Jesus told His disciples, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30). As the Creator of human beings (and human hair), God takes great interest in how we care for His creation. We frequently receive questions from men and women on this subject.
Some churches require women to wear coverings in their services. They claim 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 as scriptural proof, especially verse 6, which says, “For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.”
Some religions use the same scripture to support their teaching that women should never cut their hair. Others teach that Paul was referring to veils, and that he admonished women to wear them because it was the custom of their day.
Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible states, “In ancient times, the veil was adopted only in exceptional cases, either as an article of ornamental dress … or by betrothed maidens in the presence of their husbands, especially at the time of the wedding … or by women of loose character for purposes of concealment (Genesis 38:14). But generally speaking, women both married and unmarried appeared in public with their faces exposed, both among the Jews … and among the Egyptians and Assyrians, as proved by the invariable absence of the veil in the sculpture and paintings of these people.”
Those who believe Paul was speaking about veils point out that wearing them is no longer a common custom; therefore 1 Corinthians 11:6 does not apply to Christians today.
But the Bible has more to say on this matter. And it reveals that Paul was not speaking of veils at all!
A Woman’s Glory
Paul was teaching a lesson in God’s family government—that the man’s role is the head of the woman. Additionally, he emphasized that it is wrong for men to cover their head during religious services and prayer. His point was the importance of subjection to God’s authority (1 Corinthians 11:4-5).
“But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering” Paul wrote (verse 15). Notice that he calls the long hair of a woman her “covering.” The Greek word for covering in this verse means veil. Paul was referring to a woman’s long hair as her veil; he was not referring to a literal veil, hat or piece of cloth.
Some read this verse and believe that they must not cut their hair at all. We have to beware of reading into Scripture that which is not there. Hair that glorifies God is not hair that is never cut, but hair that is cut long enough to be a covering.
A wife who chooses to wear her hair long as a covering declares that she willingly subjects herself to the government of God administered by her husband. She also shows that she desires the special protection of God from His holy angels (verse 10).
Feminine hair that is long enough to glorify a woman’s Creator is cut and styled in an appropriate and honorable fashion—long enough to cover the neck (which can be shorter than shoulder length). Some prefer their hair to be longer.
The Bible says that any woman who cuts and styles her hair to be so short as to look like a man’s might as well be shorn (shaved) to symbolize a fallen woman. God views a woman cutting her hair short as a sign of open rebellion toward her Creator (verse 6).
Cutting one’s hair is not the same as shearing or shaving it. In the Bible, God does not forbid a woman from cutting her hair to a feminine length. A woman cutting her hair to a feminine, long length is covering herself in a way that glorifies her and her Creator.
Historical Facts
When it comes to hair length, the Bible clearly distinguishes between women, who should wear their hair long, and men. Paul writes plainly, “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” (1 Corinthians 11:14). All major Bible translations agree on the intent of this verse.
God intended (and commanded) men to keep their hair much shorter than women. From the beginning of creation, when He made human beings male and female; this difference in hair length has accentuated and distinguished man from woman.
Short hair was the dominant, accepted mode for men in the time of Christ. Countless statues of Romans and Greeks from Christ’s time prove this, as do illustrations in history books.
The Jewish Talmud states that all priests should have their hair cut once every 30 days. They are aware of the admonition in Ezekiel 44:20: “Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long ….”
The only exception for long hair for men was during Old Testament times when a man took a Nazarite vow. This represented subjection to God for a specific time (Numbers 6:5). A man did this as an act of humiliation. Scripture specified that once the time of his vow had expired, he should immediately shave his head (verse 18).
Some claim Christ was under a Nazarite vow and depict Him with long hair in images. He did come from Nazareth, making Him a Nazarene, but He was not under a Nazarite vow. He drank wine (Matthew 11:19) and touched a dead body (Matthew 9:25), both of which are forbidden under that vow (Numbers 6:3, 6).
The Bible does not emphasize Jesus Christ’s appearance as a human being and gives no exact description.
