Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 11/4/2007

Question
 There is a verse in the Bible that says it is a shame for a man to have long hair. But what about Samson and the Nazarite vow? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Ray,

Thanks for this great question.  The Nzazarite Vow was a very unusual thing and it was an Old Testament Ceremonial ritual that was specific for Jews.  The only way men had long hair was for a specific vow and when the vow was completed, they shaved their hair again.

1 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Hair is an outward distinction between the sexes... God wants there to be a difference clearly seen.

I hope that this helps.

In Christ
Pastor Don