Tresses
Jump to: ConcordanceThesaurusGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "tresses" refers to locks or braids of hair, often associated with beauty, femininity, and sometimes spiritual symbolism. The concept of tresses is primarily found in poetic and wisdom literature within the Bible, where it is used to convey imagery of beauty and allure.

Song of Solomon

The most notable reference to tresses is found in the Song of Solomon, a poetic book that celebrates love and beauty. In Song of Solomon 4:1 , the beloved is described with admiration: "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead." Here, the imagery of flowing hair, likened to a flock of goats, emphasizes the beauty and grace of the beloved. The reference to Mount Gilead suggests a sense of abundance and natural beauty, as the region was known for its lush pastures.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

In ancient Near Eastern culture, hair was often seen as a symbol of vitality and attractiveness. The care and styling of hair, including the creation of tresses, were important aspects of personal grooming and social status. For women, long and well-kept hair was a sign of femininity and could be an expression of one's identity and dignity.

The Bible occasionally uses hair as a metaphor for spiritual truths. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 11:15 , Paul writes, "But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering." This passage highlights the cultural understanding of hair as a symbol of honor and propriety, reflecting the divine order in creation.

Historical Context

In biblical times, hairstyles varied across different cultures and periods. The Israelites, like their neighbors, would have had their own customs regarding hair. Tresses, or braided hair, were likely a common style among women, serving both practical and aesthetic purposes. Braiding helped manage long hair and could be adorned with ribbons or jewelry for special occasions.

Spiritual Reflections

The imagery of tresses in the Bible invites reflection on the nature of beauty and its connection to the divine. While physical beauty is celebrated, it is often seen as a reflection of inner qualities and spiritual truths. The care and adornment of hair can be viewed as an expression of one's devotion and reverence for God's creation.

In summary, tresses in the Bible are more than just a physical attribute; they carry cultural, symbolic, and spiritual significance. Through the poetic language of Scripture, tresses become a metaphor for beauty, grace, and the divine order established by God.
Greek
2863. komao -- to wear long hair
... have long hair. From kome; to wear tresses of hair -- have long hair. see GREEK
kome. (koma) -- 2 Occurrences. 2862, 2863. komao. 2864 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2863.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
7298b. rahat -- perhaps lock (of hair)
... 7298a, 7298b. rahat. 7299 . perhaps lock (of hair). Transliteration:
rahat Short Definition: tresses. Word Origin from an unused ...
/hebrew/7298b.htm - 5k

4748. miqsheh -- (an artistic) hairdo
... well set hair. From qashah in the sense of knotting up round and hard; something
turned (rounded), ie A curl (of tresses) -- X well (set) hair. ...
/hebrew/4748.htm - 6k

Library

Notes
... She once said of Samson: 'His fair hair, which was long and thick, was gathered
up on his head in seven tresses, like a helmet, and the ends of these tresses ...
/.../emmerich/the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/notes.htm

Andromeda
... Apollo Watched well-pleased from the welkin, the fairest of AEthiop women: Fairest,
save only her daughter; for down to the ankle her tresses Rolled, blue ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/andromeda.htm

Saving Faith
... This narrative is not one which I can well preach upon; I had far rather weep over
it in secret." That woman's tears, that woman's unbraided tresses wiping the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/saving faith.htm

Go in Peace
... When those feet were wiped with the luxuriant tresses of her hair, still he did
not withdraw them; and when she ventured upon a yet closer familiarity, and not ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 48 1902/go in peace.htm

Changed Conditions
... Others allowed the tresses to fall as nature dictated, keeping them of such a length
that with very little trouble the plait might again appear, for as some ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xx changed conditions.htm

The Longbeards' Saga. AD 400
... Maidens and wives: Over your ankles Lace on the white war-hose; Over your bosoms
Link up the hard mail-nets; Over your lips Plait long tresses with cunning ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the longbeards saga a d 400.htm

The Tide Rock
... cushioned mosses sleeping. Yet, nearer drawn, beneath her purple tresses
From drooping brows we find her slowly weeping. So many ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the tide rock.htm

Ballad of Earl Haldan's Daughter
... Who saileth here so bold?'. 'The locks of five princesses I won beyond the sea;
I clipt their golden tresses, To fringe a cloak for thee. ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/ballad of earl haldans daughter.htm

That the Persecution Originated on Account of the Oracle of Apollo ...
... Hence it was that he suffered his tresses to droop in token of grief, [3199] and
mourned the evils which the loss of the oracular spirit would entail on mankind ...
/.../the life of constantine/chapter l that the persecution originated.htm

The Woman which was a Sinner
... As if surprised, or else afraid to awaken His attention, or defile Him by her tears,
she quickly [2711] wiped them away with the long tresses of her hair that ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the woman which.htm

Thesaurus
Tresses (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Tresses (1 Occurrence). ... The hair of your head like purple.
The king is held captive in its tresses. (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/tresses.htm - 6k

Hair (135 Occurrences)
... Long black tresses were the pride of the Jewish maiden and matron (Songs 7:5 John
11:2 1 Corinthians 11:5, 6, 15), but many of the expressions used in ...
/h/hair.htm - 60k

Gallery (2 Occurrences)
... meaning. In the former of these passages, "the king is held captive in the
tresses thereof," there follows a description of the head. ...
/g/gallery.htm - 11k

Tressing (1 Occurrence)

/t/tressing.htm - 6k

Trespass-offerings (2 Occurrences)
Trespass-offerings. Trespass-offering, Trespass-offerings. Tresses .
Multi-Version Concordance ... (ASV DBY). Trespass-offering, Trespass-offerings. Tresses...
/t/trespass-offerings.htm - 7k

Captivated (3 Occurrences)
... (WEB NIV). Song of Songs 7:5 Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of
thy head like purple; the king is held captive in the tresses thereof. (See NAS) ...
/c/captivated.htm - 7k

Carmel (33 Occurrences)
... Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its
tresses. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/c/carmel.htm - 25k

Purple (54 Occurrences)
... Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its
tresses. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Isaiah ...
/p/purple.htm - 28k

Captive (123 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 7:5 Your head on you is like Carmel. The hair of your head like purple.
The king is held captive in its tresses. (WEB JPS ASV RSV NIV). ...
/c/captive.htm - 43k

Resources
Tresses: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Tresses (1 Occurrence)

Song of Songs 7:5
Your head on you is like Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its tresses.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Tresses

Related Terms

Tresses (1 Occurrence)

Trial (45 Occurrences)

Trespass-offerings
Top of Page
Top of Page