Numbers 6:20-22 New English Translation
20 then the priest must wave them as a wave offering[a] before the Lord; it is a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the raised offering.[b] After this the Nazirite may drink[c] wine.
21 “‘This is the law[d] of the Nazirite who vows to the Lord his offering according to his separation, as well as whatever else he can provide.[e] Thus he must fulfill[f] his vow that he makes, according to the law of his separation.’”
The Priestly Benediction
22 [g] The Lord spoke to Moses:
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- Numbers 6:20 sn The ritual of lifting the hands filled with the offering and waving them in the presence of the Lord was designed to symbolize the transfer of the offering to God in the sight of all. This concludes the worshiper’s part; the offering now becomes the property of the priest—his priest’s due (or “raised/heave offering”).
- Numbers 6:20 sn The “wave offering” may be interpreted as a “special gift” to be transferred to the Lord, and the “heave offering” as a “special contribution” to God—the priest’s due. These two offerings have also inspired a good deal of study.
- Numbers 6:20 tn The imperfect tense here would then have the nuance of permission. It is not an instruction at this point; rather, the prohibition has been lifted and the person is free to drink wine.
- Numbers 6:21 tn Actually, “law” here means a whole set of laws, the basic rulings on this topic.
- Numbers 6:21 tn Heb “whatever else his hand is able to provide.” The imperfect tense has the nuance of potential imperfect—“whatever he can provide.”
- Numbers 6:21 tn Heb “according to the vow that he vows, so he must do.”
- Numbers 6:22 sn This brief section records the blessing of the priest, especially the high priest after he emerges from the holy of holies to bless the people (see Lev 9:22). The two main elements in the oracle are “grace and peace.” It is probable that the Apostle Paul based his salutations on this oracle. For additional information, see L. J. Liebreich, “The Songs of Ascent and the Priestly Blessing,” JBL 74 (1955): 33-36; P. D. Miller, “The Blessing of God: An Interpretation of Num 6:22-27, ” Int 29 (1975): 240-51; and A. Murtonen, “The Use and Meaning of the Words lebarek and berakah in the Old Testament,” VT 9 (1959): 158-77.
New English Translation (NET)
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