The Bible does not explicitly state that a woman must shave her head. However, there are a few passages that mention head shaving for women in certain contexts.
Instances of Women’s Head Shaving in the Bible
Here are some of the passages that reference head shaving for women:
- Numbers 5:18 – Describes a ritual where a priest uncovers and shaves the head of a woman accused of adultery as part of a trial by ordeal.
- Deuteronomy 21:10-13 – States that a woman captive from war should shave her head before being taken as a wife by an Israelite man.
- Isaiah 3:17, 24 – Lists “baldness” as one of the afflictions that would come upon the women of Jerusalem as a punishment from God.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 – Mentions that it is disgraceful for a woman to have her head shaved or shorn.
The Ritual Shaving of the Adulteress
The most explicit passage about a woman shaving her head is Numbers 5:18, which was part of a ritual procedure to determine if a woman had committed adultery against her husband:
“The priest shall set the woman before the Lord, dishevel the woman’s hair, and place in her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. In his own hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse. Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, ‘If no man has lain with you, if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while under your husband’s authority, be immune to this water of bitterness that brings the curse.'” (Numbers 5:18-19)
As part of this ritual, the priest would uncover or dishevel the hair of the woman as a symbol of shame before making her swear an oath of innocence or guilt. While it does not explicitly mention her head being shaved, some scholars believe this “disheveling” of the hair may have included shaving part or all of the woman’s head as a sign of disgrace upon an adulteress.
Captive Women Shaving Their Heads
Another passage refers to women shaving their heads when taken captive from enemies during war:
“When you go to war against your enemies and the Lord your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives, if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails.” (Deuteronomy 21:10-12)
This shaving of the head was likely a period of mourning and purification before a captive woman was married to an Israelite man. It demonstrated her transition from one way of life to another.
Head Shaving as Punishment and Disgrace
The prophet Isaiah includes head shaving as one of the afflictions that would come upon disobedient women in Jerusalem:
“The Lord says, ‘The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will make their scalps bald.’” (Isaiah 3:16-17)
Baldness and the loss of hair is portrayed as a sign of punishment and disfavor from God, along with other marks of humiliation and suffering.
Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 11:5-6, Paul writes:
“But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.”
Here, Paul argues that it is disgraceful for a woman to worship with an uncovered head, equating it to the shamefulness of having a shaved head. While the passage does not command head shaving, it indicates that in Corinthian society short hair or baldness was viewed as dishonorable for women.
Conclusion
In summary, while the Bible does not overtly command that women must shave their heads, there are a few contexts where women’s head shaving is mentioned:
- As part of a ritual test for adultery
- When taken captive as a wife from enemy nations
- As a sign of punishment and humiliation
However, head shaving was not a general practice for Israelite women. The closest thing to a requirement for women’s head shaving is during the adultery ritual test, but this was likely not a common practice. Overall, the few biblical references view head shaving for women as a sign of disgrace or transition.