Three types of nezarim-נזרים (plural for nazir-נְזִיר)

Just by reading the 21 verses in parashat Naso, Numbers 6:1-21, we would mistakenly believe that there’s only one kind of nazir. Today’s daf TB Nazir 4 (as well as tomorrow’s daf) introduces to three different types of nazarites.

Let’s call the first type of nazir a standard nazir. This is a person who takes a vow to abstain from any grape product including wine, from getting a haircut, and refraining from becoming ritually unready, tamei-טָמֵא). This nezirut has a term limit. We shall learn that the minimum amount of time that person can vow to be a nazir is 30 days; nevertheless, it may continue for months or even years.

The second type of nazir is nazir Shimshon (nazir Samson). To refresh your memory about Samson’s adventures, read about his life in Judges 13-16.

The third type of nazir is a permanent nazir (nazir olam-נְזִיר עוֹלָם). A permanent nazir is one who becomes a nazir for the rest of his mortal life.

The Gemara delineates the difference between a nazir Shimshon and a nazir olam. “What is the difference between a permanent nazirite and a nazirite like Samson? In the case of a permanent nazirite, if his hair grows too heavy for him, he lightens it with a razor and he then brings three animals for offerings. And if he becomes ritually impure, he brings the offering for impurity. In the case of a nazirite like Samson, if his hair grows heavy he may not lighten it with a razor, but he does not bring the offering for impurity.

“The Gemara comments: From the words: But if he becomes impure he does not bring an offering for impurity, one can infer that it is the offering that he does not bring. However, all of the prohibitions of nazariteship apply to him, and it is prohibited for him to become impure from a corpse.” (Sefaria.org translation) The nazir olam is behaves like a standard nazir after the infraction and then just continues with his nezirut.

It’s interesting to note that not everybody agrees that there is a category called nazir Shimshon. Rabbi Yehuda holds that one can become a nazir just like Samson and Rabbi Shimon disagrees. If a person takes a vow to be like Samson, he hasn’t said anything. “Rabbi Yehuda says: A nazirite like Samson is permitted to become impure from a corpse ab initio, as we find with Samson that he became impure. Rabbi Shimon says: One who says he will be a nazirite like Samson has not said anything, since we do not find with Samson that an utterance of a vow of nazariteship left his mouth. Samson never took a vow to be a nazirite. He received his status from the angel’s instructions to his mother (see Judges 13:5). Consequently, Rabbi Shimon holds that one who vows to be a nazirite like Samson is not considered to have taken a nazirite vow” (Sefaria.org translation)

I like to conclude with a story we learned earlier in massekhet Nedarim daf 9b. The story teaches that one should not take a nazirite vow lightly. The person should only have the purest intention and motivation.

“Shimon HaTzaddik said: In all my days as a priest, I never ate the guilt-offering of a ritually impure nazirite, apart from the offering of one man who came to me from the South, who had beautiful eyes and a fine countenance, and his locks were arranged in curls. I said to him: My son, what did you see to become a nazirite, which would force you to destroy this beautiful hair, as a nazirite must cut off all his hair at the conclusion of his term?

“He said to me: I was a shepherd for my father in my town, and I went to draw water from the spring, and I looked at my reflection in the water. And my evil inclination quickly rose against me and sought to drive me from the world. I said to my evil inclination: Empty one! For what reason are you proud in a world that is not yours, as your end is to be maggots and worms when you die. I swear by the Temple service that I will become a nazirite and shave you for the sake of Heaven.

“Shimon HaTzaddik relates: When I heard his response, I arose and kissed him on his head, and said to him: May there be more nazarites like you in Israel, whose intentions are noble, and who would not regret their vow of nazariteship even if they became impure. With regard to you the verse states: “When either a man or a woman shall clearly utter a vow, the vow of a nazirite, to consecrate himself to the Lord” (Numbers 6:2). The verse speaks of a vow that is not undertaken out of anger or spite, but purely for the sake of God. The phrase “to the Lord” in this context means: For the sake of Heaven. It cannot be used to teach that if one declares his intention to become a nazirite like Samson, his statement constitutes a nazirite vow.” (Sefaria.org translation)