The main thing to notice regarding hair length is that our perfect example, Jesus Christ, looked like any other normal Jew of His day. At various times, He passed through crowds undetected (Luke 4:30; John 8:59; 10:39). Judas Iscariot had to employ a signal to identify Him when he betrayed Him. If Christ had long hair, He would have stood out in any crowd.
Jesus was healthy, strong, athletic, skilled in carpentry and construction, and comfortable in the outdoors. He was the epitome of true masculinity. His physical strength combined with spiritual strength of character and contact with His Father. And He cut his hair in the way that His Father and He had designed men to cut their hair: short.
Let’s be sure that the outward appearance of our hair reflects the inner glory of God’s character being developed within.
FAQs
The significance of hair is woven throughout the Old and New testaments. In ancient Israel, hair signified important features of identity with respect to gender, ethnicity and holiness, said Susan Niditch, author of, “My brother Esau is a Hairy Man: Hair and Identity in Ancient Israel.”
What does God say about hair loss? ›
Best passage of the day: Leviticus interrupts these dire leprous warnings to reassure men that, yes, it's OK to be bald. “If a man loses the hair of his head and becomes bald, he is pure.” And it gets better! God also approves of male-pattern baldness.
Can I pray for my hair to grow? ›
A Short Prayer for Hair Growth
God, I don't want to lose all my hair. It's already thinning out and I'm exploring products to help thicken what I've got. I know it might seem vain, but I pray to you to enable my scalp to grow hair and not lose anymore hair from my head. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Does the Bible say uncut hair? ›
Paul's expectation was that women would have uncut hair that grows however long nature has determined, and that men would have cut hair that did not 'cover' their heads and thus is distinctly masculine.”
What does hair represent spiritually? ›
Hair symbolizes physical strength and virility; the virtues and properties of a person are said to be concentrated in his hair and nails. It is a symbol of instinct, of female seduction and physical attraction.
Why hair is offered to God? ›
Offering your hair to the god is a symbolic gesture of surrendering one's ego, and a way of giving thanks for your blessings.” The hair is transported in fiber sacks by truck to Bangalore.
Which God gets power from hair? ›
Samson was a legendary Israelite warrior and judge, a member of the tribe of Dan, and a Nazirite. His immense physical strength, which he used for 20 years against the Philistines, derived from his uncut hair.
Who in the Bible could not cut their hair? ›
Samson's true love and downfall, Delilah, was sent by the Philistines to destroy him. With his heart on the line, Samson lost his hair and strength.
What does the Bible say about a woman with bald head? ›
In 1 Corinthians 11:3-15, Paul writes that if a woman is to be so immodest as to wear her hair uncovered while praying or prophesying in a Christian assembly she might as well shave her head. Paul instructs the Corinthians that it is “one and the same” for a woman to have her head shaved and for her to unveil her hair.
What is the secret to growing your hair? ›
Those high in protein, the building blocks of hair, including meats and other sources. "Try increasing your protein intake with foods like fish, beans, nuts and whole grains," she recommends. Even if you're not a meat lover, you should still aim to maintain a diet high in protein for hair growth.
Shiva Mantra for Hair Growth:
Regular chanting of Shiva mantra attracts success and prosperity in all walks of life.
What Christians don't cut their hair? ›
A: Apostolic Pentecostals are the strictest of all the Pentecostal groups, according to Synan. Like most Pentecostals, they do not use alcohol or tobacco. They generally don't watch TV or movies either. Women who are Apostolic Pentecostals also wear long dresses, and they don't cut their hair or wear makeup.
What religion says not to cut your hair? ›
What religions prevent you from cutting your hair? Religions such as Orthodox Judaism, Rastafarianism, and Sikhism all prohibit haircuts, the removal of facial hair, or a combination of the two due to beliefs that hair is sacred or a gift from God.
Why do Christians not cover their hair? ›
Paul informs them not to do so. Specific to Corinth's culture, it would send the wrong message: To cover your head would be seen as a sign of upsetting God's created, established order. Again, God had established that order and grounded it in the nature of the Godhead (see 1 Cor. 11:3, cited above).
