In Revelation 1:14, John describes his vision of the glorified Jesus Christ, saying “The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.” This description is symbolic and metaphorical, as are many of the visions and images in the book of Revelation.
Jesus’ hair being white like wool does not mean his hair was literally made of wool or was fuzzy like a sheep’s fleece. Rather, the whiteness and wool-like quality of his hair communicates spiritual truths about Jesus’ divine nature, glory, and purity.
Here are some key things to understand about what it means that Jesus’ hair was like white wool:
1. It signifies his eternity, divinity, and preexistence
White or bright hair is often associated with age and wisdom. However, Jesus is depicted here as the “Ancient of Days” (Daniel 7:9), one who is eternal. His white hair communicates his divine preexistence as the second person of the Trinity before creation (John 1:1-3). As God, Jesus transcends time and ages. This symbolizes that he is the eternal “I Am” (Exodus 3:14).
2. It represents his glory, majesty, and splendor
The whiteness of Jesus’ hair corresponds to the shining white light that often accompanies visions of God’s glory in the Bible (e.g. Matthew 17:2; Acts 9:3). His flowing white hair portrays the dazzling, radiant glory of his divine nature and attributes.
As Daniel 7:9 describes the “Ancient of Days” with hair “like pure wool,” Revelation connects this imagery to Jesus, underscoring his majesty and splendor as the Son of God who shares the Father’s glory (John 17:5).
3. It signifies his wisdom and righteousness
White or gray hair was associated with elderly sages and their wisdom. The color white also represents purity, holiness, and righteousness. As the perfectly wise and holy Son of God, Jesus’ white hair symbolizes his moral perfection, spiritual wisdom, and discernment as the divine Judge (John 5:22).
Jesus insightfully judges the church and opens the seals of judgment in Revelation. His white hair thus represents his perfect righteousness, wisdom, and knowledge as he carries out judgment.
4. It conveys his victory and authority
Ancient kings and conquerors were often depicted with white or gray hair, representing their victorious power and authority gained through battle experience. Jesus’ white hair shows he has decisively conquered sin and death through his finished work (Revelation 5:5, 12).
As the risen and enthroned King of kings, Jesus has supreme authority to judge the world. His white hair points to his positional authority gained through his sacrificial victory on the cross.
5. It alludes to his purity and holiness
As white absorbs and reflects all colors of light, it has been used in cultures worldwide to represent purity, innocence, and holiness. In Revelation, white clothing and hair symbolize the saints’ spiritual purity gained through Christ’s blood (7:9, 14).
Similarly, Jesus’ white hair corresponds to the “whiteness as snow” in Daniel 7:9 that represents God’s perfect holiness. Jesus is the thrice-holy Lamb of God (Revelation 4:8; John 1:29) whose holiness and purity qualify him to open the scroll of God’s future judgments (Revelation 5:6, 9).
6. It connects Jesus to the imagery of the Daniel 7 “Son of Man”
Revelation 1 draws heavily on the cosmic vision of the “Son of Man” in Daniel 7:9-14. By describing Jesus with white hair, Revelation connects him to this apocalyptic figure who “was coming with the clouds of heaven” and was given glory, authority, and an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14).
Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophetic vision – the divine-human Messiah who reigns forever. His white hair and associated features identify him as the glorious Son of Man whom Daniel foresaw.
7. It reveals his attributes at his second coming
Though Revelation 1 depicts the resurrected Jesus appearing to John, the vision focuses on representing Jesus’ attributes and role at his second coming. His white hair points ahead to his purity, wisdom, glory, victory, and righteousness when he returns to judge the world and consummate his kingdom.
The biblical imagery of Jesus with white hair succinctly encapsulates key truths about his divine nature and messianic identity to comfort suffering believers as they await his return.
8. It matches other biblical descriptions of glorified beings
Jesus’ white hair corresponds to the appearance of other exalted heavenly beings in Scripture. Daniel’s vision describes an angel with hair “like pure wool” (Daniel 7:9), and the transfigured Jesus with clothes “radiant, intensely white” (Mark 9:3).
The otherworldly whiteness signifies a glorified state reflecting God’s perfect holiness. Jesus’ hair “like white wool” places him among these radiant, exalted figures within biblical prophecy and visions.
9. It represents the sanctifying work of Christ
Wool was used for the priests’ pure white garments in the Old Testament (Exodus 28:42). It was also used in the ritual cleansing of lepers (Leviticus 14:8). White wool thus carries connotations of purification and sanctification.
Jesus’ hair like white wool seems to point to his role as the Great High Priest who makes believers spiritually pure and holy through his atoning sacrifice, as Hebrews 10:10-14 describes.
In Revelation, Jesus’ hair signals that he is the Holy One who sanctifies his people and makes them spiritually spotless through his blood.
10. It symbolizes the end of his earthly sorrows
During his earthly ministry, Jesus was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). But in Revelation, the risen Jesus has passed through suffering into eternal glory and joy.
Some scholars note that white hair on a youthful figure paradoxically represents the end of aging, sorrow, and mortality. Jesus’ glorious white hair thus signifies his victory over the sorrows of his humble, incarnate mission once and for all.
In summary, Jesus’ white wool-like hair in Revelation is rich in symbolic meaning. It conveys his divine glory, wisdom, purity, eternal nature, and messianic authority as the risen Son of Man and coming King. This vivid symbol summarizes profound theology in one compact image to encourage suffering believers with a vision of Christ’s supreme holiness, majesty, and triumph.
Other relevant scriptures
While Revelation 1 provides the clearest description of Jesus’ white, wool-like hair, other passages provide related details about his appearance at his return:
- Matthew 28:3 – “His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.”
- Mark 9:3 – At his transfiguration, Jesus’ clothes became “intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.”
- Daniel 7:9 – The “Ancient of Days” has clothing “white as snow” and hair “like pure wool.”
- Matthew 17:2 – At his transfiguration, Jesus’ face “shone like the sun” in brilliant, white glory.
- Revelation 1:16 – Jesus’ face “shines like the sun” in its full strength.
- Acts 9:3 – A bright light from heaven flashed around the Saul on the Damascus road.
These passages use terms like lightning, the sun, whiteness, and brilliant light to convey the radiance of Jesus’ glory at his second coming. His glorified revelation will be like a burst of pure, white, divine light overpowering the darkness of this world.
Conclusion
Jesus’ white, wool-like hair vividly symbolizes key truths about his divine nature, wisdom, glory, purity, and authoritative reign as the exalted Son of Man. This image provides encouragement to suffering believers and reveals aspects of Christ’s majesty and triumph at his return. It prompts awe, hope, and confident trust in the risen Savior who is coming to make all things new.