The Meaning of Numbers 6:6 Explained

Numbers 6:6

KJV: All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.

YLT: 'All days of his keeping separate to Jehovah, near a dead person he doth not go;

Darby: All the days that he hath consecrated himself to Jehovah, he shall come near no dead body.

ASV: All the days that he separateth himself unto Jehovah he shall not come near to a dead body.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

All the days  that he separateth  [himself] unto the LORD  he shall come  at no dead  body. 

What does Numbers 6:6 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 6:6 mean?

All the days that he separates himself to Yahweh - a body dead not he shall go near
כָּל־ יְמֵ֥י הַזִּיר֖וֹ לַיהוָ֑ה עַל־ נֶ֥פֶשׁ מֵ֖ת לֹ֥א יָבֹֽא

יְמֵ֥י  the  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַזִּיר֖וֹ  that  he  separates  himself 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נָזַר 
Sense: to dedicate, consecrate, separate.
לַיהוָ֑ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עַל־  - 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
נֶ֥פֶשׁ  a  body 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
מֵ֖ת  dead 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
יָבֹֽא  he  shall  go  near 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.