Did Jesus have long hair? ›
So Jesus, as a philosopher with the "natural" look, might well have had a short beard, like the men depicted on Judaea Capta coinage, but his hair was probably not very long.
What is the power of hair? ›
"Your hair is a natural extension of your nervous system." Our hair forms small antennas that gather and channel greater quantities of subtle, cosmic energy that balances the entire electromagnetic field of our body. These antennas absorb solar energy during the day and lunar energy at night.
What happens if I stop cutting my hair? ›
Basically, if you don't have a trim, your split ends will run riot and likely split further up the shaft eventually snapping and making your hair short, which stops it from growing long. This way, your hair can continue to grow healthily from your roots, but the ends won't fray and snap shorter.
Who did God pull up by his hair? ›
And it hurt. The point is, when God grabbed Ezekiel's hair, he also grabbed his attention. And in grabbing his attention, God grabbed his imagination. “Wake up, Ezekiel.
What God has black hair? ›
APOLLO: God of the sun, the light, music and prophecy
Apollo was a very interesting God. He was extremely handsome with long, black hair and an athletic body. He looked younger than his years.
What does long hair mean in Christianity? ›
Some evangelical Christian women rely on a long sheath of hair to cover their heads in humility, and the Amish believe that the Bible instructs women to grow their hair long and married men to let their beards grow as a way of rising above secular fashion.
Biblical accounts of hair loss
One of the more notorious stories is in Kings 2:23, where the prophet Elisha is taunted by some young men because of his bald head. Elisha puts a curse on the youths, causing two bears to appear, and maul them.
Is it good to cut your hair? ›
By removing damaged hairs, haircuts promote healthy hair growth and stops the spread of split ends through the strands. This allows long-term hair health with less need for expensive products or conditioners. It is recommended to trim hair once every four months to maintain perfect hair health.
Who was the hairiest person in the Bible? ›
Esau, a "man of the field", became a hunter who had "rough" qualities that distinguished him from his twin brother. Among these qualities were his redness and noticeable hairiness.
At what age should a woman cut her long hair? ›
As recently reported in The Daily Mail, according to a poll of 2,000 women over 40, when a lady reaches the age of 46, she must chop off her long locks in favour of a more mature, age-appropriate 'do. She must also stop wearing ponytails, ditch the extensions, and put an end to heavy bleaching and visible regrowth.
Is it a sin to pray with a hat on? ›
1 Corinthians 11: 2-16 (NKJV)
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
Should a woman cover her hair Bible verse? ›
If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
What does shaving your head mean spiritually? ›
Conceptually, the ceremony is about rebirth into a new, stronger spiritual self and the head-shaving is part of the symbolic birth. The traditional process of this ritual means one cannot look at themselves in a mirror for [three] months.
Can God hear my prayer in my mind? ›
Through the scriptures, we are taught that God will always hear our prayers and will answer them if we address Him with faith and real intent. In our hearts we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a feeling of peace and calm.
What pushes hair to grow? ›
Blood from the blood vessels in the scalp nourish the root, which creates more cells and encourages the hair to grow. As the hair is pushed up through the skin as it grows, it passes an oil gland, along the way.
How often should you wash your hair? ›
When to wash. Rossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you've had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said.
Remedies to thicken hair
- Eggs. Eggs are rich in protein, which is essential for strong, thick hair. ...
- Olive oil. Olive oil is rich in omega-3 acids and other nutrients that are essential for overall health, including hair health. ...
- Proper nutrition.
- Orange puree. ...
- Aloe gel or oil. ...
- Avocado. ...
- Castor oil. ...
- Coconut oil.
Aphrodite and the Gods of Love: Goddess of Love and Beauty (Getty Villa Exhibitions)
In what religion is long hair important? ›
In the Sikh religion, long hair is mandatory due to its spiritual component. In China, hair represents class, ethnicity, status and even political alignment. Until very recently within Chinese society, hair was not an outlet for personal style but a symbol of conformity and unity within a cohesively structured society.
