Headdress
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Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the headdress served both practical and symbolic purposes, reflecting cultural, religious, and social significance. The use of headdresses is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible, often indicating status, modesty, or religious observance.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, headdresses were commonly worn by both men and women. For men, the headdress often signified authority or priestly function. The high priest's turban, for example, was an essential part of the priestly garments. Exodus 28:4 describes the garments of the high priest, including the turban: "These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve Me as priests."

Women’s headdresses were often associated with modesty and marital status. In Genesis 24:65, Rebekah covers herself with a veil upon meeting Isaac, indicating her modesty and readiness for marriage: "and said to the servant, 'Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?' 'It is my master,' the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11:4-7, emphasizing the importance of head coverings for women during prayer and prophecy as a sign of authority and respect: "Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as if her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man."

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

Headdresses in biblical times were often made from materials such as linen, wool, or leather, and could be adorned with jewels or embroidery, especially for those of higher status. The headdress served as a symbol of dignity and respect, and its style and adornment could indicate the wearer’s social or religious standing.

In Isaiah 3:18-23, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the judgment on the daughters of Zion, listing various adornments, including headdresses, that will be taken away: "In that day the Lord will take away the finery of their anklets and headbands and crescents, their pendants, bracelets, and veils, their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes, their perfume bottles and charms, their signet rings and nose rings, their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses."

Religious Observance and Modesty

The headdress also played a role in religious observance and expressions of modesty. For Jewish men, the wearing of a head covering, such as a kippah or yarmulke, has become a traditional practice symbolizing reverence before God, although this specific practice is not directly mentioned in the biblical text.

For women, the head covering was a sign of modesty and submission, reflecting the cultural norms of the time. The practice of head covering for women has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history, with some traditions maintaining the practice as a sign of respect and others viewing it as a cultural custom specific to the time of the early church.

Overall, the headdress in biblical times was a multifaceted symbol, deeply embedded in the cultural, religious, and social fabric of the ancient world, reflecting the values and beliefs of the people who wore them.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Headdress

The Hebrews do not appear to have regarded a covering for the head as an essential article of dress. Hats were unknown. The earliest notice we have of such a thing is in connection with the sacerdotal vestments. (Exodus 28:40) The tsaniph (something like a turban) is noticed as being worn by nobles, (Job 29:14) ladies, (Isaiah 3:23) and kings, (Isaiah 62:3) while the peer was an article of holiday dress, (Isaiah 61:3) Authorized Version "beauty;" (Ezekiel 24:17,23) and was worn at weddings. (Isaiah 61:10) The ordinary head-dress of the Bedouin consists of the keffieh , a square handkerchief, generally of red and yellow cotton or cotton and silk, folded so that three of the corners hang down over the back and shoulders, leaving the face exposed, and bound round the head by a cord. It is not improbable that a similar covering was used by the Hebrews on certain occasions. The Assyrian head-dress is described in (Ezekiel 23:15) under the terms "exceeding in dyed attire." The word rendered "hats" in (Daniel 3:21) properly applies to a cloak.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Not in common use among the Hebrews. It is first mentioned in Exodus 28:40 (A.V., "bonnets;" R.V., "head-tires"). It was used especially for purposes of ornament (Job 29:14; Isaiah 3:23; 62:3). The Hebrew word here used, tsaniph, properly means a turban, folds of linen wound round the head. The Hebrew word peer, used in Isaiah 61:3, there rendered "beauty" (A.V.) and "garland" (R.V.), is a head-dress or turban worn by females (Isaiah 3: 20, "bonnets"), priests (Exodus 39:28), a bridegroom (Isaiah 61:10, "ornament;" R.V., "garland"). Ezek. 16:10 and Jonah 2:5 are to be understood of the turban wrapped round the head. The Hebrew shebisim (Isaiah 3:18), in the Authorized Version rendered "cauls," and marg. "networks," denotes probably a kind of netted head-dress. The "horn" (Hebrews keren) mentioned in 1 Samuel 2:1 is the head-dress called by the Druses of Mount Lebanon the tantura.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A covering or ornament for the head; a headtire.

2. (n.) A manner of dressing the hair or of adorning it, whether with or without a veil, ribbons, combs, etc.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
HEADDRESS

hed'dres.

See DRESS.

Strong's Hebrew
6287b. peer -- headdress, turban
... 6287a, 6287b. peer. 6288 . headdress, turban. Transliteration: peer
Short Definition: garland. Word Origin from paar Definition ...
/hebrew/6287b.htm - 5k
Library

The Speaking Statue Again
... little surprised. What has fashion to do with physic? Why (in Ireland,
at least), almost as much as with headdress. Blisters for ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/the speaking statue again.htm

The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
... At Constantinople itself the abandonment of the chalebi, a hideous female headdress
of the East, was held to be a sufficient reason to account for the advent ...
/.../chapter xxxvii the world the.htm

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... than the first one, a bluish-white robe, and a white veil shimmering like silk,
with folds at the back of the neck like a nun's headdress and fastened round ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm

A vision of Judgement and Cleansing
... The Prophet ventures to ask that the sacerdotal attire should be completed by the
turban or mitre, probably that headdress which bore the significant writing ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a vision of judgement and.htm

Letter Liv. To Furia.
... She does not wear a waving headdress or creaking boots, she does not darken her
eyes with antimony. Yet in her squalor she is lovelier than ever. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liv to furia.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... what is said of the conical mitre, the headdress of Sin, on pp.14, 169 of this volume.
[Illustration: 262.jpg FEMALE SERVANT BARE TO THE WAIST.(left)]. ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

