The Nazarite Birth

William Branham claimed to have been born a Nazarite:

Now, I don't say all ministers have to be that. I was born under Nazarite birth, of course, and so it's just a little different. And so, many things that I do in my life, I wouldn't ask other people to do. I wouldn't say they had to do that to be Christian, because it was a different... altogether.

And many of you understand that, don't you? See? It's just... That's just for me on-- or me privately, things that I have to do, and things, the way I have to live, and the things that I have to do. It's a Nazarite birth. And so we--we don't... it's not... You can't teach that all people have to be that way. See? But I mean for myself.

I said, "But, you see, I was born under a Nazarite birth. I wasn't supposed to smoke, chew, or drink anything."

Samson, another man very perseverant. He was born a Nazarite birth. A Nazarite means "separated to the Word." What a nice thing it would be tonight if all Christians would be Nazarites to the Lord; separated not to creeds, but to the Word. Christ is that Word. Separated to the Word!

The Biblical Meaning of "Nazarite"

Nazarite was the name of Israelites that on them the vow prescribed in Numbers 6:2–21. The word denotes generally one who is separated from others and consecrated to God. Although there is no mention of any Nazarite before Samson, yet it is evident that they existed before the time of Moses. The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things:

(1) abstinence from wine and strong drink, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins or any part of the grape plant;

(2) refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow; and

(3) the avoidance of contact with the dead.

For some reason, probably in the midst of his work at Corinth, Paul took on himself the Nazarite vow. This could only be terminated by his going up to Jerusalem to offer up the hair which till then was to be left uncut. (Acts 18:18).

On another occasion (Acts 21:23–26), at the feast of Pentecost, Paul took on himself again the Nazarite vow.

As to the duration of a Nazarite’s vow, every one was left at liberty to fix his own time. There is mention made in Scripture of only three who were Nazarites for life, Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist (Judg. 13:4, 5; 1 Sam. 1:11; Luke 1:15). In its ordinary form, however, the Nazarite’s vow lasted only thirty, and at most one hundred, days.

Problems with William Branham's Claim

While William Branham said that he was under a Nazarite vow for life, it is clear that he wasn't.

Why did he say that he was?

Was it part of trying to convince people that he was a prophet? Someone that was in the same category as the three other people in the bible that were born under a Nazarite vow - Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist?

One thing is clear, he was not born under a Nazarite vow and he also had no understanding of what a Nazarite vow was.

William Branham drank wine

Drinking wine or grape juice, eating grapes or anything from the grape vine was forbidden to someone under a Nazarite vow, but that did not seem to have any impact on William Branham:

The Bible said, "In like manner He took the cup. And when He had supped, He took--said, "Take and drink; this is the cup of the New Testament. As oft as you do this, you show forth the Lord's death till He come." As I hold in my hand tonight this wine, made from the--from the life of grapes that's been brought together here to represent the Blood of Jesus Christ. There's never a time yet, that I've ever picked up the communion tray, but I didn't look in there and see my sin's gone.

William Branham cut his hair

William Branham obviously cut his hair on a regular basis,

Unclean animals

God states that cud-chewing animals with split hooves can be eaten (Leviticus:11:3; Deuteronomy:14:6). These specifically include the cattle, sheep, goat, deer and gazelle families (Deuteronomy:14:4-5).

He also lists such animals as camels, rabbits and pigs as being unclean, or unfit to eat (Leviticus:11:4-8). He later lists such "creeping things" as moles, mice and lizards as unfit to eat (Leviticus:11:29-31), as well as four-footed animals with paws (cats, dogs, bears, lions, tigers, etc.) as unclean (Leviticus:11:27).

He tells us that salt and freshwater fish with fins and scales may be eaten (Leviticus:11:9-12), but water creatures without those characteristics (catfish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, mussels, clams, oysters, squid, octopi, etc.) should not be eaten.

God also lists birds and other flying creatures that are unclean for consumption (Leviticus:11:13-19). He identifies carrion eaters and birds of prey as unclean, plus ostriches, storks, herons and bats.