HAIR (דַּלָּה֒, H1929, a lock of hair; נֵ֫זֶר, H5694, haircut; שֵׂעָר, H8552, hair; שַׂעֲרָה, H8553, hair; Gr. θριξ, hair, wool, feathers). Although all mammals have hair, an outgrowth from the epidermis, Scripture use of the term applies mostly to man. “Wool” would be used for the hair of sheep. John the Baptist wore a camel’s hair garment, and Michal stuffed a pillow with goat’s hair (1 Sam 19:13). The ancients usually wore the hair long, although priests, warriors and young boys often were shaved. Boys left a side lock. Recall the long hair of Samson and Absalom. Because the hair was shaved in an initiation to a divinity in Arabia, the cutting of hair was an abomination to the Jews (Jer 49:32). The Nazirite knew that the whole body belonged to God including the hair, so a razor never touched his skin (Judg 16:17) until his service was ended (Num 6:18). Captive women shaved their heads for purification, also the lepers (Lev 14:8). Priests kept their hair at a moderate length (Ezek 44:20), but were forbidden to make tonsures (Lev 21:5). Baldness, except in leprosy, was not derided (Lev 13:40) unless it was given as a curse (Isa 3:24). Since the head held the spirit, the hair was not to be cut in times of danger, for it was considered the source of strength. By NT times long hair was degrading to man, but to a woman it was a source of pride (1 Cor 11:14). Mary wiped the Lord’s feet with her hair. In the Song of Solomon the hair is the veil (4:3). Loss of hair to a woman was shameful (1 Cor 11:6). Women were warned against elaborate hair dressing (1 Pet 3:3).

An assurance of safety was Jesus’ word that the hairs of the head are numbered (Matt 10:30). David felt his sins were more than the hairs of his head (Ps 40:12). When hair was cut and weighed (2 Sam 14:26) some would give its equivalent weight in silver to the poor.

Gray hair was honored and gained in a righteous life (Prov 20:29) while white hair meant a glorious presence as of Christ Himself (Rev 1:14). Hair seldom was dyed in Pal., but Herod dyed his black. Jesus said, “You cannot make one hair white or black” (Matt 5:36).

Hair standing up is a sign of fear (Job 4:15) caused by the contraction of small muscles attached obliquely to each hair. Tearing or pulling out hair expressed deep sorrow (Isa 15:2) or mourning for the dead, and putting ashes on the head showed shame and grief, like Tamar’s desecration (2 Sam 13:19). Anointing the head was a sign of joy (Ps 23:5) and prosperity, but only the purest could be anointed with the sacred oil (Exod 30:32).

Good marksmen could “sling a stone at a hair and not miss” (Judg 20:16).