Hair
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Baldness disqualified any one for the priest's office ( Leviticus 21 ).
Elijah is called a "hairy man" ( 2 Kings 1:8 ) from his flowing locks, or more probably from the shaggy cloak of hair which he wore. His raiment was of camel's hair.
Long hair is especially noticed in the description of Absalom's person ( 2 Samuel 14:26 ); but the wearing of long hair was unusual, and was only practised as an act of religious observance by Nazarites ( Numbers 6:5 ; Judges 13:5 ) and others in token of special mercies ( Acts 18:18 ).
In times of affliction the hair was cut off ( Isaiah 3:17 Isaiah 3:24 ; 15:2 ; 22:12 ; Jeremiah 7:29 ; Amos 8:10 ). Tearing the hair and letting it go dishevelled were also tokens of grief ( Ezra 9:3 ). "Cutting off the hair" is a figure of the entire destruction of a people ( Isaiah 7:20 ). The Hebrews anointed the hair profusely with fragrant ointments ( Ruth 3:3 ; 2 Sam 14:2 ; Psalms 23:5 ; 45:7 , etc.), especially in seasons of rejoicing ( Matthew 6:17 ; Luke 7:46 ).
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. "Entry for Hair". "Easton's Bible Dictionary".