Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5125 Parts of the body and clothing  »  5155 hair

Various conditions, both physical and spiritual, are indicated in Scripture by human hair. Animal hair is used for a variety of purposes.

Physical qualities of human hair

A woman's hair is attractive

Songs 7:5 See also 2 Kings 9:30; Songs 4:1; 1 Corinthians 11:15

A man's hair shows vigour

Judges 16:17-22 See also 2 Samuel 14:26; Songs 5:11

Grey hair shows the glory of old age

Proverbs 16:31 See also Leviticus 19:32 “aged” may be translated “grey-haired”; Proverbs 20:29

Greying hair as a sign of declining strength

Hosea 7:9

White hair as a sign of age and wisdom

Revelation 1:14 See also Daniel 7:9

Hair as indicating physical or spiritual conditions

Unharmed hair speaks of protection

Matthew 10:30 pp Luke 12:7 See also 1 Samuel 14:45; 2 Samuel 14:11; Daniel 3:27; Luke 21:18; Acts 27:34

Hair standing on end indicates fear

Job 4:15

Baldness may indicate God's judgment

Isaiah 3:24 See also Isaiah 3:17

Hair colour may indicate skin disease

Leviticus 13:3 See also Leviticus 13:10-11,26,30-37,40-45

Rituals and customs involving the hair

Rules concerning hair for those under a vow

Numbers 6:5 See also Numbers 6:9,18-19; Judges 13:5; Judges 16:17; 1 Samuel 1:11; Acts 18:18; Acts 21:23-24

Rules concerning hair for those being cleansed

Leviticus 14:8-9

Mourning customs affecting hair

Micah 1:16 See also Leviticus 10:6; Deuteronomy 21:12-13; Job 1:20; Jeremiah 16:6; Jeremiah 47:5; Jeremiah 48:37; Amos 8:10

Grief signified by tearing or cutting one's hair

Ezra 9:3 See also Isaiah 22:12; Jeremiah 7:29

Humiliating others by shaving or pulling out the hair

2 Samuel 10:4 pp 1 Chronicles 19:4 See also Nehemiah 13:25; Isaiah 7:20

Pagan customs to be avoided

Leviticus 19:27 See also Deuteronomy 14:1-2

Customs concerning hair and public worship

1 Corinthians 11:6,13-15; 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3

Animal hair

Animal hair used in tabernacle furnishings

Exodus 26:7 See also Exodus 25:4; Exodus 35:26; Exodus 36:14

A prophet's clothing made from animal hair

2 Kings 1:8 See also Zechariah 13:4; Matthew 3:4 pp Mark 1:6

Animal hair as a disguise

Genesis 27:16 See also 1 Samuel 19:13,16

Hair used to wipe Jesus Christ's feet

John 12:3 See also Luke 7:38,44; John 11:2

Nazirite vows forbade the cutting of hair

The reason for taking a Nazirite vow, separation to the Lord

Numbers 6:1-2 While attention is often focused on Nazirite prohibitions, it is important to note that the primary reason was for separating oneself to God. Both men and women could make the vow; Numbers 6:8

The requirements of the Nazirite vow

Numbers 6:2-4 Nazirites must abstain from all produce of the vine; Numbers 6:5 Nazirites must not cut their hair; Numbers 6:6-7 Nazirites must not touch a dead body.

The rules for re-establishing a broken Nazirite vow

Numbers 6:9-12

The regulations for completing the Nazirite vow

Numbers 6:13-17 The Nazirite vow is completed, first, through prescribed sacrifices; Numbers 6:18 The Nazirite vow is completed, second, through cutting off one's hair and burning it on the altar; Numbers 6:19-20 The Nazirite vow is completed, third, through ritual acts performed by the priest.

Examples of people dedicated to being lifelong Nazirites

Samson was a lifelong Nazirite:

Judges 13:2-7; Judges 16:1-22 1 Samuel 1:10-11 Samuel was a lifelong Nazirite; Luke 1:13-15 John the Baptist was possibly a Nazirite.

Examples of temporary Nazirite vows

Acts 18:18; Acts 21:20-26

Nazirites to be seen as gifts from God to his people

Amos 2:11-12

Expressions involving hair

Judges 20:16; Revelation 6:12

See also

1670  symbols
5098  John the Baptist
5128  baldness
5130  beard
5158  head-covering
5180  shaving
5419  mourning
5725  old age
5741  vows
5879  humiliation
6742  sackcloth & ashes
7340  clean and unclean