Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HAIR

Hair and fashion have always been important. While the Egyptians shaved their heads, the Hebrews and their neighbors favored long hair and beards, as in the case of Absalom (2 Sam. 14:26) and Jehu (note his long hair and beard on the Black Obelisk). By NT times, Greek and Roman males wore short hair and were beardless, while Roman women had highly individualistic hair styles (1 Cor. 11:6). Most well-to-do women wore their hair braided or plaited (1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:3), and some wore a head covering (1 Cor. 11:6). In Rome, wigs were common among wealthy women. Caracalla’s wife, Plautilla, was represented in statue with removable hair so as to enable her to maintain the current fashion.

Perhaps the best-known biblical example concerning hair and religion is that of the Nazarite vow (Num. 6), whereby the participant swore an oath not to cut his hair (e.g., Samson, Judg. 16:13-31). While priests must never shave their heads (Ezek. 44:20), newly cleansed lepers must do so (Lev. 14:8). The color of the hair of infected skin determined whether the disease was leprosy (Lev. 13). Ceremonial cutting of the hair for the purpose of dedicating it to idols was repeatedly forbidden (Lev. 19:27; Jer. 9:26; Ezek. 5:1). Even the Apostle Paul had taken a Nazarite-type vow, which was consummated by a haircut (Acts 18:18). In both the OT and NT God was envisioned with hair “white like wool” (Dan. 7:9; Rev. 1:14).

The head and, therefore, its hair was the object of anointing with oil (Ps. 45:7[MT 8]) and mourning. In grief the hair could be pulled out (Ezra 9:3) or covered with dust and ashes. Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume using her own hair (Luke 7:38; John 11:2), thereby showing both love and hospitality.

Hair also provided an effective medium for communicating idiomatic language (e.g., Matt. 10:30 par.; Luke 21:18) as well as common metaphor or simile.

Donald Fowler

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HAIR

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)