Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, a woman's hair was often regarded as a symbol of beauty and glory. The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, writes, "But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her as a covering" (1 Corinthians 11:15). This cultural and spiritual significance of hair underscores its role in expressions of femininity and dignity.However, the neglect of a woman's hair can serve as a poignant expression of deep sorrow and mourning. In times of grief, the usual care and adornment of hair might be set aside, reflecting an inner turmoil and distress that transcends concern for outward appearance. This neglect can be seen as a physical manifestation of the heart's lamentation and a visible sign of mourning. The Bible provides several instances where the neglect of personal grooming, including the care of hair, is associated with mourning and grief. In the book of Job, we find a profound example of this practice. After receiving devastating news of the loss of his children and possessions, Job's response includes a physical expression of his grief: "Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped" (Job 1:20). While this passage specifically mentions the shaving of the head, it highlights the broader cultural practice of altering one's hair as a sign of mourning. Similarly, the prophet Isaiah speaks to the customs of mourning in ancient Israel, where the neglect of hair care is implied. In Isaiah 3:24, the prophet describes the consequences of judgment upon the daughters of Zion: "Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty" . The transition from styled hair to baldness or neglect signifies a shift from normalcy to a state of lamentation and distress. The neglect of hair during periods of grief is not merely a personal choice but often a communal expression of shared sorrow. In the book of Lamentations, the collective mourning of Jerusalem is depicted with vivid imagery: "The elders of the Daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have sprinkled dust on their heads and put on sackcloth. The young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground" (Lamentations 2:10). Here, the act of bowing the head and the use of dust and sackcloth are indicative of a broader cultural expression of mourning, where personal grooming is abandoned in favor of visible signs of grief. In the New Testament, the neglect of hair as a sign of mourning is less explicitly mentioned, yet the cultural understanding persists. The early Christian community, familiar with Jewish customs, would have recognized the significance of such practices. The emphasis on inner beauty and the heart's condition, as seen in 1 Peter 3:3-4, does not negate the cultural expressions of grief but rather complements them by focusing on the enduring qualities of faith and character. Throughout Scripture, the neglect of a woman's hair in times of grief serves as a powerful symbol of mourning, reflecting both personal sorrow and communal lamentation. It is a testament to the depth of human emotion and the cultural practices that give voice to the heart's deepest pains. Torrey's Topical Textbook Luke 7:38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Torrey's Topical Textbook John 12:3 Library Life and Conduct of the Holy Women, Xanthippe, Polyxena, and ... The Raising of the Young Man of Nain - the Meeting of Life and ... How Absalom Murdered Amnon, who had Forced his Own Sister; and How ... How Herod Slew Sohemus and Mariamne and Afterward Alexandra and ... Grundtvig's Later Years Treatise iii. On the Lapsed. The Death of the Blessed virgin Mary at Ephesus Letter Liv. To Furia. Treatise on the Priesthood. Book vi. Letter ccxi. (AD 423. ) Resources Why does the Bible speak against braided hair? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about shaving? | GotQuestions.org Should Christian women wear head coverings? | GotQuestions.org Hair: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics The Hair of Nazarites: Not to be Cut or Shorn During Their Vow The Hair of Nazarites: Shorn After Completion of Vow The Hair of the Healed Leper to be Shorn The Hair of Women: Neglected in Grief The Hair of Women: Plaited and Broidered The Hair of Women: Well Set and Ornamented The Hair of Women: Worn Long for a Covering The Hair: Black, Particularly Esteemed The Hair: Colour of, Changed by Leprosy The Hair: Cut off in Affliction The Hair: Judgments Expressed by Sending Baldness For The Hair: Judgments Expressed by Shaving The Hair: Man Cannot Even Change the Colour Or The Hair: Men Condemned for Wearing Long The Hair: Often Expensively Anointed The Hair: Plucked out in Extreme Grief The Hair: Plucking out of, a Reproach The Hair: Sometimes Worn Long by Men The Hair: The Natural Covering of the Head The Hair: White or Gray with Righteousness, a Crown of Glory The Hair: White or Gray: A Token of Age The Hair: White or Gray: A Token of Weakness and Decay The Hair: White or Gray: An Emblem of Wisdom The Hair: White or Gray: To be Reverenced Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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