In biblical times, the act of shaving held various cultural, religious, and symbolic meanings. The term "shaven" appears in several contexts throughout the Scriptures, often associated with ritual purity, mourning, or disgrace.

Ritual Purity and Vows

One of the most notable references to shaving in the Bible is found in the context of the Nazirite vow. Nazirites were individuals who took a special vow of consecration to the Lord, which included abstaining from wine, avoiding contact with the dead, and not cutting their hair. At the completion of their vow, they were required to shave their heads as part of a purification ritual. Numbers 6:18 states, "Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite is to shave off the hair of his consecration, take the hair, and put it on the fire under the peace offering."

Mourning and Humiliation

Shaving the head was also a common expression of mourning or humiliation in ancient Israel. In times of grief or repentance, individuals would shave their heads as a sign of sorrow or penitence. For example, in the book of Job, Job shaves his head in response to his immense suffering and loss: "Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped" (Job 1:20).

Additionally, the act of shaving was sometimes used as a form of humiliation or disgrace. In 2 Samuel 10:4 , we read about how Hanun, the king of the Ammonites, humiliated David's servants by shaving off half of their beards: "So Hanun seized David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away."

Priestly Regulations

The Levitical laws also contain specific instructions regarding shaving for the priests. Leviticus 21:5 commands, "The priests must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies." This regulation was part of maintaining the holiness and distinctiveness of the priesthood, setting them apart from pagan practices.

Symbolism and Prophecy

In prophetic literature, shaving is sometimes used symbolically to convey messages of judgment or purification. For instance, in Isaiah 7:20 , the prophet uses the imagery of shaving to describe the coming judgment upon Israel: "On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well."

Cultural Context

Understanding the cultural and historical context of shaving in the Bible is essential for interpreting its significance. In ancient Near Eastern societies, hair often symbolized strength, vitality, and identity. Thus, the act of shaving could represent a loss of these attributes, whether voluntarily, as in the case of the Nazirite vow, or involuntarily, as a sign of disgrace or mourning.

In summary, the concept of being "shaven" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from religious devotion and ritual purity to expressions of grief and symbols of judgment. Each instance provides insight into the cultural and spiritual life of the biblical world.(p. p.) of Shave.

Of the Reasons Assigned by the Apostle for Bidding Women to be ...
... If "it is shameful for a woman to be shaven or shorn," of course it is so
for a virgin. (Hence let the world, the rival of God, see ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter vii of the reasons assigned.htm

The Spirit is the Lord and Power; and in this is not Inferior to ...
... of the Lord began to go with him." [1027] Farther on it is said: "And the Spirit
of the Lord came upon him." [1028] Again he says: "If I be shaven, my strength ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter i the spirit is.htm

Whether those who are Ordained Ought to Wear the Tonsure?
... For the Lord threatened captivity and dispersion to those who were shaven in this
way: "Of the captivity of the bare head of the enemies" (Dt.32:42), and: "I ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether those who are ordained.htm

1 Cor. xi. 2
... unveiled, dishonoreth her head," he stayed not at this point only, but also proceeded
to say, "for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven." But if ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxvi 1 cor xi.htm

Voluntary Suffering
... The beard was in those times accounted honourable; and when David and his servants
were shaven by the command of Hanun, they were ashamed to be seen. ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xviii voluntary suffering.htm

Personal Characteristics.
... height, stout in body and well built, clad in the fashion of the Methodist preachers
of the day, with a benign countenance, his face smoothly shaven, a kindly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclean/william black/vi personal characteristics.htm

The Argument E Contrario.
... considerations) effect that a man is not to cover his head: to wit, because he has
not by nature been gifted with excess of hair; because to be shaven or shorn ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter viii the argument e contrario.htm

Even if the Permission had Been Given by St. Paul in the Sense ...
... rule, to suit the circumstances of the times: circumcising Timotheus [673] on account
of "supposititious false brethren;" and leading certain "shaven men" into ...
/.../tertullian/on monogamy/chapter xiv even if the permission.htm

Our Instructor's Treatment of Our Sins.
... And He says that it pollutes by defiling the soul: wherefore He prescribes the cure
with all speed, advising the head to be instantly shaven; that is ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter ii our instructors treatment of.htm

A Moment's Flashing Glance of Half-Amused Dismay at Angela...
... She stood hesitating, glancing at the fine, clear-cut, clean-shaven face of Fontenelle,
the broad intellectual brows, and the brilliant hazel eyes with their ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xii a moments flashing glance.htm

Shaven (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) of Shave. Multi-Version Concordance Shaven
(7 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 11:5 But every woman that ...
/s/shaven.htm - 8k

Nazarite (8 Occurrences)
... cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands
of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven: (KJV DBY WBS ...
/n/nazarite.htm - 13k

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

Veiled (23 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 1 Corinthians 11:6 For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but
if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled. ...
/v/veiled.htm - 12k

Not (69137 Occurrences)
... 1. (adv.) Wot not; know not; knows not. 2. (a.) Shorn; shaven. 3. (adv.) A word
used to express negation, prohibition, denial, or refusal. Int. ...
/n/not.htm - 7k

Uncovered (78 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 11:5 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. ...
/u/uncovered.htm - 32k

Ram's (7 Occurrences)
... and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put
them upon the hands of the Nazirite, after he hath shaven his consecrated ...
/r/ram's.htm - 8k

Dishonour (22 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 11:5 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. ...
/d/dishonour.htm - 12k

Dishonoureth (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 11:5 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. ...
/d/dishonoureth.htm - 7k

Disgraces (5 Occurrences)
... 5 and every woman praying or prophesying with the head uncovered, doth dishonour
her own head, for it is one and the same thing with her being shaven, (See NAS ...
/d/disgraces.htm - 7k

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