What Does The Bible Say About Men With Long Hair?

In today’s society, it’s common to see men with long hair. While cultural norms have shifted over time, there are still some biblical teachings regarding men’s hair length that Christians follow. In this comprehensive article, we’ll examine several relevant bible verses to understand God’s perspective on whether or not men should have long hair.

Old Testament Verses on Men’s Hair Length

Leviticus 19:27 – Don’t cut hair at sides/trim beards

In Leviticus 19:27, God instructs the Israelites, “You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.” This verse indicates that Israelite men were to let their hair and beards grow naturally without cutting the edges or sides.

Trimming or shaping facial hair into particular styles was discouraged. This law promoted an aesthetic of long, untamed hair for ancient Israelite men.

Numbers 6:5 – Nazirites could not cut hair

Numbers 6:5 states that, “All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head. He shall be holy until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord; he shall let the locks of hair on his head grow long.”

This verse describes the special vow of the Nazirites, who consecrated themselves to God by abstaining from wine, not cutting their hair, and avoiding corpse contamination. Their long, uncut hair visibly distinguished them as set apart for God’s purposes.

This law presents long hair as a symbol of spiritual devotion.

2 Samuel 14:26 – Absalom’s long thick hair

2 Samuel 14:26 notes that Absalom, King David’s handsome son, had extremely long and thick hair weighing about 5 pounds! His lengthy locks exemplified virile masculinity. Absalom’s pride in his abundant hair illustrates that long hair on men was seen as aesthetically pleasing and a sign of health and strength in ancient Israelite culture.

Ezekiel 44:20 – Priests must not let hair grow long

Contrasting with the Nazirites, Ezekiel 44:20 states that Levitical priests “shall not shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they shall surely trim the hair of their heads.” Whereas long hair distinguished the Nazirites, God commanded the priests to keep their hair well-groomed and trimmed, probably to maintain an orderly, clean appearance while ministering before Him.

Overall, these verses indicate God regulated men’s hair length in ancient Israel for symbolic purposes.

New Testament Verses on Men’s Hair Length

1 Corinthians 11:14-15 – Long hair dishonorable for men

In 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, Paul states that long hair on men brings dishonor. He appeals to what is considered “nature” and common practice, showing that short hair on men and long hair on women is the cultural norm.

Though cultural norms differ today on appropriate hair lengths, the principle still stands against men having distinctly feminine hairstyles that blur gender distinctions. The core issue is bringing honor versus dishonor based on living according to God’s design.

Reasonable people may disagree on exact lengths, but distinctly feminine styles would still seem inappropriate for men based on this passage.

1 Timothy 4:8 – Bodily training/godliness benefits

While 1 Timothy 4:8 does not directly address hair length issues, it does talk about the benefits of bodily training alongside godliness training. So caring for our physical bodies matters, which might connect to keeping our hair well-maintained and presentable based on cultural norms.

But the spiritual aspect is still more important than the purely external. So while men should keep their hair reasonably short to honor cultural ideals of masculinity, the focus should be on living God-honoring lives not fixating strictly on appearance.

1 Peter 3:3-4 – Focus on inner beauty over outward appearance

Peter advises wives not to be overly focused on external beauty to the neglect of inner godly virtues (1 Peter 3:3-4). While specifically targeted to women here, the general principle would apply to men as well.

So men should aim for reasonable conformity to social norms on hair style, but the maturing of inner godly character takes precedence. Outward appearance alone does not make someone righteous. At the same time, reasonable self-care suggests keeping our physical presentation orderly, not unkept.

But we should not obsess over perfect external appearance to the detriment of focusing on perfecting godly virtues.

Historical Context and Interpretation of these Verses

Cultural norms at the time

In ancient biblical times, shorter hair was the cultural norm for men while women tended to have longer hair. Based on archaeological evidence, Israelite men typically wore their hair short, possibly for practical reasons related to their work and battling the desert climate.

The common hairstyle was likely similar to the Egyptian or Assyrian styles depicted showing hair above the shoulders was seen as unacceptable for men.

Rules specific to priests/Nazirites vs. all men

The biblical injunctions against long hair for men referred specifically to priests and Nazirites who took special religious vows and dedicated themselves to God’s service in unique ways. The rules helped distinguish these holy men from the laypeople.

However, some scholars believe the guidelines reflected ideals for all Israelite men to emulate.

Emphasis on inner spirit over outward appearance

The Bible places more importance on one’s inward spirit and relationship with God rather than simply outward appearance. Rules on hair length served as spiritual object lessons but were not absolute commandments.

Both Jesus and the apostle Paul stressed focusing on the condition of one’s heart and warned against rigid judgments based solely on externals.

Different modern cultural norms and styles

Cultural standards on hair length have changed over the centuries. Today, long hair for men has become more mainstream and socially acceptable. However, within faith communities that uphold the Bible’s divine inspiration, debate continues on how to apply scriptural principles to current grooming styles.

Most focus on cultivating godly attitudes, though some still prohibit long hair for men based on biblical gender distinctions or clergy vestiges.

Pastoral Perspectives on Men’s Hair Today

Views on appropriate hair lengths for men can vary between Christian denominations and individual churches. However, most pastors encourage principles of cleanliness, professionalism, and moderation.

Views may differ between denominations

Some churches strictly require short hair for men based on certain biblical interpretations, while others are more flexible. Certain Anabaptist groups like Amish and Old Order Mennonites mandate short haircuts. More progressive churches focus less on hair length rules.

Focus on cleanliness, professionalism, and moderation

Many pastors urge men to keep their hair clean, well-groomed, and styled appropriately for their work and community context. Very long hair may be discouraged if it looks unkempt or creates an overly casual impression.

Maintaining a professional, respectable appearance is important for male leadership roles in ministry. Extreme hairstyles can detract from a man’s spiritual authority and influence.

Cultural adaptation to styles while adhering to biblical principles

Pastors recognize cultural norms around hairstyles keep evolving over time. Male ponytails becoming more mainstream today would have looked peculiar 30 years ago. Key is adapting appropriately without compromising biblical values of modesty and moderation.

Principles around gender differentiation in dress and appearance trace back to Deuteronomy 22:5’s injunction against cross-dressing practices. Most scholars believe this includes maintaining clearly masculine hairstyles for men rather than intentionally effeminate looks.

Conclusion

While the Bible doesn’t outright forbid men from having long hair, some verses suggest cultural norms at the time favored shorter hair for men. However, the overall focus seems to be on living moderately, being clean and professional, and cultivating godly character more than outward appearance.

Most churches today recognize cultural norms change over time, and the Bible does not prescribe one particular hair length for all men and cultures forever. The key is focusing on inner spirit rather than getting dogmatic over particular styles.

Within these biblical principles, one can apply wisdom to their cultural context. The Bible’s timeless values still ring true even as styles come and go.