Bible Dictionaries
Hair

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

denotes the "hair," whether of beast, as of the camel's "hair" which formed the raiment of John the Baptist, Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6; or of man. Regarding the latter (a) it is used to signify the minutest detail, as that which illustrates the exceeding care and protection bestowed by God upon His children, Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7; 21:18; Acts 27:34; (b) as the Jews swore by the "hair," the Lord used the natural inability to make one "hair" white or black, as one of the reasons for abstinence from oaths, Matthew 5:36; (c) while long "hair" is a glory to a woman (see B), and to wear it loose or dishevelled is a dishonor, yet the woman who wiped Christ's feet with her "hair" (in place of the towel which Simon the Pharisee omitted to provide), despised the shame in her penitent devotion to the Lord (slaves were accustomed to wipe their masters' feet), Luke 7:38,44 (RV, "hair"); see also John 11:2; 12:3; (d) the dazzling whiteness of the head and "hair" of the Son of Man in the vision of Revelation 1:14 is suggestive of the holiness and wisdom of "the Ancient of Days;" (e) the long "hair" of the spirit-beings described as locusts in Revelation 9:8 is perhaps indicative of their subjection of their satanic master (cp. 1 Corinthians 11:10 , RV); (f) Christian women are exhorted to refrain from adorning their "hair" for outward show, 1 Peter 3:3 .

Note: Goat's hair was used in tentmaking, as, e.g., in the case of Paul's occupation, Acts 18:3; the haircloth of Cilicia, his native province, was noted, being known in commerce as cilicium.

is used only of "human hair," but not in the NT of the ornamental. The word is found in 1 Corinthians 11:15 , where the context shows that the "covering" provided in the long "hair" of the woman is as a veil, a sign of subjection to authority, as indicated in the headships spoken of in 1 Corinthians 11:1-10 .

signifies "to let the hair grow long, to wear long hair," a glory to a woman, a dishonor to a man (as taught by nature), 1 Corinthians 11:14,15 .

akin to A, No. 1, signifies "hairy, made of hair," Revelation 6:12 , lit., "hairy sackcloth." Cp. SACKCLOTH.