The Meaning of Numbers 6:9 Explained

Numbers 6:9

KJV: And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.

YLT: 'And when the dead dieth beside him in an instant, suddenly, and he hath defiled the head of his separation, then he hath shaved his head in the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he doth shave it,

Darby: And if any one die unexpectedly by him suddenly, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day shall he shave it.

ASV: And if any man die very suddenly beside him, and he defile the head of his separation; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if any man  die  very  suddenly  by him, and he hath defiled  the head  of his consecration;  then he shall shave  his head  in the day  of his cleansing,  on the seventh  day  shall he shave  it. 

What does Numbers 6:9 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 6:9 mean?

And if dies anyone beside him very suddenly and he defiles head his consecrated then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing on the day seventh he shall shave it
וְכִֽי־ יָמ֨וּת מֵ֤ת עָלָיו֙ בְּפֶ֣תַע פִּתְאֹ֔ם וְטִמֵּ֖א רֹ֣אשׁ נִזְר֑וֹ וְגִלַּ֤ח רֹאשׁוֹ֙ בְּי֣וֹם טָהֳרָת֔וֹ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י יְגַלְּחֶֽנּוּ

וְכִֽי־  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יָמ֨וּת  dies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
מֵ֤ת  anyone 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
עָלָיו֙  beside  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
בְּפֶ֣תַע  very 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: פֶּתַע  
Sense: suddenness, in an instant.
פִּתְאֹ֔ם  suddenly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פִּתְאֹם  
Sense: suddenly, surprisingly subst.
וְטִמֵּ֖א  and  he  defiles 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא 
Sense: to be unclean, become unclean, become impure.
רֹ֣אשׁ  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
נִזְר֑וֹ  his  consecrated 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֵזֶר  
Sense: consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship.
וְגִלַּ֤ח  then  he  shall  shave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּלַח  
Sense: to poll, shave, shave off, be bald.
רֹאשׁוֹ֙  his  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
בְּי֣וֹם  on  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
טָהֳרָת֔וֹ  of  his  cleansing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: טָהֳרָה  
Sense: purifying, cleansing, purification, purity, cleanness.
בַּיּ֥וֹם  on  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י  seventh 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal masculine singular
Root: שְׁבִיעִי  
Sense: seventh.
יְגַלְּחֶֽנּוּ  he  shall  shave  it 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּלַח  
Sense: to poll, shave, shave off, be bald.