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A '''nazirite''' or '''nazarite''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''נזיר''', ''nazir'' "separated") was a [[Judaism|Jew]] set apart and especially consecrated to God through vows of abstinence. Both men and women could take the nazirite vow; married women could take the nazirite vow with the consent of their husbands. The duration of naziriteship was voluntary, and ranged from thirty days to a lifetime.<ref>[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=142&letter=N ''Nazarite''] [[Jewish Encyclopedia]] (1906)</ref>

A '''nazirite''' or '''nazarite''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''נזיר''', ''nazir'' "separated") was a [[Judaism|Jew]] set apart and especially consecrated to God through vows of abstinence. Both men and women could take the nazirite vow; married women could take the vow with the consent of their husbands. The duration of naziriteship was voluntary, and ranged from thirty days to a lifetime.<ref>[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=142&letter=N ''Nazarite''] [[Jewish Encyclopedia]] (1906)</ref> Despite the name "sparated", nazirites did not lead a monastic existence apart from the community but were active participants in all familiar and communal affairs. What set them apart was their meticulous observance of the vow, which gave them a holy status similar to that of the High Priest.<ref>'''Milgrom, Jacob''' ''The JPS Torah Commentary: Numbers'' Jewish Publication Society of America (1990) ISBN 0-8276-0329-0</ref>  

==Nazirites in the Bible==

 

*[[Absolom]]  ([http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/2sam14.html#26 2 Samuel 14:26])

==Notable nazirites==

*[[John the Baptist]] (([http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/luke1.html#15 Luke 1:15])

*[[Absolom]]  <ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/2sam14.html#26 2 Samuel 14:26]</ref>

*[[Paul]] ([http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/acts18.html#18 Acts 18:18]; [http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/acts21.html#23 Acts 21:23-26])

*[[Samson]] ([http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/judg13.html#4 1 Sam. 1:11])

*[[John the Baptist]] <ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/luke1.html#15 Luke 1:15]</ref>

*[[Samuel]] ([http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/1sam1.html#11 1 Samuel 1:9-11])

*[[Paul]] <ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/acts18.html#18 Acts 18:18]; [http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/acts21.html#23 Acts 21:23-26]</ref>

*[[Samson]] <ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/judg13.html#4 1 Sam. 1:11]</ref>

*[[Samuel]] <ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/1sam1.html#11 1 Samuel 1:9-11]</ref>