Tag Archives: netzer

Nazirite, Nazareth, and Grapevines

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When studies and thoughts collide! The collision of Nazirite, Nazareth, and Grapevines is more like three different musical instruments, all contributing three different sounds but are in harmony with the whole of the composition, not a hitting of two cars.

Nazirite – This term started this study. I thought it referred ‘to just’ a person who separated themselves to God for a season. The terms of the vow in Numbers 6 are clearly listed, but I only saw ‘no wine and don’t cut your hair’.

Numbers 6, the way I read the requirements.

  • Choosing a special vow of separation (with requirements) to the Lord (v2), for a specific amount of time (v5). Following the rules was part of the vow.
  • No Fermented drinks – wine, beer, vinegar
  • No grapes or its parts, and no grapevines and its parts
  • No cutting your hair by razor (on purpose?)
  • No dead bodies
  • A final sacrifice to end the vow

Actually, looking at the base word and where it appears in Scripture is important.

Strong’s Hebrew: 5139. נָזִיר (nazir) — Nazirite, one who is consecrated or set apart

This list is from H5139.

  1. Joseph (2x)
  2. grapevines during the Sabbath year and Jubilee
  3. one who chooses to dedicate
  4. Samson’s mother that extended to him- Judges 13 (From birth.)
  5. Lamentations 4 and Amos 2 are talking about those who did take the vow.

Other references, some of these are only about not drinking wine. Much discussion could happen here, but for some of these we do not have enough information and there are contradictions. Wine, beer, and vinegar were important drinks for an Israelite.

  • The Children during the Wandering in the dessert. Deuteronomy 29:6
  • Rechabites, in Jeremiah, did not drink wine.
  • The Prophet Samuel, by Hannah’s prayer and legend.
  • John the Baptist – Luke 1:15 (From birth.)
  • Jesus – John 17
  • Paul from references in Acts 18 and 21 for a specific time.

NAZARITE – JewishEncyclopedia.com is a good study tool.

Numbers 6:2 Hebrew Text Analysis The vow could be taken by a man OR a woman. Vow = Hebrew Concordance: yap̄·li — 2 Occurrences

Nazareth –

Our translation of Nazarite, Nazarene, and Nazareth all begin with ‘nazar’; but in Hebrew they come from different root words. To add to this is Matthew 2:23 with its phrase of ‘so was fulfilled’ meaning there was a prophecy about this; it is not an easily apparent prophecy in the Old Testament. This is where the studies start bumping together; see The Root, The Branch, The Fruit. This is also very good. Nazarene | The amazing name Nazarene: meaning and etymology

Jesus calls Himself the True Vine (John 15:1) and us the branches. Paul uses an olive tree (a symbol of Israel) and talks about shoots or branches being taken off and grafted in; representing Gentile believers. Instead of dismissing Matthew 2:23, as many do, be a king or queen and search for its meaning.

Grapevines and Its Parts

There are websites that meld wine and grapes together; I choose not to do that. I know that I am in a minority of those who think the Etz of Knowledge of Good and Evil could have been a grapevine. See The Garden and Grapes. I appreciate some medieval art, but I believe they missed it on that subject. Why should it be a fruit that is not really referred to a lot in the Bible, knowledge is?

The etz of grapes and its products are mentioned frequently in Scripture. Those references are about good and evil things that come from that etz. So, my driving question was, “Why would Father God restrict grape products for someone wanting to separate themselves to know Him better?” All of those grape products are consumable as nourishment to the human body. In the Garden, the consumption of the Etz of Knowledge was forbidden, whereas the consumption of the Etz of Life was not forbidden.

Knowledge, like grapes, can be useful for good, or can be used for evil purposes. I see a very symbolic relationship here that put it as a requirement for this vow of separation. The woody stem (etz) is also very symbolic of knowledge; it is solid but sways and bends. The stem has its uses but building a chair or table from it is not one of them. My takeaway is: Stay away from pliable knowledge and go for the Tree of Life.

 These are notes, my thinking out loud to help form my thoughts.

