In this video, I’m answering the question; “What Does the Bible Say about Shaving Your Beard?”

It may sound like a silly question at first, but it’s a question that I see come up fairly often and in various contexts, so I think it’s worth addressing.

I’ll say right off the top that it’s not a silly question, and in fact, there are commandments in the Bible addressing beards.

But the bible does not explicitly say whether or not it is a sin to shave your beard.

Two of the most well-known and often quoted verses addressing beards are from the Book of Leviticus, and these are:

Leviticus 19:27, which reads:

“You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.”

So, what does this mean? Is this verse saying that men shouldn’t shave their beards?

Well, not at all, as with most if not all verses from the Book of Leviticus, context is everything.

This passage is instructing the Israelites not to cut their hair at the sides or mar their beards in order to avoid looking like the people of the nations around them.

By not shaving their hair, the Israelites were actually showing that they worshiped the one true God.

It’s also believed this command was given at the time to prevent the Israelites from participating in practices associated with witchcraft.

Today, we can still apply this passage by not trying to imitate the world in our appearance or by not trying to idolize anyone.

But as you can see, the meaning behind the passage isn’t what some first interpret.

The other passage I often see quoted when talking about beards is Leviticus 21:5, which reads:

“They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body.”

Leviticus 21:5 is part of a larger section of the Bible that outlines the qualifications for being a priest in the Israelite community.

In this verse, God is instructing the Israelites that their priests must not make baldness on their heads, shave off the corners of their beards, or make any cuttings in their flesh.

These are not commandments for all Christians and followers of God, therefore it’s not something we should take literally today.

What do beards symbolize in the Bible?

Whether you choose to have a beard or not, there is no doubt that beards are featured prominently throughout the Bible, and are especially associated with priests and other religious figures.

However, God never explicitly tells us why beards are so holy or gives any direction on how one should display their beard.

In the absence of any divine exposition, I frequently see it theorized that a beard is a symbol of masculinity bestowed upon men by God - and I know that to many Christians, a beard signifies dedication and spirituality.

If you’re thinking about growing or shaving your beard in any particular way, the only question you should be asking yourself is; “What are my motivations?”

As long as you’re displaying your facial hair for reasons that honor god and shows your love for him, you’re free to act according to your personal preference.

Thanks for watching, if you have any comments, questions, or feedback about this video or topic, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

If you found this interesting or informative, please don’t forget to subscribe and press the link button to help this video and God’s word reach more people - god bless!

#bibleverses #god #christians #beards

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
00:41 - Leviticus 19;27
01:51 - Leviticus 21;5
02:29 - What do beards symbolize in the Bible?
03:15 - What are your motivations?
03:30 - Conclusion

Video editing including stock footage and audio was done using VEED editing software under their licensing terms.

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