In biblical times, the role of a barber was both practical and symbolic, serving various functions within the cultural and religious life of the Israelites. The practice of cutting hair is mentioned in several contexts throughout the Scriptures, reflecting its significance in ancient society.

Cultural and Religious Significance

The act of cutting hair was often associated with ritual purity and personal vows. In Numbers 6:5, the Nazirite vow is described, where an individual would abstain from cutting their hair as a sign of dedication to God: "All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall pass over his head. He must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long" . This vow was a voluntary act of devotion, and the uncut hair symbolized the person's consecration.

Conversely, the completion of a Nazirite vow involved shaving the head, as seen in Numbers 6:18: "Then the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, take the hair from his head, and put it on the fire under the peace offering" . This act marked the end of the vow and the individual's return to ordinary life.

Barbers in Society

Barbers in ancient Israel likely held a respected position, as they were responsible for maintaining the appearance and ritual purity of individuals. The prophet Ezekiel was instructed to use a barber's razor as a symbol of judgment against Jerusalem: "And you, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair" (Ezekiel 5:1). This imagery underscores the barber's tools as instruments of transformation and judgment.

Symbolism and Metaphor

Hair and its cutting also served as powerful metaphors in biblical literature. The account of Samson in Judges 16 illustrates the strength associated with uncut hair and the vulnerability that comes with its removal. Samson's hair was the source of his strength, and when Delilah had it cut, he lost his power: "She called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him" (Judges 16:19).

Conclusion

The role of barbers in biblical times extended beyond mere grooming; it was intertwined with religious practices, societal norms, and symbolic acts. The cutting of hair could signify a range of meanings, from personal devotion and ritual purity to divine judgment and personal transformation.1532. gallab -- a barber
... 1531, 1532. gallab. 1533 . a barber. Transliteration: gallab Phonetic
Spelling: (gal-lawb') Short Definition: barber's. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1532.htm - 5k

A Story of a Barber's Payments, Introduced for the Sake of ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XIII. A story of a barber's payments,
introduced for the sake of recognizing the devil's illusions. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xiii a story of.htm

Shapeless Matter an Incongruous Origin for God's Beautiful Cosmos ...
... Nobody ever found himself in a barber's looking-glass look like an ass [6558] instead
of a man; unless it be he who supposes that unformed and shapeless Matter ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xl shapeless matter an incongruous.htm

Lydda
... at the feast of dedication: but being not enough satisfied concerning the fast at
that time enjoined, one went to the bath,"the other, to the barber's shop. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 16 lydda.htm

"Show Me Thy Glory!"
... Something went wrong with the girl. They called in the barber's wife"the only woman's
doctor known in these parts. She did her business ignorantly. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxxii show me thy.htm

In the Homes of the People
... An outside friend tells that once entering a barber's shop he found the topic of
conversation to be The Salvation Army, which was coming in for a drubbing. ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/ix in the homes of.htm

With the Rev. William Burns
... As we came home we passed a barber's shop still open, and I went in, and while getting
my head shaved had an opportunity of speaking to a few people, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter xi with the rev.htm

The Conferences of John Cassian
... idleness. Chapter XIII. A story of a barber's payments, introduced for the
sake of recognizing the devil's illusions. Chapter XIV. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cassian/the conferences of john cassian/

Walamir and St. Telemachus
... On the way we passed a little barber's shop, and by a sudden inspiration I went
in and bought a plain black wig, which I placed on the short, sunny curls of ...
/.../chapter lix walamir and st.htm

1 Cor. xiv. 20
... For the church is no barber's or perfumer's shop, nor any other merchant's warehouse
in the market-place, but a place of angels, a place of archangels, a ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxxvi 1 cor xiv.htm

Barber's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Barber's (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 5:1 You, son
of man, take a sharp sword; You shall take it as a barber's...
/b/barber's.htm - 6k

Barber
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BARBER. bar'-ber: (1) The English word "barber"
is from Latin barba, "beard" = a man who shaves the beard. ...
/b/barber.htm - 11k

Razor (8 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 5:1 You, son of man, take a sharp sword; You shall take it as a barber's
razor to you, and shall cause it to pass on your head and on your beard: then ...
/r/razor.htm - 10k

Barbs (2 Occurrences)

/b/barbs.htm - 6k

Balances (15 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 5:1 You, son of man, take a sharp sword; You shall take it as a barber's
razor to you, and shall cause it to pass on your head and on your beard: then ...
/b/balances.htm - 10k

Apportioned (24 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 5:1 And thou, son of man, take to thee a sharp weapon, the barber's razor
thou dost take to thee, and thou hast caused 'it' to pass over thy head, and ...
/a/apportioned.htm - 13k

Knife (10 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 5:1 And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's
razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee ...
/k/knife.htm - 13k

Weapon (21 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 5:1 And thou, son of man, take to thee a sharp weapon, the barber's razor
thou dost take to thee, and thou hast caused 'it' to pass over thy head, and ...
/w/weapon.htm - 14k

Shave (19 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 5:1 And thou, son of man, take to thee a sharp weapon, the barber's razor
thou dost take to thee, and thou hast caused 'it' to pass over thy head, and ...
/s/shave.htm - 14k

Weigh (24 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 5:1 You, son of man, take a sharp sword; You shall take it as a barber's
razor to you, and shall cause it to pass on your head and on your beard: then ...
/w/weigh.htm - 14k

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