Which chakra is related to hair? ›
The crown chakra is the only chakra outside of the physical body and for those of us with gravity-defying locks, it is shielded within our hair.
Is it a sin to cover your hair? ›
To be covered he then only forbids, when a man is praying; but the wearing of long hair he discourages at all times. John Chrysostom held that to be disobedient to the Christian teaching on veiling was harmful and sinful: "… the business of whether to cover one's head was legislated by nature (see 1 Cor 11:14–15).
What religion grows hair? ›
In Sikhism, kesh (sometimes kes) (Gurmukhi: ਕੇਸ) is the practice of allowing one's hair to grow naturally out of respect for the perfection of God's creation. The practice is one of The Five Kakaars, the outward symbols ordered by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as a means to profess the Sikh faith.
What religion doesn't shave your legs? ›
Sikhs. The Sikh religion forbids cutting or shaving any bodily hair. Orthodox Sikhs always carry a dagger with them, lest someone try to force them to do something against their religion.
Is hair important in the Bible? ›
The significance of hair is woven throughout the Old and New testaments. In ancient Israel, hair signified important features of identity with respect to gender, ethnicity and holiness, said Susan Niditch, author of, “My brother Esau is a Hairy Man: Hair and Identity in Ancient Israel.”
What does the Bible say about every hair on your head? ›
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:26–31 NIV).
What is the biblical story about hair? ›
Samson is betrayed by his lover Delilah, who, sent by the Philistines officials to entice him, orders a servant to cut his hair while he is sleeping and turns him over to his Philistine enemies, who gouge out his eyes and force him to grind grain in a mill at Gaza. While there, his hair begins to grow again.
If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
What is the biblical story about the man with hair? ›
Who was Samson? Samson was a legendary Israelite warrior and judge, a member of the tribe of Dan, and a Nazirite. His immense physical strength, which he used for 20 years against the Philistines, derived from his uncut hair.
What is the spiritual meaning of long hair? ›
In the Rastafarian faith, long locs are meant to mirror the mane of their leader — the lion — as physical proof of their devotion. For Hindus and Buddhists, long hair can represent beauty and (perhaps dangerous) sexuality — and cutting or shaving it off is surrendering worldly gifts to fully concentrate on the eternal.
What does the Bible say about a woman's hair KJV? ›
[14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? [15] But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Who had heavy hair in the Bible? ›
His name is Absalom, one of David's sons. Absalom had so much hair that when he cut it each year it was said to weigh between 4-5 pounds! (2 Sam. 14:26 ).
What does the Bible say about a woman shaving her head? ›
In 1 Corinthians 11:3-15, Paul writes that if a woman is to be so immodest as to wear her hair uncovered while praying or prophesying in a Christian assembly she might as well shave her head. Paul instructs the Corinthians that it is “one and the same” for a woman to have her head shaved and for her to unveil her hair.
What verse says God knows every hair? ›
Matthew 10:30-31 In-Context
30 God even knows how many hairs are on your head. 31 So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. 32 "All those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they belong to me.
Where in the Bible does it say my hair is my crown? ›
Proverbs 16:31 In-Context
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is found on the path of righteousness.
Why did Christians cover their hair? ›
Genesis 24:65 records the veil as a feminine emblem of modesty. The wearing of headcoverings in public by Christian women was commanded in early Christian texts, such as the Didascalia Apostolorum and the Pædagogus, for the purpose of modesty.
Why did Jesus have long hair? ›
Early Christians might have favored the long-haired Jesus because they identified that hairstyle with water gods. There have also been suggestions that early portraitists confused Jesus of Nazareth with the religious order of the Nazirites, who vowed not to cut their hair.
If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man."
What religion does not cut hair? ›
What religions prevent you from cutting your hair? Religions such as Orthodox Judaism, Rastafarianism, and Sikhism all prohibit haircuts, the removal of facial hair, or a combination of the two due to beliefs that hair is sacred or a gift from God.
