Biblical accounts of hair loss The second mention of hair loss lies in Leviticus 13:40-41, which proclaims that “a man has lost his hair and he is bald, he is clean.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Baldness
This was practiced as a mark of mourning for the dead (Leviticus 21:5; Isaiah 15:2; 22:12); as the result of any disaster (Amos 8:10; Micah 1:16).
In Jainism, "Bald head" symbolizes an insult hurled at Shri Vira by aggressive individuals, highlighting their derogatory nature and lack of respect for revered figures. This reflects deeper themes of respect and aggression within the faith.
Little kids called Elijah "baldhead." “He (Elijah) cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys” 2 Kings 2:23-24.
Leviticus 19:27 New King James Version (NKJV)
You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.
27 “Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards. 27 "Don't cut the hair on the sides of your head or trim your beard. 27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 27 "Never shave the hair on your foreheads, and never cut the edges of your beard.
Paul then addresses the issue of men wearing long hair: “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head [wear long hair], since he is the image and glory of God” (verse 7). The basic message is that a man who wears long hair is appropriating the identifying female marker in God's family structure.
Biblical accounts of hair loss
The second mention of hair loss lies in Leviticus 13:40-41, which proclaims that “a man has lost his hair and he is bald, he is clean.
The text for this week's sermon is from 2 Kings, chapter 2. In it, the prophet Elisha is accosted by some kids who make fun of him for being bald. They yell at him, “Go away, bald head! Go away, bald head!” So, he does what any rational human being would do in this situation, he curses them in the name of Yahweh.
For men, in particular, male pattern baldness can be interpreted as a sign of ageing and, by extension, of diminished virility or power. For women, whose beauty is often linked to the length and density of their hair in many cultures, female pattern baldness can be experienced as a loss of femininity or attractiveness.
“Studies have shown baldness in men is seen as a non-threatening form of social dominance,” says Dr. Frank Muscarella from Barry University in Florida. Which is great, because according to a Social Psychological and Personality Science study, men with fully bald heads are seen as more dominant.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp.
Shaving the head is a symbol of spiritual surrender, a letting go of the physical ego. By releasing attachment to our appearance, we free ourselves from the distractions of the material world. With a shaved head, we embody the spirit of simplicity, humility, and inner focus.
In ancient Greece, baldness was a symbol of wisdom and intelligence, and philosophers like Socrates and Plato were often depicted as bald. Around the world, Buddhist monks shave their heads as a symbol of their commitment to spiritual enlightenment.
Denominations that teach that women should wear head coverings at all times additionally base this doctrine on Saint Paul's dictum that Christians are to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), Saint Paul's teaching that women being unveiled is dishonourable, and as a reflection of the created order.
Gracious Heavenly Father, I pray for abundant hair growth. Loving Lord, bless my scalp with nourishment and vitality. My Lord, grant me patience as I wait for my hair to grow. Heavenly Lord, strengthen the roots of my hair.
Seize opportunity by the beard, for it is bald behind. Experience is a comb which nature gives to men when they are bald. The blind man is laughing at the bald head. A bald-headed man will not grow hair by getting excited.
The Old Testament declares strongman Samson was “set apart to God” from the day he was born (Judges 13:5), which is why he never cut his hair. It was a reminder to people of his uncut commitment to God. “Hair plays an integral role in the way human beings represent themselves,” Niditch writes.
Leviticus 13:40-44 New International Version (NIV)
“A man who has lost his hair and is bald is clean. If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean. But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling disease breaking out on his head or forehead.
According to recent studies, science has shown that most people view bald men as more attractive and as more dominant. Bald men stand out from the crowd. They look stronger, a bit meaner and a bit more powerful than your average man.
Best passage of the day: Leviticus interrupts these dire leprous warnings to reassure men that, yes, it's OK to be bald. “If a man loses the hair of his head and becomes bald, he is pure.” And it gets better! God also approves of male-pattern baldness.
The “curse” is actually a question of genetics. Contrary to rumors and folk tales, researchers have found that while either parent can hand down the gene for baldness, men who have a bald father are more likely to show male pattern baldness than those who do not.
40 “A man who has lost his hair and is bald is clean. 41 If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean. 42 But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling disease breaking out on his head or forehead.
So is Getting a Tattoo a Sin? It depends. Revisiting 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is a great reminder when considering a tattoo: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
[14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? [15] But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. [16] But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.