The Nazirite

6 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow^(A), a vow of dedication^(B) to the Lord as a Nazirite,^{(C) 3} they must abstain from wine^(D) and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar^(E) made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes^(F) or raisins. ⁴ As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

⁵ “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor^(G) may be used on their head.^(H) They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.

² A certain man of Zorah,^(A) named Manoah,^(B) from the clan of the Danites,^(C) had a wife who was childless,^(D) unable to give birth. ³ The angel of the Lord^(E) appeared to her^(F) and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.^{(G) 4} Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink^(H) and that you do not eat anything unclean.^{(I) 5} You will become pregnant and have a son^(J) whose head is never to be touched by a razor^(K) because the boy is to be a Nazirite,^(L) dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead^(M) in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

¹⁷ So he told her everything.^(A) “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite^(B) dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,^(A) and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit^(B) even before he is born.^(C)