What is "nazirite"

Nazirite \Naz"i*rite\, prop. n. A Nazarite.

In the Hebrew Bible, a nazirite or nazarite is one who voluntarily took a vow described in . "Nazarite" comes from the Hebrew word נזיר nazir meaning "consecrated" or "separated". This vow required the person to:

• Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins, intoxicating liquors, vinegar made from such substances, and eating or drinking any substance that contains any trace of grapes.
• Refrain from cutting the hair on one's head; but to allow the locks of the head's hair to grow.
• Not to become ritually impure by contact with corpses or graves, even those of family members.

After following these requirements for a designated interval (which would be specified in the individual's vow), the person would immerse in a mikveh and make three offerings: a lamb as a burnt offering (olah), an ewe as a sin-offering (hatat), and a ram as a peace offering (shelamim), in addition to a basket of unleavened bread, grain offerings and drink offerings, which accompanied the peace offering. They would also shave their head in the outer courtyard of the Temple (the Jerusalem Temple) and then place the hair on the same fire as the peace offering.

The nazirite is described as being "holy unto YHWH" , yet at the same time must bring a sin offering. This has led to divergent approaches to the nazirite in the Talmud, and later authorities, with some viewing the nazirite as an ideal, and others viewing him as a sinner.

In Modern Hebrew the word "nazir" is commonly used for monks, both Christian and Buddhist - this meaning having largely displaced the original Biblical meaning.