  • No manmade fermented drinks. Alcohol, yeast, or man purposely changing the drink. These liquids played a big role in the lives of the people. Beer can be made into vinegar.
  • No Grapes – I take it as a symbol of the Tree of Knowledge. Seed and skin are single use words, but there are foods made from them. Grapes can be soaked and that liquid made into wine.
  • No razor – hair and bread? “hair of dedication” v19 BibleGateway – Keyword Search: razor
  • No dead bodies, ceremonially unclean v7
  • Final sacrifice – v13 This was expensive. You had to finish the sacrifice to return to “normal/drink wine v20,21”.
  • Most of these requirements are willing separation, but dead bodies are covered in length, even as an accident.
  • Psalm 53 is about those who seek God vs the fool, which was the reason for this vow. This connects to Amos.
  • Netzer (נֶצֶר), meaning “branch” or “shoot”

The Root, The Branch, The Fruit – The Christmas Story

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“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Revelations 22:16 (NIV)

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots, a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 (NIV)

Yes, the Christmas story and the mission of Jesus are in those two verses.  In Matthew and Luke, the story is told, and each writer includes a genealogy of Jesus.  Matthew uses David as a connection point for his Hebrew audience.  The number fourteen (symbolizes David) and his inclusion of women in the lists of names show Jesus to the people in many ways.  Luke speaks to his Gentile reader(s) by using a slightly different look in the family tree (probably Mary’s) and goes back to the Garden and the first Adam.  Luke’s genealogy includes the “common” members of the family, while Matthew has the Patriarchs, the Kings, and the “common” people. 

Using the picture of roots, stumps, and branches allows for interesting symbolism.

The Root

Our two verses show the root of David, which is Jesse, and the root of Jesse, which is the tribe of Judah, and the root of Judah is Jesus.  The genealogies in Matthew and Luke help here!  But if you like the rest of the story turn to First Chronicles 2:3 – 17.  This really starts in Numbers 26:19 and Genesis 38 especially verses 27 – 30.  The story starts with Judah, who could hand out hard verdicts but did not do well in the receiving department.  Perez was the first one completely out but the second-born son because Zerah stuck his arm “out” first.  (This is a strange picture of being the “first and the last”.)  It is his family line through Ram that produced the leaders of the Tribe of Judah.  Jesse was the “head man” of the tribe and should have been one of the “panicked elders” when Samuel showed up in their town.  (I wrote Cut Jesse Some Slack, BECAUSE!)  That would have put Eliab, by birth, as the next in line for the leadership of the tribe of Judah.  In reading 1 Samuel 16 and 1 Chronicles 2:13 – 17 you get a whole picture of Jesse’s family.  The two lists of sons don’t match and it may be that one died as David is #7 in Chronicles and #8 in 1 Samuel.  

A few thoughts as a teacher and a gardener to show the importance of the root.

  • It is the first part to show up when the Seed is covered with water.  It absorbs the water to convert the stored energy into the rest of the plant.
  • I have to include Genesis 1:2 – the Spirit was over the water, God did a lot with water in Genesis 1.  Baptism is also a must, you leave the old man under the surface and the new man comes out.
  • Roots anchor a plant.  It really is the biggest part of the plant as it spreads out in the soil working to take in water and other nutrients. 

The Branch 

Jonathan Cahn in his Book of Mysteries series talks about Matthew 2:23 where Jesus fulfills the prophecies that Jesus would be a Nazarene. (Video on YouTube) The root word for Nazareth/Nazarene is netzer which means branch.  So, Isaiah 11:1, Zechariah 3:8, and Jeremiah 23:5 are those prophetic announcements. 

I will not start “splitting hairs” about stems, trunks, etc. because I just have a feeling it is more about the foundation (roots) and what is growing above (branch).  Jesus in John 15 and Paul in Romans 11 also lean into this way of looking at a plant.

In John 15 Jesus calls Himself the vine and we are the branches – we have to be connected to Him.  Romans 11 has us as branches being grafted into “the olive tree” so we can grow.

Branches are for reproduction; the fruit will form on them.  So, if we look at Jesus as the Branch – He was to produce fruit.  If we consider ourselves as the branch, we must produce fruit!

Both 

Revelations 22:16 puts Jesus in two positions – The Root and the Branch.  The symbolism and its examples in this thought could go on for a while.  (You may have the privilege.)  If I focus on just plants I will give you this – Jesus is the alpha and omega, the beginning (roots), and the end (branch).  

Fruit Wheat or oak trees, a plant is about producing fruit (or seed).  Good fruit, bad fruit, or not producing fruit there are many parables about fruit in the Gospels.  We always tend to think of the fruit of the Spirit, but in context with my Kingdom series is Matthew 21:43 – the kingdom of God can be taken from you and given to people who will produce ITS fruit.