Hair Doctrine

by Stan Hallett

I suffer a little persecution in the Church from brethren for this doctrinal stand, but never the less I feel led to tell the truth in an effort to put an end to what I believe is false teaching, legalism and persecution in the Church.

I firmly believe that any saint of God of that can separate themselves from the prejudices and man-made traditions for long enough to prayerfully study out what Paul was actually saying to the Corinthians, will see the truth of the matter. Let's take the applicable verses in order, verse by verse.

1 Corinthians 11:3 - "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

Paul begins to explain the order of things as ordained by God. He begins by letting them know that Jesus is the head of man and the head of the woman is the man to begin to explain the proper relationship of men and women that appears to be somewhat out of order with the Church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 11:4,5 - "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven."

Here he goes on to explain the difference between the man and the woman in relationship with God and one another. He is not yet speaking of hair but saying that a man should not have his head covered while praying or prophesying, yet a woman should have her head covered. In fact if a woman does not have her head covered it is as if she were shaven. In other words it's a shame to her just as if it would be if she were shaven. Paul goes on to explain . . .

1 Corinthians 11:6 - "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."

Here Paul is talking about a covering that is separate from the hair. But he is saying if she is not covered while she is prophesying or praying it is a shame to her just as it would be if she were shaven or shorn. So if she is not covered let her also be shorn. A close study reveals two things here.

1. Paul is speaking of a covering other than hair and comparing the lack of this covering while praying or prophesying as shameful to a woman as it would be if she were shorn or shaven.

2. He is using the terms shorn or shaven as though they were the same or similar things and indeed they are.

Shorn = 3 times, Cut = 308 times

The word "shorn" is used only three times in the entire collection of books and letters we call the Bible. Each time it is used it is referring to, or relating to something as sheep are shorn. Paul uses "shaven" or "shorn" here as though they were similar or the same thing. Shaving is the removal of all hair to the skin's surface by shaving with a sharp razor-like instrument. Shorn refers to removing all hair or wool by using sheers, cutting as close to the skins surface as possible, therefore removing all the hair or wool possible.

Song of Solomon 4:2 - "Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them."

This scripture refers to the evenness as when sheep are shorn because they are no longer wooly and uneven but shorn and smooth and even to the appearance having been shorn with all wool removed.

Acts 18:18 - "And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow."

I think we can agree that in this passage Paul has shorn his head as sheep are shorn and therefore removed all his hair with sheers. I don't think anyone would say that he simply trimmed his hair or cut off his split ends. No, he cut off all of his hair with sheers because of his vow.

1 Corinthians 11:6 – "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."

This is the third and last place this word shorn is used in the Bible. Any astute Bible scholar looking for the truth can see that Paul is using the terms or actions shorn and shaven as though they were the same or very similar things.

If we want to just find the definition we like that agrees with our own doctrine it is not hard to do. If you look up the word "shorn" in most modern dictionaries you will indeed find as one of the definitions that it means to cut. You can accept this as a vindication if you wish and say "see, I was right" but you would be wrong. Certainly cutting is being done, but the word shorn had a definite meaning in both the Old and New Testaments.

In the Old Testament the word shorn is translated from the Hebrew word "qatsab" pronounced kaw-tsab’. It's meaning according to Strong's means to cut down or to cut off as in the removal of all. In the New Testament the word shorn is translated from the Greek word "keiro" pronounced ki’-ro. It’s meaning according to Strong's is 1) to sheer: a sheep 2) to get or let be shorn 3) of shearing or cutting short the hair of the head.

Shorn is used in the Bible 3 times, however the word cut is used in the Bible 308 times. If Paul meant that it was a shame for women to cut their hair in any fashion he would have said "cut".

He was not speaking of cutting the hair. He was saying only that a woman should keep her hair long and that it was a shame for women to shave or sheer off all of their hair. Likewise it was a shame for a man to have long hair.

We Have No Such Custom

1 Corinthians 11:16 – "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

This verse I believe has confused many and has been grossly misunderstood by most. Over time many words have a different meaning than they did two-thousand years ago. There are two basic definitions for the word "custom" just as there was when Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians. The first one was "telonion" pronounced tel-o’-nee-on in the Greek. It means such as a tax or a toll that is required to be paid. Today this word is used more in reference to a government division that enforces immigration and other laws pertaining to persons and items entering into this county. In some cases items are confiscated and in some cases a tax (custom) is charged.

The other word in the New Testament translated to the word as "custom" is the Greek word "sunetheia" pronounced soon-ay’-thi-ah. This is the word that Paul uses above in 1 Corinthians 11:16. This word has also changed somewhat. If you look this up in Strong's or in just about any dictionary it will give you the modern definition which means being used to, accustomed. However, the Jews were much more stringent with their traditions and customs. A much better word to have been used in this translation would have been rule or law. A custom to the Jews was not just a habit or a tradition, it was required.

The truth of the matter is by our modern definition of the word custom the Church indeed did have a custom of women keeping their hair long and men keeping their hair short. However Paul was saying that if any man appeared to be contentious over it that it was not a rule or a requirement in the Church. It was a good teaching and a practice but Paul did not want the Church to argue over it and get their eyes off what was important. So what has happened today in the Church? Just what Paul was trying to avoid.

Much of the Church has taken a misinterpreted letter written by Paul to the Church at Corinth with what was intended to be some good teachings for that Church and many have now made it into law. This one improper interpretation and tradition made law alone has caused more division in the Church than any other I can think of.

This writing is the copyright of Stan Hallett and is reprinted on this site by permission. He operates the Apostolic Voice web site. You may write him at .

Page added January 25, 2007

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