“Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory (doxa)? For her hair is given to her as a covering” (1 Corinthians 11:14–15).
There is nothing in the Bible that says you can't trim your hair. I Corinthians 11:4-16 says you shouldn't have hair cropped so short that you will look like a man. It apparently refers to a particular woman who, in attempting to look like a man, had cut her hair so short that she looked ridiculous.
Hair is a sign of strength, we learned that from Samson. We need to allow Christ to cover our heads and make us spiritually strong. We no longer are under bondage from Laws, we are free and righteous because of the power of Christ, who lives in our hearts. God wants us to look good inside and outside.
``For if a woman will not (have long hair), then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a woman to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her (have long hair).''
Studies of the instructions about women and wives in 1 Timothy and 1 Peter have acknowledged that the exhortations not to braid hair, wear gold, pearls or expensive clothes are consistent with the general Graeco-Roman male emphasis upon female modesty and criticism of female adornment.
Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 11 that in church, in worship, women are supposed to wear head coverings. This is what the Bible says in f1 Corinthians 11:4-5, “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
Braiding was and still is an important cultural tradition among many Indigenous American tribes. While each tribe has its own relationship to braids, many see braiding as a spiritual act, with the three strands representing the body, mind and spirit.
ESV For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
As the biblical passage progresses, Paul teaches that: God's order for the woman is the opposite from His order for the man. When she prays or prophesies she must cover her head. If she does not, she disgraces her head (man).
“Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered” (verses 5 and 6).
Leviticus 19:27 in Other Translations
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.
Many spiritual and religious traditions view hair as a retainer of one's vital essence. Rastafarians consider hair their connection to God, calling their long dreadlocks “God antennae.” Sikhs allow their hair to grow naturally as a symbol of respect for the perfection of God's creation.
Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!
1 Corinthians 11:15 New King James Version (NKJV)
But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.
One of the prominent symbols in the Bible is hair. Through the study of this symbol, we can gain a deeper understanding of biblical truth. Over the centuries, hair as a biblical symbol has been used to signify various character attributes such as strength, vanity, dedication to God, or morality.
Luke 12:7 New King James Version (NKJV)
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
[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.
A haircut is often about transforming oneself and letting go of the past. Letting go of what has felt safe, rejecting fear and embracing change and the unknown. Sometimes starting over can be liberating because you have the benefit of experience and can just enjoy the journey the second time around.
From the historical context and biblical expositions of our key passages in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:1-5 , it is clear that Paul and Peter did not make blanket statements that prohibit women from totally braiding or plaiting their hair.
This objection, at first glance, makes sense. Paul issues an imperative to women in 1 Corinthians 11:6, saying, “let her cover her head.” Then, in verse 15, he says, “For her hair is given to her for a covering.” That seems clear enough: A woman should cover her head during worship, and her hair is that covering.
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.
The Bible does not specifically say a lot about makeup. But it does talk about beauty, modesty, and self-control. Proverbs 31:30 says beauty is fleeting. 1 Peter 3:3 discourages seeking beauty in elaborate adornments.
1 Peter 3:3-4 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
Hair is considered a source of power and spiritual connection, often serving as an antenna that links individuals to the spirit world, ancestors, and natural elements. Long hair and spirituality are deeply connected, symbolizing wisdom, strength, and reverence for life's interconnectedness.
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.