Eyebrows, though not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, play a subtle yet significant role in the cultural and historical context of biblical times. They are part of the human face, contributing to expressions and communication, which are essential in understanding human interactions in biblical narratives.

Cultural Significance

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, including those of the Bible, physical appearance often held symbolic meaning. Eyebrows, as part of the face, were no exception. Grooming practices, including the care of eyebrows, were common and could signify various things such as mourning, beauty, or social status. For instance, in some cultures, shaving or altering the eyebrows was a sign of mourning or distress.

Symbolism and Expression

While the Bible does not specifically mention eyebrows, it frequently references the face as a whole, which includes the eyebrows. Facial expressions, often conveyed through the movement of eyebrows, are crucial in understanding emotions and intentions. For example, in Genesis 4:5-6 , God addresses Cain's anger, which would have been visible on his face: "So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?'" Here, the change in Cain's countenance likely involved his eyebrows, reflecting his inner turmoil.

Beauty and Adornment

The Bible acknowledges the use of adornment and beauty practices, which would have included the grooming of eyebrows. In 2 Kings 9:30 , Jezebel is described as painting her eyes and adorning her head, which implies attention to facial features, including eyebrows: "When Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it. So she painted her eyes, arranged her hair, and looked out of a window." This passage highlights the cultural practices of enhancing facial features to convey beauty or status.

Mourning and Humility

In times of mourning or repentance, the Bible describes various physical expressions of humility and sorrow, which could involve the alteration of one's appearance, including the eyebrows. In Isaiah 15:2 , the people of Moab express their grief: "Dibon goes up to its temple, to its high places to weep; Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off." While eyebrows are not specifically mentioned, the shaving of the head and beard suggests a comprehensive alteration of appearance, possibly including the eyebrows, as a sign of mourning.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not directly reference eyebrows, their role in facial expression and cultural practices of the time can be inferred from the broader context of biblical narratives. Eyebrows, as part of the human face, contribute to the rich tapestry of human emotion, beauty, and cultural expression found throughout Scripture.5869. ayin -- an eye
... 1), before (3), broad (1), concern* (1), confidence (1), disdained* (1), displease*
(2), displeased* (4), disregard* (1), eye (68), eyebrows* (1), eyelids* (1 ...
/hebrew/5869.htm - 7k

1354. gab -- a back
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a back NASB Word Usage back (1), backs
(1), base (1), defenses (2), eyebrows* (1), massive* (1), rims (3), shrine (2 ...
/hebrew/1354.htm - 6k

I am Told, Further, that You Touch with Some Critical Sharpness ...
... you touch with some critical sharpness upon some points of my letter, and, with
the well-known wrinkles rising on your forehead and your eyebrows knitted, make ...
/.../13 i am told further.htm

A Moment's Flashing Glance of Half-Amused Dismay at Angela...
... Fontenelle himself, meanwhile, leaning carelessly back in the chair he had taken,
looked at her with a little quizzical lifting of his eyebrows. ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xii a moments flashing glance.htm

Against Embellishing the Body.
... not once, do they deserve to perish, who use crocodiles' excrement, and anoint
themselves with the froth of putrid humours, and stain their eyebrows with soot ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter ii against embellishing the body.htm

Caput xv.
... what the touch? what the eyelids? what the eyebrows? what the prime? ... The eyelids
and eyebrows denote the guarding of the conceptions which see God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/on the heavenly hierarchy/caput xv.htm

Thanksgiving to God for Deliverance from the Evils Expected Owing ...
... annoyed. Another instance of wisdom, no less remarkable, is to be observed
in eyebrows. Who can help being struck by their position? ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xi thanksgiving to god.htm

Ancestry, Birth, Education, Environment: 1513(?)-1546
... There was a certain geniality in a countenance serious and stern, with a natural
dignity and air of command; his eyebrows, when he was in anger, were expressive ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter i ancestry birth education.htm

Revelation of John.
... And I heard a voice saying to me: The appearance of his face is dusky; [2562] the
hairs of his head are sharp, like darts; his eyebrows like a wild beast's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/revelation of john/revelation of john.htm

Life of Bunyan
... Yonder he is, the noisiest of the party, playing pitch-and-toss"that one with the
shaggy eyebrows, whose entire soul is ascending in the twirling penny ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hamilton/life of bunyan/life of bunyan.htm

Acts of Paul and Thecla.
... And he saw Paul coming, a man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well-built,
[2108] with eyebrows meeting, rather long-nosed, full of grace. ...
/.../unknown/acts of paul and thecla/acts of paul and thecla.htm

Taking it for Granted.
... "I'm afraid there is.". "I wouldn't have such a man in my employment.". Everton
shrugged his shoulders and elevated his eyebrows, but said nothing. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/taking it for granted.htm

Eyebrows (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Eyebrows (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 14:9 It shall
be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair ...
/e/eyebrows.htm - 6k

Glass (12 Occurrences)
... These were, of course, small, some quite diminutive (see illustration), as also
were the vials or pots to contain the ointment for the eyebrows and eyelashes ...
/g/glass.htm - 21k

Pharaoh (245 Occurrences)
... The head is shaven, the eyebrows are white, the condition of the body points to
considerably more than threescore years of life, thus confirming the opinions ...
/p/pharaoh.htm - 60k

Eyeballs (1 Occurrence)

/e/eyeballs.htm - 6k

Eye-brows (1 Occurrence)
Eye-brows. Eyebrows, Eye-brows. Eyed . Multi-Version Concordance Eye-brows
(1 Occurrence). ... (WBS). Eyebrows, Eye-brows. Eyed . Reference Bible.
/e/eye-brows.htm - 6k

Bathe (35 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 14:9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair
off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave ...
/b/bathe.htm - 18k

Shaveth (6 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 14:9 And it hath been, on the seventh day -- he shaveth all his hair,
his head, and his beard, and his eyebrows, even all his hair he doth shave, and ...
/s/shaveth.htm - 8k

Shave (19 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 14:9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair
off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave ...
/s/shave.htm - 14k

Beard (23 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 14:9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair
off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave ...
/b/beard.htm - 21k

Separate (115 Occurrences)
... In the Acts Paul is described as "a man small in stature, bald-headed, bow-legged,
of noble demeanor, with meeting eyebrows and a somewhat prominent nose, full ...
/s/separate.htm - 71k

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