Hair length in the Bible is simple: men, have short hair; women have uncut hair. But wait… what about Jesus? Samson had long hair. Doesn’t it say a woman should have a covering? Does that mean women have to wear a veil? It says if he be contentious we have no such custom. Doesn’t that mean it’s up to the husband?
The foundational teachings about hair come mainly from Paul’s writings to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 11:3-16 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 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. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 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. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
There are many foundational points in this passage. First, this verse establishes that the man is the head of the woman just as Jesus is the head of the man.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
This establishes that the man is the head of the house under the guidance of Jesus Christ. There are other doctrinal points here, such as God is the head of Christ. This is referring to the dual nature of Jesus, in that the Deity is the head of the humanity.
The first point concerning hair is the covering.
1 Corinthians 11:4-6 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 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.
There are several Greek words in this passage that are translated as ‘covered’.
kata {kat-ah’} Meaning: 1) down from, through out 2) according to, toward, along
katakalupto {kat-ak-al-oop’-to} Meaning: 1) to cover up 2) to veil or cover one’s self
There is also the word ‘covering’.
peribolaion {per-ib-ol’-ah-yon} Meaning: 1) a covering thrown around, a wrapper 1a) a mantle 1b) a veil
Another word to be concerned about is ‘uncovered’.
akatakaluptos {ak-at-ak-al’-oop-tos} Meaning: 1) not covered, unveiled
It is very clear in this context that the man is not to be covered and the woman is to be covered. It is a dishonor for a man to be covered and for a woman to not be covered. For the woman to be dishonored is a shame and it is the same thing as if her hair were shaved off.
The word for dishonor is kataischuno.
kataischuno {kat-ahee-skhoo’-no} Meaning: 1) to dishonour, disgrace 2) to put to shame, make ashamed 2a) to be ashamed, blush with shame 2b) one is said to be put to shame who suffers a repulse, or whom some hope has deceived
The Greek word for shaven is xurao.
xurao {xoo-rah’-o} Meaning: 1) to shear, shave 2) to get one’s self shaved
If her hair is not covered it is the same as if she were shorn.
The Greek word for shorn is keiro.
keiro {ki’-ro} Meaning: 1) to sheer: a sheep 2) to get or let be shorn 3) of shearing or cutting short the hair of the head
To be shorn or to shear is to cut or remove any amount. The amount is irrelevant; it’s the fact that it’s cut that is a shame. If any amount is removed it is the same thing as if it were completely shaved. The woman’s hair is to be uncut- which means the woman’s head is to be covered.
It is a shame for a man to have long hair. Even nature itself teaches us this.
1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
Men are not to have long hair.
Samuel and Samson had long hair. They had taken the Nazarite’s vow.
1 Samuel 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
Judges 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
The Nazarite’s vow included uncut hair to show the shame of Israel.
Judges 13:7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
Jesus did not have long hair. We see movies and paintings of Jesus and his disciples with long hair, but we do not see this from scripture. Jesus was not a Nazarite; he was a Nazarene, which simply means he lived in Nazareth. Jesus did not take the Nazarite’s vow.
What is the covering? Is this a veil?
1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
From this verse it is clear that the covering is not a veil or something that the woman must wear on her head. Her hair is her covering.
We have no such custom.
1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
This verse is often misunderstood. It is often understood to mean that it’s up to the husband. Let’s look at this verse in a few other translations.
1 Corinthians 11:16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches. NLT
1 Corinthians 11:16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. NAS
1 Corinthians 11:16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice– nor do the churches of God. NIV
1 Corinthians 11:16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God. ESV
What this verse is telling us is that there are no other choices. This is the way it is, no matter how much you want to argue against this teaching.
There are many cases in scripture where women having their hair cut was considered a disgrace.
Isaiah 3:24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
Jeremiah 7:29 Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.
It was common in the New Testament for women to have long hair.
Luke 7:37-38 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment
John 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Hair has to be long in order to be braided and plaited.
1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
There had to be a distinction between men and women’s hair in order to describe demons in the end-time as having hair like women.
Revelation 9:8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
There are many arguments against the teaching that women should have uncut hair and men should have short hair. Most of these arguments come from misunderstandings of scripture, such as Samson, or misunderstandings of true historical accounts, such as the fact that Jesus did not actually have long hair. It is God’s desire that there be a clear distinction between the male and the female. This distinction includes roles and actions. This distinction also includes appearance which includes clothing and hair. It is irrelevant what society has established as acceptable. All that matters is what God’s Word says. It is clear from scripture that Men are to have short hair and Women are to have uncut hair. There is no other custom than this.
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“keiro {ki’-ro} Meaning: 1) to sheer: a sheep 2) to get or let be shorn 3) of shearing or cutting short the hair of the head
To be shorn or to shear is to cut or remove any amount. The amount is irrelevant; it’s the fact that it’s cut that is a shame. If any amount is removed it is the same thing as if it were completely shaved. The woman’s hair is to be uncut- which means the woman’s head is to be covered.”
But the “meaning” clearly says, “cutting short the hair..” — short… not “any amount”. If you shear a sheep… doesn’t it go all the way up to it’s skin, leaving only stubble or peach skin like hair (not to mention that “shaving” anything means to remove ALL hair all the way up to the scalp/skin with a razor)? If you “shorn” your head, in the definition you copied down it says, “to sheer: a sheep”. Tell me how many farmers trim their sheep or cut only a little bit of their wool or who would say that sheep has been shorn when only a bit of wool has been cut? The author of 1 Cor knew this. It’s why he used it for his explanation. Not to even go into the women being used to the CUSTOM of sacrificing their hair to these previous gods and not realizing that the one true God did not require any such CUSTOMS. He’s trying to tell them their hair is theirs! They don’t need a veil, they need their natural covering of long hair that God gave them. Their glory! Keep it!
And if it also means “uncut” then men COULD grow their hair out and just trim it now and again to maintain their “shortness” and not be ashamed of it. But that’s not what we teach, is it? That’s a double standard and contradictory to what the author of 1 Cor is trying to teach.
I absolutely believe that woman should have LONG hair and men should have SHORT hair, that is extremely clear… but I do not believe that it means “uncut” hair. It simply doesn’t say it. Even in the definitions that you looked up.. it didn’t say what you said. There are several Apostolic/Pentecostal ministers who would agree.
The article from this link is the best I’ve read about a ministers stand point on women’s hair and the most logical. I also agree with the writer saying that a church/elders has the right to say what goes and what doesn’t — but to say that their standard is biblical when it isn’t.. is a completely different story.
http://www.spiritualabuse.org/issues/standards/hair/jim_yohe.html – an article by Jim Yohe, a UPC minister
I honestly hope that my response does not offend or cause any affliction to rise. I only want to show a voice of reason within this hair debate. Simply, I believe in being humble when wrong and excited to know the truth. I was raised UPC and am still attending an awesome church in the UPCI (Bishop Stan Gleason, KCMO).
I just have a question and am so hoping this can be answered.
I have been “in church” as they say for close to 2.5 years now. It is the best decision I have ever made and feel so blessed.
With that being said, I only have one confusion/issue. Hair, of course.
I do not want to cut my hair, I feel a strong urge not to, but I also feel a strong urge to just cut it simply because of the damage it’s endured. It still has the hair dye in it from 3 years ago, and that is the part that is most damaging to my hair. It’s dead a broken at the ends and that is rising up to the healthy grown hair. I love my hair but feel uncomfortable with the way it looks with the breakage just going. I do everything to treat my hair like I should to make it healthy but my past still creeps up on it.
If I had known what I know now I never would’ve touched my hair, it would be uncut and natural.
But, it’s been through damage and I can’t take that back. I research and look up everything. . but all the research says. . the only way to get rid of breakage and damage is to cut it off.
The damage I have now makes me so self-concious.
All I want to do it cut the dyed and dried part off to be left with the healthy hair. Once the dyed part is gone the majority of the breakage will cease, seeing as i will only have the healthy new hair.
I am so sorry for the length, I’m just so confused. Like i said I don’t want to cut my hair, but i want healthy beautiful hair and at this time nothing else but cutting will help.
Your opinion would be greatly appreciated! Please.
I know my hair is my glory and my power and i love it. I just feel weighed down by the damage.
:/
thank you for your time!
-Worried about hair
Worried About Hair,
Hi. Thanks for stopping by. It’s great that you’ve been in Church for 2.5 years! Don’t get discouraged; you’re already doing what you should be doing by taking care of your hair. Your hair grows from the roots, not the ends. All cutting the ends of will do in most cases is make breakage less noticeable. Don’t cut your hair. Your hair is uncut, and that’s what’s important. It will eventually grow out and in the mean-time you’re doing what God wants you to do. It doesn’t matter what others think when you’re in the will of God. My wife is in a similar situation. Her hair is uneven because it has broken off on one side. She feels bad because it looks so uneven, but all that matters is what God thinks. Some breakage is natural and she realizes that. She will not cut it to make it even because what God wants is more important that what others think. You’re doing God’s will by obeying Him no matter what. Also, you’re taking care of your hair, and that’s the best thing you can do.
Randy
Thank you :]
One more thing, :/
My parents are not in church and my mom doesn’t understand completely (no matter how much i explain) the no cutting of the hair. So, she insists that I cut it, well. . trim it. . she doesn’t mind if it’s long BUT she wants it to stay trimmed at the ends.
The bible says Honor thy father and thy mother. .
in this case would it be better to stay firm with my beliefs OR obey my mother. . :/
Sorry again for bugging you.
But I greatly appreciate your answers and wisdom!
-Worried about hair
Hi. You’re not bugging me at all (answering (or at least attempting to answer) questions is part of why I felt led to start this site). I’m sorry that I’m taking so long to answer you (been working late these past few weeks). I appreciate your patience.
Ex 20:12 does say to honor your father and mother, but it is better to obey God than man:
Act 5:29 KJV Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
It is very commendable that you are taking it to heart that you should honor your father and mother. I applaud you for that. I would like to see more people that are concerned about God’s law’s about how we should obey our parents and them that have rule over us. I would also like to see more people that are concerned with obeying God. We are to obey our parents, but not at the expense of obeying God. We should always put God first, no matter what others think. We should never compromise our beliefs when others don’t understand. They will see in us that we’re obeying a higher law, and that might give us a chance to win them to God. We are the only Bible that some will ever read. God always comes first, even over our parents.
Randy
I appreciate your answers and your time SO much. :)
thank you :)
hi,i want to ask do you think as christians its ok for us to go in the church without a hat on our head,cause my interpretation of covering is having something to cover your head.
Jbarbie,
Thanks for your question. You are correct in your interpretation that the covering is something covering the head. According to the context, the covering is hair:
1Co 11:15 KJV …for her hair is given her for a covering.
As far as hats in Church, Scripture doesn’t require it, but I would leave it up to the Pastor of the Church to decide whether to allow them in Church or not. Some do, some do not.
Thanks,
Randy
Paul was not against longhaired men, he meant that everybody can have it long [men and women], since it is a self choice, but never to pagan gods. By the time he spoke that, the jews were in a worst political condition, so their hairs were cut shorter – but Jesus weren’t -, so, He was longhaired, as any prophet of the Old Testament whose daily life was free from sins. If Paul advertised men and women about their hair, it was to differ from their Apostasy or simply to keep away from greek/roman religious traditions using hairs for Bacco, for instance. It is clear in the whose Bible, despite many lost verses through the ages, that the more human hairs are long, the closer he/she is to God. Slaves had their hair shorn, while the employees are required to use it short too. Alienation and mistaken concepts spread through decades, have been responsible for wrong ideas, found elsewhere, specially in christian churches and in enterprises – coincidently their tenets are closer to slaveness.
Sampson had seven locks of hair which most say Represented the seven spirits of God which rested upon Jesus in Isaiah 11.v2-It appears Sampson broke other rules of Nazerite vow-but as long as he had the (consecration on his head) as stated by the Lord to Moses concerning the instruction of the Nazerite vow”Their concreation is on their head” the Spirit of the Lord would
still come upon Sampson.As soon as the Hair was cut-you know the rest of the story-So if a women wants to lose her power in the Spirit -have her to- cut -shave- trim her hair. What do you think would have happened to Sampson if he had trimmed the dead ends from his hair? Jesus is the head of the man”consecration on his head”Jesus is everywhere-wherever man goes he has Christ.Head of the women is the man-man cannot be with woman everywhere she goes-she needs power on her head (symbol of authority that Jesus has placed on her life-please read what the seven spirits of God is In Isaiah 11.v2)because of the Angels-Jesus overcame Satan’s temptations(which is a fallen arc angel)the woman was alone in the garden and listened to the serpant Satan-we see then how a women can be influnced by An angel-she needs Power on her head(some extra help) Obey the word of the Lord and-if you are a woman-don’t cut your hair.
coconut oil-
Here is what i have found. Jesus was a Nazarene not nazarite otherwise he couldn’t have healed the dead , drank wine , or be disguised amoung other men. So he must have had short hair and since Jesus is the ultimate example he had short hair for men. … however i do believe that women are supposed to have long hair. even in psalms david speaks of God crowning glory to humans.
anyways if you feel bad about your hair as i did all dyed and layered and junk before i came to Christ try this. Coconut oil it kills bad yeast in ur hair aka dandruff , softens and conditions under the shaft making your hair really healthy no need for trimming. If you have a question about you hair more than likely its conviction telling you not too. Think about this- the devil was cast out and he lost his glory , everytime a female has a crisis ( maybe just me n my gals) we have an urge to cut dye do up w.e to our hair. If the coconut doesn’t work – oregano oil (health food stores) does its pricey (20$) but u only use 5 drops and add it to ur coconut oil treatment set an hr wash it out twice a week. it does mend split ends without chemicals and who knows what. I tried henna but it dyes – henna lawsonia 100% it did control and help my hair but makes it mermaid red for a while. I didnt like changing the color so i went coconut oil. doctors will tell you there is no cure for dandruff ,wrong, with prayer anything has a cure. the oil takes a few treatments and you can even buy it at walmart, Krogers w.e it looks like shortening. get 100% coconut oil its like 5 bucks and works wonders- jsut a pain to wash out but its worth it.
btw -my parents don’t follow any thing in the Bible and never did nor go to church , I do what God tells me too in my heart and pray for them
Hope people read this its a big time saver espcially with you hair and don’t forget to pray for your hair!
Also wanted to point out that your hair is a precursor to your body if you have an intolernce to food like lactose wheat can be anything your body craves from chocolate to tomatoes- that you need to stop eating it before you hair can get better and take your vitamins as well. what you do is take 3 days don’t eat anyhting but fresh veggies and fruits. If your skin and hair and glow get better then slowly add w.e else ur wanting back in for 3 days but not all . ex eat fresh fruits veggies- days add milk if still fine 3 days add bread etc etc. then when u find the problem simply don’t eat it. this took a long time to find the research on it. my hair was falling out in clumps split ends looked like the bad hair commericals – i changed my diet and everything got better.. how did i find this information out i prayed about it for months then God spoke and said take your vitamins. from there i found the causes. I read online many days tried it and it worked . For me its yeast and milk. btw food allergies and food intolerences are different and a doctor test won’t show intolerences. You can also take probiotics aka acidolphilus vitamins found in walmart or groceries. These help your intestines digest your intolerences. and eat plenty yogurt.
homemade hairspray – cornstarch n water
homemade black head exfoliater- epsom salt n water make a paste
stay away from chemical shampoo and massage your scalp deep when you wash to improve circulation
I did all of these and took my hair from thin and falling out and grey ( at 23) to brown healthy long shiny and thick again.
Hope this helps God bless
I think that this issue has been over taught and over worried about. I Corinthians says it’s a shame, not a sin. Y’all let it go please-it’s nearly 2000 years later. Paul even reffered to it as a custom. This really is a “hair splitting” issue. There are so many other things in the bible yet, this almost seems to be a main doctrine. Jesus name baptism,( actually nowhere in the bible does it say to baptize ” in Jesus name”, it says- “in the name of Jesus Christ” )2:38 of Acts. I could make that arguement over reading it “exactly” yet every apostolic says that they were baptized ” in Jesus’ name.” Ok, we believe to baptize according to Acts 2:38, we believe in the oneness of God, and some believe the hair thing. There’s gotta be more to study than that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just sayin’
This is still an important issue. 1. New converts need this foundational teaching. 2. If it is not preached it is forgotten or put by the way side. God said he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Neither he nor his ways ever change. I am so thankful for a site giving information on this subject. I am tired of giving the “This is just what I beleive spill” This has been very helpful in giving me a true biblical definition when witnessing to nonbelievers:)
I wanna say Thank You on this study! It is a blessing to me. I pray that the lady that was wondering to cut dead ends or not didnt cut. I also had dyed hair..but my hair has grown out and you really cant tell anymore …
Please dont give up! Jesus IS coming very soon! Hold ON!
Love in Christ and Blessings in Jesus Name!
Randy, I did not have too much problem with your post until you wrote this paragraph:
“To be shorn or to shear is to cut or remove any amount. The amount is irrelevant; it’s the fact that it’s cut that is a shame. If any amount is removed it is the same thing as if it were completely shaved. The woman’s hair is to be uncut- which means the woman’s head is to be covered.”
This is one of those areas that causes great division in the church needlessly, and it saddens me greatly. I see so much misunderstanding in this area, with even well known, men of God handling the Word of God dishonestly. I will try my best not add to the division, but will only ask you to look at some very simple, fundamental facts where I believe much truth can be gleaned.
Primarily this all stems from one man, the Apostle Paul, and his letter to the Church at Corinth. There is so much division regarding many aspects of this subject, just within the Apostolic Pentecostal Church alone. When honestly reviewed one would have to say that most do not know with any great certainty every aspect of what Paul meant when he talked about power, the angels, coverings, etc., etc. Given this fact alone one should perhaps simply go with their own personal convictions. Perhaps they should simply adhere to what is being taught in there local assembly. But regardless of this, we need stop being legalistic about it, condemning everyone else to hell that does not see it their way.
There is however, one aspect that can be made clear for those that have an ear to hear. In his letter to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:6, Paul uses the two words, shorn andshaven as if there were the same or similar things, and indeed they are. Shaven or to shave is to cut off all of the hair, wool, or fur with the use of a razor or razor-like instrument. Shorn or to sheer is the removal of all hair, wool or fur with the use of shears. Both refer to the removal of all hair, wool or fur.
There are only three (3) verses in the entire Bible that use the word shorn. The Song of Solomon 4:2 is referring to how sheep are shorn with the removal of all wool with shears. Acts 18:18 uses the word shorn referring to when Paul had shorn his head because of his vow. I think it’s safe to say that he removed all of his hair with shears, and didn’t just cut off his split ends. The last place it is used in 1 Corinthians 11:6 where it talks about it being a shame for women to be shorn or shaven.
The word cut is used three hundred and eight (308) times in the Bible. I think its safe to say with great certainty that if Paul meant that it was a shame for women to cut their hair in any way, he would have said “cut”.
The bottom line is this; I think it is wonderful that some women do not cut their hair. I think it’s wonderful and right for women to have long hair, and men to have short hair. However, I think for men or women of God to put it upon others as if it were sin if they so much as trim split ends, or desire to keep it a little more manageable, but still long. This is a grievous error and has done much harm in the Church, even to the point of causing some not to come into the Church due to such legalism.
Further, I heard it said by a very well known evangelist that the word “long” means “uncut” in the Greek. They went on saying that they studied it out, using the names of other Greek scholars and men of God to make their point. This in my opinion is a deceitful handling of the Word of God. The Greek word used in 1 Corinthians 1:11:15 iskomao (kom-ah’-o) which simply means to “have long hair”. God preserved His Word very well my friends. Beware of men trying to twist it or handle the Word of God deceitfully to prove out their own doctrines. There can be false teaching from without or within the Church.
Don’t take my word for it, or anyone’s. Search it out for yourself. Regardless of where you end up, go according to your own personal convictions as you understand the Word of God, or perhaps as your local assembly teaches, but please stop pushing your convictions on others and condemning others if they do not see it your way.
Lastly, I have seen a growing false doctrine in the church that women have some power or even healing power in their long hair. Who has bewitched you? Saints, we have no power in the flesh or any part of it, neither men or women. Any and all power that we may have comes from the Holy Spirit through the name of Jesus and not of ourselves.
The Greek word used here in 1 Corinthians 11:10 is exousia (ex-oo-see’-ah) The definition of this word is related to authority and not to physical or spiritual power to heal, or anything else. Any claims or examples of any such healing are due to prayer, faith, the power of the Holy Ghost and calling on the name of Jesus, and not because of works such as growing ones hair long.