Dict: smith - HAIR

smith:

HAIR - H>@ - The Hebrews were fully alive to the importance of the hair as an element of personal beauty. Long hair was admired in the case of young men. (2 Samuel 14:26) In times of affliction the hair was altogether cut off. kjv@Isaiah:3:17 kjv@Isaiah:3:24 kjv@Isaiah:15:2; kjv@Jeremiah:7:29) Tearing the hair kjv@Ezra:9:3) and letting it go dishevelled were similar tokens of grief. The usual and favorite color of the hair was black, (Solomon kjv@5:11) as is indicated in the comparisons in (Solomon kjv@1:5; 4:1) a similar hue is probably intended by the purple of (Solomon kjv@7:6) Pure white hair was deemed characteristic of the divine Majesty. kjv@Daniel:7:9; kjv@Revelation:1:14) The chief beauty of the hair consisted in curls, whether of a natural or an artificial character. With regard to the mode of dressing the hair, we have no very precise information; the terms used are of a general character, as of Jezebel, ( kjv@2Kings:9:30) and of Judith, ch. 10:3, and in the New Testament, ( kjv@1Timothy:2:9; kjv@1Peter:3:3) The arrangement of Samson’s hair into seven locks, or more properly braids, kjv@Judges:16:13 kjv@Judges:16:19) involves the practice of plaiting, which was also familiar to the Egyptians and Greeks. The locks were probably kept in their place by a fillet, as in Egypt. The Hebrews like other nations of antiquity, anointed the hair profusely with ointments, which were generally compounded of various aromatic ingredients, kjv@Ruth:3:3; 2 Samuel 14:2; kjv@Psalms:23:6 kjv@Psalms:92:10; kjv@Ecclesiastes:9:8) more especially on occasions of festivity or hospitality. kjv@Luke:7:46) It appears to have been the custom of the Jews in our Saviour’s time to swear by the hair, kjv@Matthew:5:36) much as the Egyptian women still swear by the side-locks, and the men by their beards.