The Bible, a sacred and timeless text, offers guidance on a wide range of topics, from moral principles to personal grooming. Hair, often seen as a symbol of strength and beauty, plays a significant role in the Bible, with many references touching on how it should be styled, cut, or maintained. Cutting hair on the sides, in particular, is one of the practices mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. While some verses may seem to address specific cultural practices or laws, others reveal deeper spiritual meanings related to obedience, humility, and spiritual cleansing.
In this article, we will explore 15 Bible verses related to cutting hair on the sides. These verses come from various books of the Bible and offer different perspectives on the significance of hair grooming in ancient cultures and its continued relevance to Christians today. Whether you are looking to understand the context of certain laws or seeking deeper spiritual insights, this collection of Bible verses will provide a comprehensive look at how hair cutting practices were viewed through the lens of scripture.
1. Leviticus 19:27
“You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.”
— Leviticus 19:27 (ESV)
This verse is part of the Old Testament law given to the Israelites. It prohibits cutting the hair on the temples, which may have been a pagan ritual practice. By avoiding such practices, the Israelites were to maintain distinctiveness from other nations.
2. Leviticus 21:5
“They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body.”
— Leviticus 21:5 (ESV)
This verse instructs the priests to maintain their appearance in a way that distinguished them as holy. The prohibition on cutting the hair on the sides of their heads and on shaving the edges of their beards highlights the importance of maintaining a natural, unaltered appearance as a sign of purity.
3. Deuteronomy 14:1-2
“You are the children of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
— Deuteronomy 14:1-2 (ESV)
This command is related to mourning rituals, where cutting the hair on the forehead or temples was a sign of grief. God instructed His people not to engage in these practices, emphasizing their holiness and unique relationship with Him.
4. Ezekiel 44:20
“They shall not shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they shall surely trim the hair of their heads.”
— Ezekiel 44:20 (ESV)
In this verse, the priests are told to maintain a neat and modest appearance by trimming their hair. It reflects the idea that they should avoid extremes, neither shaving their heads completely nor allowing their hair to grow out excessively.
5. 1 Corinthians 11:14
“Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him?”
— 1 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV)
Paul addresses the issue of hair length in the New Testament, noting that long hair on a man is considered disgraceful. This verse highlights the cultural norms of the time, emphasizing the importance of adhering to social expectations regarding appearance.
6. 1 Corinthians 11:15
“But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory. For her hair is given to her for a covering.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:15 (ESV)
This verse contrasts the expectations for men and women in terms of hair length. While long hair is a symbol of glory for women, it is considered a dishonor for men to have long hair.
7. Numbers 6:5
“All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall come upon his head. Until the days are completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair on his head grow long.”
— Numbers 6:5 (ESV)
This is part of the Nazarite vow, where a person consecrates themselves to the Lord. During this period, they were not to cut their hair at all, as a symbol of their dedication to God.
8. 2 Samuel 14:26
“When he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it. He weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.”
— 2 Samuel 14:26 (ESV)
This verse describes King Absalom’s practice of cutting his hair once a year. His hair became so heavy that he weighed it, indicating the importance of hair in his life and the ritualistic nature of cutting it.
9. Judges 13:5
“For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
— Judges 13:5 (ESV)
This prophecy about Samson echoes the requirements of the Nazarite vow, where cutting hair was forbidden. It emphasizes the strength and dedication to God that came with uncut hair.
10. Judges 16:17
“And he told her all his heart, and said to her, ‘A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.'”
— Judges 16:17 (ESV)
Samson’s hair, which had never been cut, was directly tied to his divine strength. This passage underscores the importance of hair as a symbol of dedication to God.
11. Isaiah 15:2
“He has gone up to the temple and to Dibon, to the high places to weep; Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba; on every head is baldness, every beard is shorn.”
— Isaiah 15:2 (ESV)
Here, the shaving of hair and beards is a symbol of mourning, representing the destruction and grief of the people of Moab.
12. 1 Samuel 1:11
“And she vowed a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.'”
— 1 Samuel 1:11 (ESV)
Hannah vows to dedicate her son Samuel to the Lord, and part of this vow includes not cutting his hair, demonstrating the connection between hair and consecration to God.
13. Ezekiel 5:1-3
“And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor on your head and beard. Then take balances for weighing and divide the hair.”
— Ezekiel 5:1-3 (ESV)
In a symbolic act, Ezekiel is instructed to shave his head, representing the coming judgment on Israel. This passage reflects the significance of hair in representing purity, judgment, and renewal.
14. Acts 18:18
“After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow.”
— Acts 18:18 (ESV)
Paul’s decision to cut his hair in Cenchreae was connected to a vow he had taken, again reflecting the spiritual practice of cutting hair as a form of dedication.
15. Matthew 5:36
“And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.”
— Matthew 5:36 (ESV)
In this verse, Jesus addresses the futility of trying to control things like the color of one’s hair. This highlights the natural, uncontrollable aspects of personal appearance.
Conclusion
The Bible contains many references to the cutting of hair, particularly the sides of the head, each carrying significant spiritual meaning. From the laws governing the priests in the Old Testament to the vows taken by individuals like Samson and Paul, hair was often seen as a symbol of dedication, strength, and purity. In the New Testament, Paul addresses the cultural expectations of hair length and appearance, underscoring the idea that external appearance can reflect internal values and beliefs. By examining these verses, we gain insight into the biblical understanding of hair as both a practical and spiritual matter.
The practice of cutting hair on the sides may seem like a small detail, but in biblical times, it was tied to deeper principles of holiness, cultural identity, and devotion to God. Whether in the context of mourning, vows, or cultural norms, hair cutting in the Bible reveals much about how God’s people were called to distinguish themselves and honor Him with their lives.
Related topics:
- 50 Bible Verses About Abortion (KJV)
- 40 Bible Verses That Shed Light on How Old the Earth Is
- 45 Bible Verses About Enemy Attacks