The Bible does not contain any direct commands about shaving or not shaving. However, there are some passages that mention shaving and provide principles that can guide believers on this issue.
Old Testament References to Shaving
In the Old Testament, shaving was often associated with mourning, humiliation, or making a special vow. Here are some examples:
- When Job suffered the loss of his children and possessions, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20). Shaving his head was an outward sign of his mourning and anguish.
- God commanded Ezekiel to shave his head and beard as a prophetic sign to illustrate the coming destruction of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 5:1-4).
- When God gave the law to Moses, he commanded that if a man made a special vow to be a Nazirite, “he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long” (Numbers 6:3-5). So not shaving was part of fulfilling a special vow of holiness and consecration to the Lord for a period of time.
- When David’s enemies were captured, “he cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away” (2 Samuel 10:4). Cutting off their garments was a form of humiliation and shaming.
So in the Old Testament, shaving was sometimes done in the context of mourning, vows, humiliation of enemies, or prophetic signs. The act of shaving or not shaving carried symbolic meaning in specific contexts.
New Testament References to Shaving
The New Testament also contains a few references to shaving:
- Jesus told a parable contrasting a Pharisee who “stood and prayed about himself” with a tax collector who “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'” (Luke 18:11-13). Jesus said the tax collector “went down to his house justified.” In this parable, Jesus seems to associate not lifting up one’s eyes with humility. Since men’s eyes were more visible when they shaved their heads or faces, this may imply that ostentatious shaving could be viewed as a lack of humility.
- When Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem, there was a plot by some Jews to kill him. Paul’s nephew heard about the plot and reported it to the Roman tribune. “The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, ‘What is it that you have to tell me?’ And he said, ‘The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.’ So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, ‘Tell no one that you have informed me of these things'” (Acts 23:19-22). The fact that the men had bound themselves by an oath to not eat or drink reminds us that shaving was often connected with making a vow or oath.
- Paul writes about Christian liberty in 1 Corinthians 8-10. In 1 Corinthians 11:14, he makes this interesting statement: “Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him.” This seems to suggest that men cutting their hair was viewed as culturally appropriate in that context. So while women could have long hair, men were encouraged to cut their hair.
Principles About Shaving from Scripture
While the Bible does not directly command for or against shaving, some principles can be drawn from these passages:
- Shaving is not inherently good or bad in itself. Like many practices, the meaning attributed to it depends on the context and motivations involved.
- God is concerned with the heart attitude behind our actions more than the physical actions themselves. Pride, ostentation, and drawing undue attention to oneself is warned against, whether in relation to shaving or anything else.
- Both men and women are encouraged to avoid undue obsession with the external appearance, and to instead focus on cultivating inner godliness, virtue, faith, and a gentle spirit (see 1 Peter 3:1-6, 1 Timothy 2:8-10).
- Believers should be slow to judge others based on differences in things like grooming practices, which are not central to the gospel. The kingdom of God centers on righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, not superficial externals (see Romans 14:17).
- Christians are free to abstain from or partake in common grooming practices according to their own convictions before God and their interpretation of biblical principles. But they should not impose their own preferences as commandments on others (see Romans 14:1-12).
- In matters without a direct biblical command one way or another, a believer’s own conscience guided by Scripture, the Spirit’s wisdom, godly counsel, cultural considerations, and bringing glory to God should determine his or her practices (see 1 Corinthians 8:7-13, 1 Corinthians 10:23-33).
So in summary, the Bible does not prohibit or command shaving outright for all people in all places. Principles such as avoiding vanity, humbly considering others above ourselves, refraining from judgements about disputable matters, and living according to personal conscience can help guide individual choices about shaving.
Common Questions About the Bible and Shaving
Here are answers to some common questions people have about what the Bible says regarding shaving:
Is it a sin for men to shave their beards?
The Bible nowhere prohibits men from shaving or trimming their beards. Scripture emphasizes the importance of the heart and does not spell out regulations about beards. Christians have liberty to follow local cultural standards about grooming, provided their motives are pure and not centered on vanity.
Is it biblical for men to have long hair?
The Bible does not forbid men from having long hair outright. Scriptural principles suggest avoiding ostentation and honor local cultural norms about appearance. 1 Corinthians 11:14 suggests it was culturally inappropriate in Corinth for men to have long hair. But this does not mean it is inherently sinful. Believers must follow personal conscience informed by biblical values.
Is it permissible for Christian women to shave?
