Numbers 6:20 (KJV)

What does Numbers 6:20 mean?

Numbers 6:20 describes how the priest is to present certain parts of the Nazarite’s offerings—the wave breast and heave shoulder—as a special offering before the LORD, after which the Nazarite is allowed to drink wine again. This marks the completion of the Nazarite vow and the return to normal life.

In this verse, God is giving Moses instructions for the ceremony that ends a Nazarite vow, a special period of dedication. The priest (a descendant of Aaron) performs a ritual with the offerings, waving them before the LORD as a sign of dedication. Only after this ceremony is finished can the Nazarite, who had previously avoided wine, resume drinking it.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 6:20

• The word for "priest" (כֹּהֵן, kohen) refers specifically to the official who serves in the sanctuary, highlighting that only someone set apart for this role could perform the ritual.
• "Wave" (נָפַף, naphaf) and "offering" (תְּנוּפָה, tenuphah) together describe a ritual motion where the priest lifts and moves the offering before God, symbolizing presenting it directly to Him.
• "Holy" (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh) means set apart or dedicated, emphasizing that these portions of the sacrifice are reserved for the priest and not for common use.
• "Nazarite" (נָזִיר, nazir) identifies the person who had taken a vow of special separation, making clear whose ritual this is and what is changing for them.

Why Numbers 6:20 matters

• Numbers 6:20 clarifies that the Nazarite’s vow is not permanent; there is a clear process for ending it and returning to ordinary life, including drinking wine again.
• The verse highlights the role of the priest as a mediator between the people and God, showing that certain rituals required official oversight.
• This instruction connects to the broader passage by showing the seriousness and structure of vows in Israelite society, and how holiness was maintained through specific, God-given procedures.