Bible Dictionaries
Beard

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The mode of wearing it was definitely prescribed to the Jews (Leviticus 19:27; 21:5 ). Hence the import of Ezekiel's (5:1-4) description of the "razor" i.e., the agents of an angry providence being used against the guilty nation of the Jews. It was a part of a Jew's daily toilet to anoint his beard with oil and perfume (Psalm 133:2 ). Beards were trimmed with the most fastidious care (2 Samuel 19:24 ), and their neglet was an indication of deep sorrow (Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 41:5 ). The custom was to shave or pluck off the hair as a sign of mourning (Isaiah 50:6; Jeremiah 48:37; Ezra 9:3 ). The beards of David's ambassadors were cut off by hanun (2 Samuel 10:4 ) as a mark of indignity.

On the other hand, the Egyptians carefully shaved the hair off their faces, and they compelled their slaves to do so also (Genesis 41:14 ).