In biblical times, hair held significant cultural and religious symbolism, often representing strength, beauty, and identity. The act of shaving one's head or cutting hair was frequently used as a powerful symbol of judgment, mourning, or repentance. This entry explores the instances and implications of shaving as a form of divine or societal judgment in the Bible.

1. Symbol of Mourning and Repentance

Shaving the head was a common expression of mourning and repentance in ancient Israel. In the book of Job, Job shaves his head as a sign of his deep grief and submission to God's will after losing his children and possessions: "Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped" (Job 1:20). This act demonstrated Job's acknowledgment of his suffering and his humble acceptance of God's sovereignty.

2. Prophetic Symbolism

The prophets often used symbolic actions to convey God's messages to His people. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet uses the imagery of shaving to illustrate the coming judgment upon Judah: "In 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" (Isaiah 7:20). This metaphorical shaving signified the humiliation and subjugation that Judah would experience at the hands of foreign powers.

Similarly, the prophet Ezekiel was instructed by God to shave his head and beard as a sign of the impending judgment on Jerusalem: "As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair" (Ezekiel 5:1). The divided hair represented the fate of the people—some would perish by the sword, others by famine, and a remnant would be scattered.

3. Nazarite Vow and Its Violation

The Nazarite vow, a special commitment to God, included the stipulation that the individual must not cut their hair for the duration of the vow (Numbers 6:5). The uncut hair symbolized the person's dedication and separation unto the Lord. However, if the vow was violated, the individual was required to shave their head as part of the purification process: "If someone dies suddenly in his presence and defiles his consecrated head, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day" (Numbers 6:9). This act of shaving served as a physical manifestation of the broken vow and the need for restoration.

4. Humiliation and Disgrace

Shaving was also used as a means of humiliation and disgrace. In 2 Samuel, King David's envoys were humiliated by the Ammonites, who shaved off half of each man's beard and cut their garments: "So Hanun seized David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away" (2 Samuel 10:4). This act was intended to shame and dishonor the men, reflecting the cultural significance of hair as a symbol of dignity and respect.

5. Levitical Purification

In the Levitical laws, shaving was part of the purification rituals for those who had been cleansed of leprosy or other impurities. The act of shaving signified a new beginning and a return to ritual purity: "On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean" (Leviticus 14:9). This comprehensive shaving underscored the thoroughness of the cleansing process and the restoration of the individual to the community.

Throughout the Scriptures, the act of shaving one's head or cutting hair is imbued with deep symbolic meaning, often associated with judgment, repentance, and purification. These instances reflect the broader cultural and religious significance of hair in the biblical narrative.Isaiah 7:20
In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Book 1.
... how came that unreasonable dread upon him of judgments that were not to ... and washings
with spring water, and the shaving off all their hair, and enjoins ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/book 1.htm

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