The Bible does not prohibit women from shaving or trimming hair. Biblical instructions for women emphasize modesty, good works, and the inner person over outward appearance. Female believers have liberty to follow cultural standards of appropriate grooming, provided they do so with pure motivations and avoidance of vanity.
Do Nazirite vows prohibit shaving?
In the Old Testament, men or women taking a special vow as a Nazirite were commanded to not cut their hair for the duration of the vow (Numbers 6:5). This appeared to be a special requirement only for the period of the vow. Unless a believer today is a under a similar special vow before God, the instructions about Nazirites do not seem to forbid shaving altogether.
Does shaving one’s head symbolize mourning in the Bible?
Shaving one’s head or beard was a cultural practice associated with mourning in some Old Testament contexts (Job 1:20, Isaiah 15:2). However, this was not commanded universally. The symbolism of mourning by shaving depended on the cultural context. It is not inherently sinful to shave while mourning today, unless done for purposes of ostentatious piety.
Is shaving part of holy living?
Outward practices like shaving are not inherently “holy” or “unholy” on their own. The Bible places emphasis on the internal disposition of the heart. Holy living is cultivated by renewing the mind, becoming Christlike, and living by the Spirit. External grooming practices should be an outflow of this inner renewal, not a basis for judgements (Romans 12:1-2, Romans 14:17).
In summary, the Bible does not definitively command for or against shaving in all times, places, and situations. Principles emphasizes wise, humble, considerate, and pure motives in these matters of personal conscience and freedom for believers.
Examples of Shaving in Church History
Looking at how Christians in church history relate to shaving can provide helpful models for applying biblical principles:
- Early Church: Clergy shaved daily as a matter of routine. Lay Christians adopted various cultural standards of the day regarding shaving and hair length.
- Middle Ages: Monks often shaved the tops of their heads in a “tonsure” cut to denote their religious devotion. Many lay men were either clean-shaven or had longer beards.
- Reformation Era: Reformers like Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli allowed clergy to grow out their beards and did not enforce particular grooming rules. They reacted against imposed medieval regulations.
- Puritans: Some Puritan preachers like John Cotton prohibited “long hair” for men based on 1 Corinthians 11:14. Men’s hair was kept fairly short by today’s standards.
- Today: Most church leaders do not impose specific rules about shaving. Believers follow cultural norms, while avoiding judgmentalism about disputable matters of personal conscience.
This shows believers have exercised liberty and wisdom in applying biblical principles to the issue of shaving throughout church history. Customs have adapted to culture while maintaining focus on the heart.
Reasons Believers Today Shave or Don’t Shave
Why might a Christian today choose to shave or not shave? Here are some common motivations:
- To adhere to cultural standards of professionalism in one’s community or vocation
- To appear well-groomed and convey dignity and self-control
- To avoid offending those who may view beards negatively in certain associations
- To prevent an ostentatious or unkempt appearance that could hurt gospel witness
- To look outwardly different than secular society as a gesture of spiritual distinction
- To embrace natural hair growth as a matter of personal preference
- To appear approachable and relatable in evangelistic contexts
- To avoid excessive time and energy devoted to removing hair
- To follow one’s conscience before God in a spirit of wisdom and freedom
Each person must carefully consider their own motivations. Biblical principles should guide these personal decisions.
How to Decide About Shaving According to Scripture
How should a Christian make decisions about shaving in light of biblical teaching?
- Consider cultural context and make choices that show respect for others and avoid offense when possible (1 Cor. 10:32-33).
- Focus on developing inner godly virtues rather than being overly scrupulous about externals (1 Tim. 2:8-10, 1 Pet. 3:1-6).
- Act based on personal conviction guided by scriptural principles, not legalistic rules (Rom. 14:5).
- Avoid bonding your conscience to practices that are matters of freedom (1 Cor. 8:9).
- Be fully convinced in your own mind and act in faith according to your conscience (Rom. 14:22-23).
- Do not judge or despise other believers who shave differently (Rom. 14:10).
- Aim to glorify God and reflect Christ in all grooming choices (1 Cor. 10:31).
Applying these biblical guidelines with wisdom, humility, and faithfulness allows room for freedom and conscience for each person.
Conclusion
The Bible does not directly prohibit or command shaving for all believers at all times. Key principles emphasize motives, cultural adaptation, avoidance of vanity, focus on the inner person, conscience, liberty, and seeking to glorify God. Throughout history, Christians have applied these principles in diverse ways related to shaving based on personal convictions. With the Spirit’s guidance and biblical values in view, believers today can prayerfully decide whether to shave or not according to their own understanding.