Though most commonly translated as “vow of a Nazarite”, נֶדֶר נָזִיר neder nazir (H5088 + H5139) literally means “separation vow” and does not at all refer to the birth place of Yeshua (נָצְרַת Natsareth, cf. Matthew 2:23) nor the name given to first-century followers of Yeshua (שֶׁל כַּת הַנָּצְרִים shel kat hanatsarim “sect of the Natsarenes”, cf. Acts 24:5)
Modern Hebrew translates נָזִיר nazir as “monk”; MONK, n. [L. monachus.] A man who retires from the ordinary temporal concerns of the world, and devotes himself to religion. Monks usually live in monasteries, on entering which they take a vow to observe certain rules. Some however live as hermits in solitude, and others have lived a strolling life without any fixed residence. – Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
During Medieval times, any man, rich or poor, noble or peasant could become a monk. Every candidate for admission to the order of the Benedictine monks (officially the Order of Saint Benedict are a monastic religious order of the Catholic Church following the Rule of Saint Benedict) took the vow of obedience. The postulancy usually lasted one month, the novitiate one year, at the end which simple vows were taken. The solemn vows of the Medieval monks were taken four years later. Having once joined he remained a monk for the rest of his life. The Medieval monks lived under strict discipline. They could not own any property; they could not go beyond the monastery walls without the abbot’s consent; they could not even receive letters from home; and they were sent to bed early. A violation of the regulations by a Medieval monks brought punishment in the shape of private admonitions, exclusion from common prayer, and, in extreme cases, expulsion. Medieval ecclesiastic terms which related to becoming a monk:
- Oblate – an oblate was a person given in childhood to a monastic community by his parents, to be brought up as a monk
- Postulant – a postulant was a person seeking admission to a religious order
- Novice – a novice was a member of a monastic community under training, who has not yet taken final vows
http://www.lordsandladies.org/medieval-monks.htm
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