The Meaning of Numbers 6:3 Explained

Numbers 6:3

KJV: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

YLT: from wine and strong drink he doth keep separate; vinegar of wine, and vinegar of strong drink he doth not drink, and any juice of grapes he doth not drink, and grapes moist or dry he doth not eat;

Darby: he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink: he shall drink no vinegar of wine, nor vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat grapes, fresh or dried.

ASV: he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He shall separate  [himself] from wine  and strong drink,  and shall drink  no vinegar  of wine,  or vinegar  of strong drink,  neither shall he drink  any liquor  of grapes,  nor eat  moist  grapes,  or dried. 

What does Numbers 6:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 6:1-12 - The Vow Of Separation
The law of the Nazarite is full of instruction, because he is a type of the child of God who is separated from evil, that he may be wholly surrendered and given over to the divine service. Three rules were enjoined. Not to touch any product of the vine. If we must have exhilaration and stimulus, let us seek it in the Holy Spirit, not in worldly excitement, Ephesians 5:18-19. Not to cut the hair. The unshorn locks signified the dedication of the natural powers to God's service. Let us beware of Delilah. Many are the razors waiting to deprive us of our crown, Judges 16:19. Not to touch the dead, however dear; teaching that the kingdom of God must supersede all earthly ties.
If our separation breaks down, Numbers 6:9-12, we must seek forgiveness and restoration; but the former days will not count. One sin may mar the power of a whole life of saintly testimony. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 6

1  The law of the Nazarite in the days of his separation
13  And after their completion
22  The form of blessing the people

What do the individual words in Numbers 6:3 mean?

From wine and [similar] drink he shall separate himself Vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from [similar] drink neither he shall drink and any juice grape shall he drink and grapes fresh or raisins nor eat
מִיַּ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ יַזִּ֔יר חֹ֥מֶץ יַ֛יִן וְחֹ֥מֶץ שֵׁכָ֖ר לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה וְכָל־ מִשְׁרַ֤ת עֲנָבִים֙ יִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וַעֲנָבִ֛ים לַחִ֥ים וִיבֵשִׁ֖ים לֹ֥א יֹאכֵֽל

מִיַּ֤יִן  From  wine 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַיִן  
Sense: wine.
וְשֵׁכָר֙  and  [similar]  drink 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁכָר  
Sense: strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor.
יַזִּ֔יר  he  shall  separate  himself 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָזַר 
Sense: to dedicate, consecrate, separate.
חֹ֥מֶץ  Vinegar  made  from 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֹמֶץ  
Sense: vinegar.
יַ֛יִן  wine 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַיִן  
Sense: wine.
וְחֹ֥מֶץ  nor  vinegar  made  from 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֹמֶץ  
Sense: vinegar.
שֵׁכָ֖ר  [similar]  drink 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁכָר  
Sense: strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor.
לֹ֣א  neither 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה  he  shall  drink 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וְכָל־  and  any 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מִשְׁרַ֤ת  juice 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁרָה  
Sense: juice.
עֲנָבִים֙  grape 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵנָב  
Sense: grape(s).
יִשְׁתֶּ֔ה  shall  he  drink 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וַעֲנָבִ֛ים  and  grapes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵנָב  
Sense: grape(s).
לַחִ֥ים  fresh 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: לַח  
Sense: moist, fresh, new.
וִיבֵשִׁ֖ים  or  raisins 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: יָבֵשׁ  
Sense: dry.
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יֹאכֵֽל  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.