Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, April 17th, 2024
the Third Week after Easter
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more! Bible Encyclopedias
Baldness
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Search for…
or
bôld´ness קרחה , ḳorḥāh ̌ : The reference in the Bible to baldness is not to the natural loss of hair, but to baldness produced by shaving the head. This was practiced as a mark of mourning for the dead (Leviticus 21:5; Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 22:12 ); as the result of any disaster (Amos 8:10; Micah 1:16 ). The custom arose from the fact that the hair was regarded as a special ornament. It was the custom of the people of the land, and the Israelites were strictly forbidden to practice it (Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1 ). These are striking passages with reference to the knowledge the Israelites had concerning the future life. This is saying to them what Paul said to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:13 ). To call one a "bald head" was an epithet of contempt, and was sometimes applied to persons who were not naturally bald. It was the epithet applied by certain infidel young men to Elisha (2 Kings 2:23 , 2 Kings 2:24 ). In a figurative sense it is used to express the barrenness of the country (Jeremiah 47:5 ). See HAIR; SHAVING .
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and were generously provided by the folks at WordSearch Software.
Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Baldness'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/b/baldness.html. 1915.
