Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 6:4
All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
4. nothing that is produced by the grape-vine ] R.V. ‘made of the grape-vine,’ though a literal rendering of the Hebrew, is misleading. The meaning is evidently that of Jdg 13:14 ‘nothing that cometh forth ( ) from the grape-vine.’ This meaning of ‘to make,’ or ‘produce,’ in the course of nature is found with some frequency; e.g. Gen 1:11 f., Gen 41:47, Isa 5:2; Isa 5:4; Isa 5:10.
from the kernels even to the husk ] The Heb. idiom ‘from to ’ frequently represents the English ‘either or ’ or ‘ neither nor ’ Cf. Gen 14:23, lit. ‘from a thread to a shoe-latchet’; Gen 31:24; Gen 31:29 ‘from good to bad.’
The words rendered ‘kernels’ ( arannm) and ‘husk’ ( zg) are not found elsewhere in the O.T. and their meaning is uncertain.
It is not very natural to speak of the kernels (i.e. the stones or pips) and the husk (i.e. the skin) of the grape as produced by the vine. But no better rendering of the words has been proposed. The general sense, however, is clear. The eating of any sort of grape product is prohibited, even the most trifling or unpalatable parts of the produce of the vine.
The custom of abstaining from wine and intoxicants may have arisen in a remote past from a primitive belief that the spirit or numen of the vine entered into a man when he drank (see Frazer, Golden Bough, i. 359 f.); or, as Jer 35:6 f. suggests in the case of the Rechabites, it arose from a desire to conform closely to ancient nomadic habits after the nation as a whole had become an agricultural community (W. R. Smith, Prophets of Israel, 84 f.). Whatever the origin may have been, the Naziriteship had, in prophetic times, a valuable moral significance as a protest against luxury and sensuality. See Driver on Amo 2:11.
Again, the prohibition of wine is distinct from that of all intoxicants1 [Note: On intoxicants other than wine see Hastings’ DB. ii. 33b.] . The former is probably the more primitive. And the form of the regulations found here may very possibly have been the result of the fusion of ancient practices which were at one time unconnected, and not all observed by earlier Nazirites.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The days were sometimes more, sometimes fewer, as he thought fit to appoint.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree,…. Of its leaves, branches, and fruit, especially the latter, put into any sort of food, or infused into any liquor, or mixed with any sauce for food: the days or time of separation were according as the vow was made, for a shorter or longer time; though the Jews t say, where the vow is, absolutely expressed, it is always to be understood of thirty days, during which time the Nazarite was not to eat or drink of any composition that had anything the vine in it:
from the kernels even to the husk; the Jews u are divided about the two words here used, which of them signifies the outermost part of the grape, and which the innermost; Ben Gersom agrees with us, but it matters not much who are in the right, since both are forbidden: by this part of the law, the people of God, who are spiritual Nazarites, are taught to live temperately and soberly, and to abstain from all appearance of sin: it is pretty remarkable what the Jews w say, that when the son of David comes, it will be free for a Nazarite to drink wine on sabbath days and festivals, though not on week days; from whence it appears, they seem to be conscious of a change of the ceremonial law in his days.
t Misn. Nazir, c. 1. sect. 3. & c. 6. sect. 3. u Misn. Nazir, c. 6. sect. 2. Aben Ezra in loc. w T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 43. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) From the kernels even to the husk.The word which is rendered kenels is supposed by some to denote sour grapes, and by others the kernels of berries. The word zag denotes the shell or husk.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Kernels Grape-stones.
Husk The cuticle or skin.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 6:4. All the days of his separation It is not said how many days, for there was no stated number; every one devoted himself for as long time as he chose. But not for a less time, says Houbigant, than might be sufficient for the hair to grow, which, at the completion of the time, the Nazarite was to burn in the fire of the altar, (see Num 5:18.) whereby those Jews are refuted who assign the number of thirty days to Nazariteship. They should have assigned a year at least; for the hair can scarcely grow in a less interval from a shorn head. Some, however, were perpetual Nazarites, being peculiarly devoted to God from the womb; as Samson, and John the Baptist. It is considered as a happiness, and mark of God’s favour to the Jewish nation, to have such persons raised up among them to be examples of a holy life. I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Amo 2:11. It appears from 1 Maccab. Num 3:49 that they were accustomed to make such vows, more especially in times of calamity; and in how high esteem they were on account of their sanctity, we learn from Lam 4:7. Her Nazarites were purer than snow.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Num 6:4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
Ver. 4. From the kernels even to the tusk. ] Nothing that might occasion, or tempt him to break his vow. All shadows and shows of evil must be shunned: Quicquid fuerit male coloratum, as Bernard hath it; whatsoever looks but ill-favoured. 1Th 5:22 Jdg 1:23 He that would not eat the meat, must not meddle with the broth. He that would not toll the bell, must not tuggle with the rope. He that would shun the blow, must keep aloof from the train.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
separation = Nazariteship.
vine tree = grape vine.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
separation: or, Nazariteship, Num 6:5, Num 6:8, Num 6:9, Num 6:12, Num 6:13, Num 6:18, Num 6:19, Num 6:21
vine tree: Heb. vine of the wine
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 6:4. All the days of his separation Some were perpetual Nazarites, being peculiarly devoted to God from the womb, as Samson and John the Baptist. But Moses here speaks of such as made themselves Nazarites only for a time, which might be longer or shorter, as they thought fit to appoint.