The Meaning of Numbers 6:12 Explained

Numbers 6:12

KJV: 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.

YLT: and he hath separated to Jehovah the days of his separation, and he hath brought in a lamb, a son of a year, for a guilt-offering, and the former days are fallen, for his separation hath been defiled.

Darby: And he shall again consecrate to Jehovah the days of his separation, and shall bring a yearling lamb for a trespass-offering. But the first days are forfeited, for his consecration hath been defiled.

ASV: And he shall separate unto Jehovah the days of his separation, and shall bring a he-lamb a year old for a trespass-offering; but the former days shall be void, because his separation was defiled.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Numbers 6:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 6:1-12 - The Vow Of Separation
The law of the Nazarite is full of instruction, because he is a type of the child of God who is separated from evil, that he may be wholly surrendered and given over to the divine service. Three rules were enjoined. Not to touch any product of the vine. If we must have exhilaration and stimulus, let us seek it in the Holy Spirit, not in worldly excitement, Ephesians 5:18-19. Not to cut the hair. The unshorn locks signified the dedication of the natural powers to God's service. Let us beware of Delilah. Many are the razors waiting to deprive us of our crown, Judges 16:19. Not to touch the dead, however dear; teaching that the kingdom of God must supersede all earthly ties.
If our separation breaks down, Numbers 6:9-12, we must seek forgiveness and restoration; but the former days will not count. One sin may mar the power of a whole life of saintly testimony. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 6

1  The law of the Nazarite in the days of his separation
13  And after their completion
22  The form of blessing the people

What do the individual words in Numbers 6:12 mean?

And He shall consecrate to Yahweh - the days of his separation and bring a male lamb in first its year as a trespass offering but the days former shall be lost because was defiled his separation
וְהִזִּ֤יר לַֽיהוָה֙ אֶת־ יְמֵ֣י נִזְר֔וֹ וְהֵבִ֛יא כֶּ֥בֶשׂ בֶּן־ שְׁנָת֖וֹ לְאָשָׁ֑ם וְהַיָּמִ֤ים הָרִאשֹׁנִים֙ יִפְּל֔וּ כִּ֥י טָמֵ֖א נִזְרֽוֹ

וְהִזִּ֤יר  And  He  shall  consecrate 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָזַר 
Sense: to dedicate, consecrate, separate.
לַֽיהוָה֙  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְמֵ֣י  the  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
נִזְר֔וֹ  of  his  separation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֵזֶר  
Sense: consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship.
וְהֵבִ֛יא  and  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
כֶּ֥בֶשׂ  a  male  lamb  in 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּבֶשׂ  
Sense: lamb, sheep, young ram.
בֶּן־  first 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
שְׁנָת֖וֹ  its  year 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
לְאָשָׁ֑ם  as  a  trespass  offering 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָשָׁם  
Sense: guilt, offense, guiltiness.
וְהַיָּמִ֤ים  but  the  days 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הָרִאשֹׁנִים֙  former 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
יִפְּל֔וּ  shall  be  lost 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
כִּ֥י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
טָמֵ֖א  was  defiled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא 
Sense: to be unclean, become unclean, become impure.
נִזְרֽוֹ  his  separation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֵזֶר  
Sense: consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship.