What does the Bible say about men and long hair?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that men ordinarily should maintain a distinctly masculine appearance, while recognizing that hair length may vary by culture, calling, and circumstance. In 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, Paul appeals to the customary distinction that long hair dishonors a man and honors a woman, within his larger instruction about honoring God in gathered worship. Yet Numbers 6:5 shows that a male Nazirite could let his hair grow as part of a temporary vow, and Acts 18:18 may reflect Paul’s own vow. Ezekiel 44:20 commends moderation for priests, neither shaved heads nor unchecked growth. Christians should therefore avoid confusing cultural preferences with God’s law, while pursuing modesty, clear sexual distinction, and reverence for the Lord.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 Corinthians 11:14
Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
- 1 Corinthians 11:15
But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.
- Ezekiel 44:20
Neither shall they shave their heads, nor allow their locks to grow long; they shall only cut off the hair of their heads.
- 1 Corinthians 11:14-15
[14] Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? [15] But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.
- Numbers 6:5
"All the days of his vow of separation there shall no razor come on his head, until the days are fulfilled, in which he separates himself to Yahweh. He shall be holy. He shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long.
- Deuteronomy 22:5
A woman shall not wear men's clothing, neither shall a man put on women's clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh your God.
- Acts 18:18
Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
- 2 Samuel 14:26
When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year's end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight.
- Leviticus 19:27
You shall not cut the hair on the sides of your heads, neither shall you clip off the edge of your beard.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1-34
[1] Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. [2] Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you. [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, dishonors his head. [5] But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. [6] For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. [7] For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. [8] For man is not from woman, but woman from man; [9] for neither was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. [10] For this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels. [11] Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord. [12] For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God. [13] Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled? [14] Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? [15] But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. [16] But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God's assemblies. [17] But in giving you this command, I don't praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse. [18] For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. [19] For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you. [20] When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord's supper. [21] For in your eating each one takes his own supper before others. One is hungry, and another is drunken. [22] What, don't you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God's assembly, and put them to shame who don't have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don't praise you. [23] For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. [24] When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me." [25] In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me." [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. [27] Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. [28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. [29] For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body. [30] For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. [31] For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn't be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. [33] Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait one for another. [34] But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.
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