {RECHABITES}.)
     
       This institution was a symbol of a life devoted to God and
     separated from all sin, a holy life.
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Nazarite, one chosen or set apart