Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, the act of shaving held various cultural, religious, and symbolic meanings. The practice is mentioned in several contexts throughout the Scriptures, reflecting its significance in ancient Israelite society and neighboring cultures.Cultural and Religious Practices: 1. Nazirite Vow: One of the most notable references to shaving in the Bible is related to the Nazirite vow. Nazirites were individuals who took a special vow of consecration to God, which included abstaining from wine, avoiding contact with the dead, and not cutting their hair. Numbers 6:5 states, "For the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor shall pass over his head. He must be holy until the time of his consecration to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long." At the end of the vow, the Nazirite was required to shave his head as part of the purification process (Numbers 6:18). 2. Levitical Laws: The Levitical laws also address shaving in the context of ritual purity. Leviticus 14:8-9 describes the cleansing process for a person healed of a skin disease, which includes shaving off all hair. This act symbolized a new beginning and purification. 3. Mourning Practices: Shaving was sometimes associated with mourning. In Isaiah 15:2, the prophet describes the people of Moab shaving their heads and beards as a sign of lamentation: "Dibon goes up to its temple, to its high places to weep; Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off." Symbolism and Metaphor: 1. Humiliation and Shame: Shaving could symbolize humiliation or shame. In 2 Samuel 10:4, Hanun, the king of the Ammonites, humiliated David's servants by shaving off half of their beards and cutting their garments. This act was intended to disgrace them, as a full beard was a sign of dignity and honor in ancient Near Eastern cultures. 2. Divine Judgment: The prophets sometimes used shaving as a metaphor for divine judgment. In Isaiah 7:20, the prophet declares, "On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well." This imagery conveyed the totality of God's impending judgment on the people. Practical Considerations: 1. Personal Grooming: While the Bible does not provide extensive details on personal grooming practices, it is evident that shaving was a part of daily life for some individuals. The act of shaving could be associated with cleanliness and personal care. 2. Cultural Differences: The significance of shaving varied among different cultures and peoples mentioned in the Bible. For instance, Egyptians were known for their clean-shaven appearance, while Israelites and other Semitic peoples typically wore beards. In summary, shaving in the biblical context is multifaceted, encompassing religious rituals, cultural practices, and symbolic meanings. It reflects the broader themes of consecration, purity, mourning, and judgment found throughout the Scriptures. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (v. t.) to cut off closely, as with a razor; as, to shave the beard.2. (v. t.) To cut or pare off from the surface of a body with a razor or other edged instrument 3. (v. t.) To make bare or smooth by cutting off closely the surface, or surface covering, of; especially, to remove the hair from with a razor or other sharp instrument; to take off the beard or hair of; as, to shave the face or the crown of the head; he shaved himself. 4. (v. t.) To cut off thin slices from; to cut in thin slices. 5. (v. t.) To skim along or near the surface of; to pass close to, or touch lightly, in passing. 6. (v. t.) To strip; to plunder; to fleece. 7. (v. i.) To use a razor for removing the beard; to cut closely; hence, to be hard and severe in a bargain; to practice extortion; to cheat. 8. (n.) A thin slice; a shaving. 9. (n.) A cutting of the beard; the operation of shaving. 10. (n.) An exorbitant discount on a note. 11. (n.) A premium paid for an extension of the time of delivery or payment, or for the right to vary a stock contract in any particular. 12. (n.) A hand tool consisting of a sharp blade with a handle at each end; a drawing knife; a spokeshave. 13. (n.) The act of passing very near to, so as almost to graze; as, the bullet missed by a close shave. Greek 3587. xurao -- to shave ... to shave. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: xurao Phonetic Spelling: (xoo-rah'-o) Short Definition: I shave Definition: I shave, shear, cut off the hair. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3587.htm - 6k 3587b. xureo -- to shave 3587a. xurao -- to shave Strong's Hebrew 1548. galach -- to be bald, shave, shave off... 1547, 1548. galach. 1549 . to be bald, shave, shave off. Transliteration: galach Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-lakh') Short Definition: shave. Word Origin a prim ... /hebrew/1548.htm - 6k 1494. gazaz -- to shear 8593. taar -- a razor, sheath 5595. saphah -- to sweep or snatch away, catch up 1639. gara -- to diminish, restrain, withdraw 7139. qarach -- to make bald 7760. sum -- to put, place, set 1532. gallab -- a barber 5674. abar -- to pass over, through, or by, pass on 7144. qorchah -- baldness, bald spot Library Against Men who Embellish Themselves. Whether those who are Ordained Ought to Wear the Tonsure? How Even Apostles Thought that a Lie was Often Useful and the ... The Mercy of God Epistle iv. To Cyriacus, Bishop. The Doctrine Adorned Separation to God. That the Ruler Relax not his Care for the Things that are Within ... Letter Lxxv. (AD 404. ) Paul in Jerusalem. Thesaurus Shave (19 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) to cut off closely, as with a razor; as, to shave the beard. ... Multi-Version Concordance Shave (19 Occurrences). ... /s/shave.htm - 14k Beard (23 Occurrences) Shaving (2 Occurrences) Shaved (23 Occurrences) Dedicated (37 Occurrences) Pare (1 Occurrence) Barber Bathe (35 Occurrences) Beards (6 Occurrences) Cleansing (37 Occurrences) Resources What does the Bible say about shaving? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Occam's Razor? Does Occam's Razor disprove the existence of God? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about hair length? | GotQuestions.org Shave: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Shave (19 Occurrences)Acts 21:24 Leviticus 13:33 Leviticus 14:8 Leviticus 14:9 Leviticus 19:27 Leviticus 21:5 Numbers 6:9 Numbers 6:18 Numbers 8:7 Deuteronomy 14:1 Deuteronomy 21:12 Judges 16:19 Isaiah 7:20 Jeremiah 16:6 Jeremiah 47:5 Ezekiel 5:1 Ezekiel 44:20 Amos 8:10 Micah 1:16 Subtopics Related Terms |