Leviticus 19 27

Leviticus 19:27 kjv

Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

Leviticus 19:27 nkjv

You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.

Leviticus 19:27 niv

"?'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

Leviticus 19:27 esv

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

Leviticus 19:27 nlt

"Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards.

Leviticus 19 verses

Leviticus 19 27 Meaning

This verse prohibits Israelites from cutting their hair in a specific manner: rounding off the hair on their temples and mutilating the edges of their beards. This command served as a vital distinction for God's people, separating them from the idolatrous rituals and mourning practices of surrounding pagan nations, where such precise hair and beard trims were associated with cultic worship, devotion to false gods, or ceremonies for the dead. It emphasizes God's call for Israel to embody holiness and unique identity, physically reflecting their exclusive spiritual allegiance to the LORD alone.

Leviticus 19 27 Context

Leviticus chapter 19, widely known as the "Holiness Code," delineates how Israel is to embody its identity as God's set-apart people. Following severe moral and sexual injunctions in chapter 18, this chapter outlines various laws ranging from religious rituals to ethical and social conduct. The central theme, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev 19:2), underpins all its precepts. The prohibition in verse 27 specifically targets physical appearance. In the ancient Near East, certain hair and beard styles were distinctive marks of religious devotion or mourning practices among pagan peoples like the Egyptians, Canaanites, and various desert tribes. These styles were often linked to idol worship, necromancy, or extreme grief rituals. By forbidding such cuts, God ensured Israel's outward distinction mirrored their inward devotion, preventing them from overtly associating with, or inadvertently participating in, these idolatrous or abhorrent customs of the surrounding cultures.

Leviticus 19 27 Word analysis

• "You shall not round off": The Hebrew verb is naqaph (נָקַף). It signifies "to cut around," "to encircle," or "to cut off." This points to a deliberate circular trim of the hair, not a general haircut, specifically outlawing a rounded styling commonly associated with pagan rites or forms of mourning for the dead.
• "the hair on your temples": The Hebrew phrase is pe'ah rosh (פְּאַת רֹאשָׁכֶם). Pe'ah (פֵּאָה) translates to "corner," "side," or "edge," and rosh (רֹאש) means "head." This specifically refers to the side-locks or the hair along the perimeter of the head near the temples. Such a style, whether shorn or rounded, was a common mark of identification for various pagan cults or part of pagan mourning customs in the ancient world.
• "or mar": The Hebrew verb is shaḥath (שָׁחַת). This powerful word conveys "to corrupt," "to spoil," "to ruin," "to destroy," or "to mutilate." It denotes more than a mere trim; it suggests a defacing or deliberate action that alters the beard in a way considered abhorrent or ritually impure by God. This indicates a deep defilement rather than simple grooming.
• "the edges of your beard": The Hebrew phrase is pe'ath zqankem (פְּאַת זְקַנְכֶם). Again, pe'ah (פֵּאָה) means "corner" or "edge," and zaqan (זָקָן) means "beard." This refers to the outermost parts or contours of the beard. Just like with temple hair, specific alterations to the beard—such as shaving it entirely (though general shaving of beard was permissible if not for cultic reasons) or trimming it to match a pagan style or marking it with specific "cuts" on the sides—were closely tied to pagan religious practices or their unique expressions of mourning.

Words-group analysis

• "You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard": This dual prohibition on specific areas of male facial hair signifies more than just aesthetic regulations. The emphasis on "corners" or "edges" (pe'ah) underscores that the concern was not with everyday grooming but with cultic modification of the hair and beard. These were not merely external choices but potent public symbols, indicating the wearer's allegiance. By forbidding such practices, God commanded Israel to be physically distinct, openly proclaiming their separation from the detestable religious and mourning customs of their neighbors. This served as a constant reminder of their call to be a holy nation, separate in every facet of their existence, thereby reflecting God's unique and set-apart nature.

Leviticus 19 27 Bonus section

The regulations concerning hair and beard styles in Leviticus, especially those mentioned in this verse and for priests (Lev 21:5), reveal a crucial aspect of ancient Near Eastern identity. For example, some Arabian tribes shaved or styled their hair on the temples (known as *qazâ') as a devotion to a specific deity. Similarly, various peoples used hair and beard mutilation as extreme expressions of mourning, often intertwined with superstitious or idolatrous veneration of the dead, practices explicitly forbidden to Israel (Deu 14:1). God’s law therefore acted as a direct counter-measure, preventing the spiritual dilution that often accompanies cultural assimilation. These commands ensured Israel's social and religious customs clearly differentiated them as followers of the One True God, highlighting that even personal aesthetics held spiritual significance in the journey of holiness.

Leviticus 19 27 Commentary

Leviticus 19:27 provides a clear injunction within God's comprehensive Holiness Code, forbidding specific styles of male hair and beards. The intent of this law was not a blanket ban on all hair cutting or beard trimming, but a precise prohibition against practices tied to the pagan cults and mourning rites prevalent in surrounding nations. Such specific cuts or mutilations of the temple hair and beard edges were characteristic identifiers of idolatrous priests, adherents to false gods, or those engaged in mourning ceremonies that often involved pagan beliefs about the dead. God desired His people, Israel, to be distinct and consecrated, visible and unyielding in their exclusive devotion to Him. This law embodies the profound principle that outward appearance can directly reflect one's spiritual allegiance. For New Covenant believers, while the literal prohibition on hair or beard style does not apply, the underlying principle of non-conformity to the patterns of this world that stand against God remains essential (Rom 12:2). For instance, a Christian would not participate in fashion or ritualistic adornment if it inherently identified them with or promoted ideologies or spiritual practices contrary to the faith in Christ.