Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5125 Parts of the body and clothing  »  5180 shaving

The removal of hair with a razor or other sharp implement. Both male and female Israelites allowed their hair to grow long. Barbers trimmed, but did not crop, men's hair, so giving special significance to the shaving of the head or whole body. These actions indicated shame or grief.

Personal toilet

Genesis 41:14; 2 Samuel 14:26

Symbolic shaving

Shaved head a sign of grief

Job 1:20 See also Deuteronomy 21:10-14; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 47:5; Jeremiah 48:36-37; Ezekiel 27:31; Amos 8:10; Micah 1:16; Jeremiah 7:29; Jeremiah 41:5

A shaved head a sign of shame

2 Samuel 10:4 pp 1 Chronicles 19:4 See also Ezra 9:3; Isaiah 7:20; Isaiah 50:6; Jeremiah 2:16; Ezekiel 7:18; 1 Corinthians 11:5-6

Shaving in ritual cleansing

Leviticus 14:8-9; Numbers 8:7; Acts 21:24

Shaving as a visual aid

Ezekiel 5:1-4

After a period of dedication

Numbers 6:18

Shaving forbidden

As a pagan practice

Leviticus 19:27; Leviticus 21:5 See also Deuteronomy 14:1 Pagans shaved the front of their heads as a sign of mourning. God's people should have a different attitude to bereavement from those who have no hope; Ezekiel 44:20

For the sake of a Nazarite vow

Numbers 6:5 See also Judges 16:17; 1 Samuel 1:11

See also

1670  symbols
5128  baldness
5155  hair
5372  knife
5836  disgrace
5938  sadness
5947  shame
5952  sorrow
7342  cleanliness
7424  ritual law
8218  consecration
8223  dedication