What does the Bible say about shaving?

The Israelites always cultivated the beard, and highly valued it. The law forbade them to 'mar the corners of their beards,' Lev. 19:27, and a priest must not shave off the corner of his beard as a sign of mourning. Lev. 21:5. King Hanun inflicted a sore indignity when he marred the beards of David's ambassadors. 2 Sam. 10:4. Ezra in great grief at the sin of the people plucked off the hair of his head and of his beard. Ezra 9:3: cf. Jer. 41:5. God's judgement on Israel is compared to the beard being consumed by a razor, Isa. 7:20; and they were to be scattered as hair that is cut off. Ezek. 5:1-2, 12. Of Moab it was said, every beard should be cut off. Isa. 15:2; Jer. 48:37.

We see then that the priest must not defile himself by approach to death, save for the near of kin which were carefully defined. Others might incur the effect; but it was not compatible with such as drew near to God's presence, the living God. For his immediate relation, he might defile himself: this the law suffered (2-4), for it made nothing perfect. But they must not, like the heathen, make baldness upon their head, nor shave off the corner of the beard, nor cut into their flesh, as those did who had no hope. God was in none of their thoughts which were ruled by demons, and these last excesses were forbidden to Israelites in general. They profaned the name of their God, and were intolerable in those who presented the fire-offerings of Jehovah, the bread of their God as He graciously called them.

The Israelites were forbidden to cut themselves or to make themselves bald for the dead, as the heathen did; for they were a holy people unto the Lord. Lev. 21:5; Deut. 14:1; Jer. 16:6. Baldness is one of the judgements of the Lord: perhaps they would make themselves bald in their distress. Isa. 3:24; Isa. 15:2; Isa. 22:12; Ezek. 7:18; Amos 8:10; Micah 1:16. See NAZARITE.

Verses 27-28 tell us that our bodies are not our own to do with them as we please, whether in shaving for show or making cuts in the flesh or being tattooed (Compare 1 Cor. 6:19-20). All of these are only to satisfy a person's pride.

"Neither shall they shave their heads." A sister should not do this either (1 Corinthians 11:6). Shaved hair has always been a sign of shame and humiliation. "... nor suffer their locks to grow long." The priests should not let their hair grow long, while "long hair" is a glory for a woman. "They shall duly poll their heads." This is what a woman should not do according to 1 Corinthians 11:6, as it is a shame (dishonor) for a woman to have her hair cut or shorn ("cut," Greek "keiro," which also means "shorn").

Now, the hair itself is not the covering as some would try to make out. This ought to be understood by careful consideration of verse 6, especially the first part. It would be nonsense for a woman to shave her hair if she already had none because her head was uncovered! Do not miss reading the word 'also.' 'Shorn or shaven' means cut with scissors or a head shaved with a razor. Both of these have been done to women to show that they are in disgrace. What a pity many do it to themselves voluntarily! It shows how far fallen nature stoops in its attempt to throw off divine authority.

But there is more than that, for the apostle adds, that if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn or shaven, which he then says would be a shame to her (ver. 6). What was the shame of which the shaven or shorn state of a woman's head was the confession? This must be determined by a reference to the Law, and under it we find two occasions on which the woman was shaven, or uncovered. First, when she was a suspected wife (Num. 5). Secondly, when she had lately been taken captive and was bewailing her father's house, not yet united to the Jew who had taken her in battle (Deut. 21). This shaven state of a woman thus expressed showed that she was not enjoying either the full confidence, or the full joy, of a husband.

What happens next? He shall "shave off all his hair." It was against the law for an Israelite to "make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard." Leviticus 21:5; 19:27. It was a mark of shame and reproach; see Isaiah 15:2 — "On all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off." (Also see Jeremiah 41:5, 48:37; 2 Samuel 10:4-5.) But now all this hair must come off. All his own natural beauty and glory must go. Everything that might shelter any uncleanness must be cut off, at any cost.

The one cleansed by the blood will find that he is called to share the Lord's reproach and shame, as he seeks to walk a path that is according to His Word. In China where we are accustomed to shaved heads and faces, it is hard for us to realize what shame and reproach and contempt this shaving would bring. We read of those who in the early days "were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions." Hebrews 10:33. The Word tells us that Moses chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." Hebrews 11:25-26. We, too, are exhorted to bear His reproach. (Hebrews 13:13.) The Lord Himself knows what reproach means. It was He who could say, "Thou hast known My reproach, and My shame, and My dishonor: Mine adversaries are all before Thee. Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." Psalm 69:19-20. None have ever tasted reproach and shame as deeply as He has done; but you and I, dear fellow-believer, have the privilege of bearing in some measure His reproach. May He grant us to esteem it greater riches than this poor world can offer!

Making their heads bald (v. 5), as some religious fanatics do, shaving the edges of their beards, making cuttings in their bodies, were things not to be practiced by priests. All of this was for show, in desire to improve the flesh. By making a show of ourselves in any way, we may too easily give the impression that the flesh in us is better than in other people. This is false.

" 1 And Jehovah said to Moses, Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, There shall none defile himself for a dead one (soul) among his peoples, 2 except for his kin that is near to him — for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother, 3 and for his sister a virgin, that is near to him, who has had no husband, for her he may defile himself. 4 He shall not make himself unclean, [being] a chief among his peoples, to profane himself. 5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. 6 They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God; for they offer the fire-offerings of Jehovah, the bread of their God; therefore shall they be holy. 7 They shall not take to wife a harlot or one dishonoured; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband; for he is holy to his God. 8 And thou shalt sanctify him; for the bread of thy God he offers; he shall be holy to thee; for I, Jehovah, who sanctify you, am holy. 9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profanes her father; she shall be burnt with fire" (vers. 1-9).