2,851. Delaying a Nazirite Vow

Hilchos Nezirus 1:4

If someone says: “I won’t leave this world without becoming a nazir,” he is rendered a nazir immediately out of concern that he might die. If he delays his nazirite vow, he violates the prohibition against delaying in fulfilling one’s word (Deut. 23:22). One is not lashed for violating this prohibition.

Hilchos Nezirus 1:5

We don’t say that a nazirite vow doesn’t take effect until one makes a statement that everyone would understand clarifying his intention. Rather, since he decided mentally to take a nazirite vow and expressed this intention orally, he is a nazir. This is so even if his choice of words doesn’t clearly communicate the intention of a nazirite vow.