Ephesians iv. 31
... conduct. Paul saith, "Let not a woman be uncovered." (1 Corinthians 11:5-15.)
And dost thou then entirely strip off her headdress? Dost ...
/.../homily xv ephesians iv 31.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... The headdress was, as far as I can remember, also of white silk, twisted into a
round shape and padded, like a turban, yet resembling our priests' birettas to ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... This image [See Figure 4], represented as floating downwards at full length, had
a headdress like the idols, so many of which lie in rows there, half like a ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

Chapter xx
... References to a veil or headdress of coins worn by married women and to be secured
by the use of this generous gift are still less in place. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xx.htm

Thesaurus
Headdress (1 Occurrence)
... etc. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HEADDRESS. hed'dres. See DRESS.
Multi-Version Concordance Headdress (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel ...
/h/headdress.htm - 8k

Turban (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A headdress worn by men in the Levant and by most Mohammedans of the male
sex, consisting of a cap, and a sash, scarf, or shawl, usually of cotton or ...
/t/turban.htm - 11k

Tower (74 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A headdress of a high or tower like form, fashionable about the end of the
seventeenth century and until 1715; also, any high headdress. ...
/t/tower.htm - 52k

Bonnet (1 Occurrence)
... mitre of the high priest. (see MITRE.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.)
A headdress for men and boys; a cap. 2. (n.) A soft, elastic ...
/b/bonnet.htm - 10k

Cornet (8 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) A headdress. 9. (n.) A square cap anciently worn as a mark of certain
professions. 10. (n.) A part of a woman's headdress, in the 16th century. 11. ...
/c/cornet.htm - 11k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... oriental garments, then, we will consider: 1. The Meaning of Terms; 2. The Materials;
3. The Outer Garments; 4. The Inner Garments; 5. The Headdress; 6. The ...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

Head-dress (22 Occurrences)
Head-dress. Headdress, Head-dress. Headdresses . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
(BBE). Headdress, Head-dress. Headdresses . Reference Bible.
/h/head-dress.htm - 14k

Ostrich (9 Occurrences)
... These exquisite feathers were first used to decorate the headdress and shields of
desert chieftains, then as decorations for royalty, and later for hat and ...
/o/ostrich.htm - 18k

Fret (9 Occurrences)
... 18. (n.) The reticulated headdress or net, made of gold or silver wire,
in which ladies in the Middle Ages confined their hair. 19. ...
/f/fret.htm - 13k

Tire (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Attire; apparel. 3. (n.) A covering for the head; a headdress. 4. (n.) A
child's apron, covering the breast and having no sleeves; a pinafore; a tier. ...
/t/tire.htm - 9k

Resources
What is cultural appropriation? | GotQuestions.org

What is a garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3)? | GotQuestions.org

Headdress: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Headdress (1 Occurrence)

Ezekiel 24:17
Sigh, but not aloud, make no mourning for the dead; bind your headdress on you, and put your shoes on your feet, and don't cover your lips, and don't eat men's bread.
(WEB)

Subtopics

Headdress

Related Terms

Head-dress (22 Occurrences)

Bonnet (1 Occurrence)

Turban (13 Occurrences)

Tower (74 Occurrences)

Trousers (7 Occurrences)

Mitre (10 Occurrences)

Body-cover (11 Occurrences)

Cornet (8 Occurrences)

Metal (69 Occurrences)

Dress (38 Occurrences)

Twisted (79 Occurrences)

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Band (150 Occurrences)

Splendor (87 Occurrences)

Placed (297 Occurrences)

Kerchief

Needlework (23 Occurrences)

Undergarments (6 Occurrences)

Ostrich (9 Occurrences)

Oaks (14 Occurrences)

Fret (9 Occurrences)

Fainting (9 Occurrences)

Tire (5 Occurrences)

Embroidery (12 Occurrences)

Diana (5 Occurrences)

Diadem (9 Occurrences)

Mustache (3 Occurrences)

Bracelet (5 Occurrences)

Cover (254 Occurrences)

Coloured (21 Occurrences)

Customary (8 Occurrences)

Attire (11 Occurrences)

Artemis (5 Occurrences)

Squares (25 Occurrences)

Despair (23 Occurrences)

Sigh (18 Occurrences)

Head (4291 Occurrences)

Head-covers (1 Occurrence)

Headdresses (2 Occurrences)

Clothe (52 Occurrences)

Crown (94 Occurrences)

Head-dresses (11 Occurrences)

Horseback (15 Occurrences)

Display (30 Occurrences)

Quietly (30 Occurrences)

Bestow (27 Occurrences)

Shoes (32 Occurrences)

Robes (124 Occurrences)

Beautiful (152 Occurrences)

Wrapped (40 Occurrences)

Priest (500 Occurrences)

Exult (50 Occurrences)

Worked (145 Occurrences)

Dressed (77 Occurrences)

Lip (20 Occurrences)

Fastened (43 Occurrences)

Arrayed (46 Occurrences)

Grieve (29 Occurrences)

Headtire (1 Occurrence)

Bag (52 Occurrences)

Breastplate (45 Occurrences)

Lower (72 Occurrences)

Clothed (153 Occurrences)

Gladness (83 Occurrences)

Best (252 Occurrences)

Linen (111 Occurrences)

Men's (76 Occurrences)

Fixed (284 Occurrences)

Washed (113 Occurrences)

Puts (197 Occurrences)

Mourning (85 Occurrences)

Decisions (133 Occurrences)

Philistines (224 Occurrences)

Grant (87 Occurrences)

Bind (68 Occurrences)

Fury (152 Occurrences)

Faint (76 Occurrences)

Mourn (87 Occurrences)

Head-covers
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