King James Version

What Does Numbers 6:12 Mean?

Numbers 6:12 in the King James Version says “And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespas...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled. be lost: Heb. fall”

Numbers 6:12 · KJV

Context

10

And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:

11

And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.

12

And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled. be lost: Heb. fall

13

And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:

14

And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings,

Read Numbers 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The command to 'consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation' after defilement means restarting the vow from the beginning. The Hebrew hizir (consecrate/separate) indicates renewed dedication. The phrase 'the days that were before shall be lost' (verse 12) teaches that interrupted consecration cannot simply resume—it requires fresh beginning. This severe standard reveals the impossibility of maintaining perfect holiness, pointing to our need for Christ whose consecration was never interrupted, providing perfect obedience imputed to believers (Romans 5:19).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Josephus records that Jewish tradition developed ways to minimize this law's severity, but Scripture allows no shortcuts. The full restart requirement emphasized the seriousness of maintaining vowed consecration and the costliness of defilement, deterring frivolous vows while magnifying the value of sustained holiness.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the requirement to start over after failure point us to Christ's uninterrupted obedience?
  2. What does this severe standard teach about God's holiness and our inadequacy?
  3. How can we maintain consecration in a defiling world while trusting Christ's perfect record?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וְהִזִּ֤יר1 of 16

“And he shall consecrate”

H5144

to hold aloof, i.e., (intransitivey) abstain (from food and drink, from impurity, and even from divine worship (i.e., apostatize)); specifically, to s

לַֽיהוָה֙2 of 16

“unto the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֶת3 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

וְהַיָּמִ֤ים4 of 16

“but the days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

נִזְרֽוֹ׃5 of 16

“because his separation”

H5145

properly, something set apart, i.e., (abstractly) dedication (of a priet or nazirite); hence (concretely) unshorn locks; also (by implication) a chapl

וְהֵבִ֛יא6 of 16

“and shall bring”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

כֶּ֥בֶשׂ7 of 16

“a lamb”

H3532

a ram (just old enough to butt)

בֶּן8 of 16

“of the first”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

שְׁנָת֖וֹ9 of 16

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

לְאָשָׁ֑ם10 of 16

“for a trespass offering”

H817

guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering

וְהַיָּמִ֤ים11 of 16

“but the days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הָרִֽאשֹׁנִים֙12 of 16

“that were before”

H7223

first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

יִפְּל֔וּ13 of 16

“shall be lost”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

כִּ֥י14 of 16
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

טָמֵ֖א15 of 16

“was defiled”

H2930

to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)

נִזְרֽוֹ׃16 of 16

“because his separation”

H5145

properly, something set apart, i.e., (abstractly) dedication (of a priet or nazirite); hence (concretely) unshorn locks; also (by implication) a chapl

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 6:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Numbers 6:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Leviticus 5:6Leviticus 14:24James 2:10Matthew 24:132 John 1:8Matthew 3:15

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