Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the act of shaving holds various cultural, religious, and symbolic meanings. Throughout the Scriptures, shaving is mentioned in relation to purification, mourning, and consecration, among other themes.
Purification and ConsecrationIn the Old Testament, shaving is often associated with purification rituals. For instance, in the Book of Leviticus, the cleansing of a leper involves shaving: "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 act symbolizes the removal of impurity and the restoration of the individual to the community.
Similarly, the Nazirite vow, a special vow of consecration to God, includes specific instructions regarding shaving.
Numbers 6:18 states, "Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite is to shave off the hair of his consecrated head, take the hair, and put it on the fire under the peace offering." The shaving of the head marks the completion of the vow and the offering of oneself wholly to God.
Mourning and HumiliationShaving is also a sign of mourning and humiliation in the Bible. In the Book of Job, Job shaves his head as an expression of his profound grief: "Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped" (
Job 1:20). This act of shaving signifies the depth of his sorrow and his submission to God's will amidst suffering.
The prophet Isaiah uses the imagery of shaving to depict humiliation and disgrace. In
Isaiah 7:20, it is written, "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 metaphor illustrates the impending judgment and shame that will befall the people.
Cultural Practices and ProhibitionsIn ancient Israel, cultural norms regarding shaving were influenced by surrounding nations. The Israelites were instructed to distinguish themselves from pagan practices.
Leviticus 19:27 commands, "You must not cut off the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." This prohibition served to set the Israelites apart from neighboring cultures that engaged in specific shaving rituals as part of idolatrous worship.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, shaving is mentioned in the context of Jewish customs and vows. In
Acts 18:18, the Apostle Paul is described as having his hair cut off because of a vow he had taken: "Paul stayed on in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken." This indicates the continuation of certain Jewish practices among early Christians.
Overall, the act of shaving in the Bible is multifaceted, symbolizing purification, consecration, mourning, and cultural identity. It reflects the broader themes of holiness, submission, and separation from worldly practices, as prescribed by God to His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp.) of Shave.
2. (p. p.) of Shave.
Greek
3587a. xurao -- to shave... to shave. Transliteration: xurao Short Definition:
shaved. Word Origin a late form
of xureo Definition to shave NASB Word Usage
shaved (1). 3587, 3587a.
...3587b. xureo -- to shave
... to shave. Transliteration: xureo Short Definition: shave. Word Origin from xuron
(a razor) Definition to shave NASB Word Usage shave (1),shaved (1)....
Strong's Hebrew
1548. galach -- to be bald, shave, shave off... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be bald, shave, shave off NASB Word Usage
cut (3), shave (9), shave off (4),
shaved (4),
shaved off (3). poll, shave off.
...1494. gazaz -- to shear
... root Definition to shear NASB Word Usage cut off (3), cut off your hair (1),shaved
(1), shear (3), shearers (3), shearing (2), sheepshearers (2), sheepshearers...
7462a. raah -- to pasture, tend, graze
... 4), graze (7), grazed (2), grazing (1), herdsmen (6), keeper (1), pasture (12),
pastured (2), pastures (2), pasturing (5), rulers (1),shaved (1), Shepherd (5...
Library
Chapter xli
... And Pharaoh sent and let Joseph be summoned and brought in haste from the prison;
and he let himself beshaved and provided with a change of garments, and he...
A Strong Man who Lost his Strength
... God from my birth. If I should beshaved, my strength would be gone, and
I would become weak like any other man.". When Delilah saw...
On Extreme Unction and Holy Orders
... is a mark of the clerical state, and in Catholic countries it is made manifest by
keeping a small circular spot on the crown of the headshaved perfectly clean...
Our Instructor's Treatment of Our Sins.
... says, through Moses: "If any one die suddenly by him, straightway the head of his
consecration shall be polluted, and shall beshaved," [1037] designating...
Persistency in Wrong Doing.
... Hanun took the servants, the ambassadors of David, andshaved off half their beards,
and cut off the lower half of all their clothes, and sent them back to...
The Death of Samson.
... THE DEATH OF SAMSON. Samson's birth was foretold by an angel. He was to grow up
a Nazarite, forbidden to drink strong drink, neither was his head to beshaved....
Councils of Basel and Florence (Ad 1431-9)
... as a hermit; but after a while, finding that it looked strange among the smooth
chins of those around him, he, of his own accord, allowed it to beshaved off....
The Somatic and the Spiritual Gospel.
... to the flesh, without, when reason shows it to be necessary, circumcising Timothy,
and when it appears the natural course getting himselfshaved and making a...
Letter Lxx. To Magnus an Orator of Rome.
... [2135] He had read in Deuteronomy the command given by the voice of the Lord that
when a captive woman had had her headshaved, her eyebrows and all her hair...
A Prisoner who Became a Mighty Ruler
... Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the dungeon; and
heshaved his face, changed his clothes, and came to Pharaoh....
Thesaurus
Shaved (23 Occurrences)... 1. (imp.) of Shave. 2. (pp) of Shave. Multi-Version Concordance
Shaved (23 Occurrences).
... He
shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow. (WEB WEY).
...Shave (19 Occurrences)
... 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; heshaved himself...
Barber
... 4b, Shab, section 6). (2) In Genesis 41:14 we probably have a case of conformity
to Egyptian, rather than Palestinian custom, where Joseph "shaved himself, and...
Razor (8 Occurrences)
... The Nazarites were forbidden to make use of the razor (Numbers 6:5; Judges 13:5).
At their consecration the Levites wereshaved all over with a razor (Numbers 8...
Buttocks (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 10:4 So Hanun took David's servants, andshaved off the one half of their
beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks...
Beards (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 10:4 So Hanun took David's servants, andshaved off the one half of their
beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks...
Hanun (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 10:4 So Hanun took David's servants, andshaved off the one half of their
beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks...
Hips (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 10:4 So Hanun took David's servants, andshaved off the one half of their
beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks...
Nazirite (10 Occurrences)
... This was entered on by the ceremonial of restoration, in the undergoing of which
the Naziriteshaved his head, presented two turtle-doves or two young pigeons...
Raiment (75 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily
out of the dungeon: and heshaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in...
Resources
Who was Hudson Taylor? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Delilah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the source of Samson's strength? | GotQuestions.orgShaved: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
