of Beards have been associated with power for centuries. On the other hand, the passage also describes things that may not be immediately understandable. Joe He was a priest and he played a key role in leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. It was not the oil that was holy but the mixture. That said, the symbolism of a beard is so strong in the Bible bordering honor on one side and shame on the other depending on how it was treated. This shows us how important beards were in biblical times. 3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon. This is because they were often associated with prophets and other religious figures. Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. Whether or not to grow a beard is a personal decision for each Christian man. Many Christians called the weeks-long worship service at the small Wilmore, Ky. school, which attracted tens of thousands and disrupted campus life, a . Verse 2. Just as he says, we should be holy because he is holy, the beard seems to tap into that holiness. The Bible is full of interesting characters, and many of them had beards. What a picture of unity. As they journey through the desert, Israel grumbles about many things, the lack of food, the scarcity of water, the presence of enemies. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! A Man With a Beard by subhamshome from Pixabay.Dew Covering a Field of Spring Flowers by Zazu70 from Pixabay. In contrast, Romans often shaved their facial hair. The oil was poured on Aarons head and flowed downward, from the top of the head, to the beard, to the collar, and beyond. One is that beards were simply more common in biblical times than they are today. Here are 20 verses related with the popularity level of each verse. The beard was an outward sign of each mans obedience to the Law and consecration to God. John the Baptist is mentioned in the Bible as having a beard and longer hair. In of itself, this worship was a great blessing, but the psalm ends with something else. Skirts Not to the lower skirt or bottom of his sacerdotal garment, but to the upper skirt of it, or the mouth of it, as the Hebrew . So, while its difficult to say for certain, it seems likely that at least some of the New Testament prophets grew beards. In fact, until the 20th century, most men in most cultures had beards, and it was only in the last century or so that beards have become less popular. In fact, of the three siblings - Miriam, Aaron, and Moses - Moses is the youngest. And oh, how good it is when we embrace that unity, when we practice it, when we foster and treasure it. . Verse 2. The Surprising Truth. Its like the special olive oil that was poured on Aarons head. He believes it is more important than ever before to help people find a genuine faith. Your Bible question was: Inasmuch as was beard was a sign of honor, priesthood, and anointing, it had to be taken care of by trimming. Researchers and archeologists havent discovered any pictures or sculptures of Jesus that date back to the time of his birth and resurrection. Aarons staff blossoms (Numbers 17:8). The gospel of Luke records that John the baptizer is born to a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and his wife Elizabeth, also a descendant of Aaron (Luke 1:5). It is goodobjectively rightwhen there is unity between brothers, between those who are children of a common Father. It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar. It also doesnt mean that your beard contributes to your wisdom. The oil used to anoint Aaron was holy anointing oil. It was a feature that was very likely to strike his mind; for he, too, was a wasteful man in his way. He then leads the people in a festival that includes all types of revelry. However, beards were seen as a sign of masculinity and power in biblical times, so God likely saw them as an important part of a mans appearance as an adorned man and part of his manly dignity who God created in His own image. What about the dew of Hermon? Aaron is not simply the sidekick to Moses. 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; Samson JUDGES 16:17In the Bible . Find It has a sweet perfume about it, comparable to that precious ointment with which the first High Priest was anointed at his ordination. They also argue that beards are a sign of respect and authority. Ezra was so upset when he heard about the Israelites sin that he tore his robe, pulled out even all his hair, and shaved his beard because he was so greatly ashamed to an incredible degree. In the same way that oil was poured onto Aaron by someone else, unity was poured onto the people by God. One metaphor that has always intrigued me is at the center of one of the shortest psalmsPsalm 133. Brotherly love comes from the head, but falls to the feet. Moses, originally, rejects this divine commission. In the Book of Leviticus 19:27, the Bible instructs the people of Israel on how they ought to carry themselves. The manna declares Gods miraculous sustenance for the people, the tablets of the 10 commandments contain the divine law which would serve to govern their lives in the Promised Land, and Aarons staff testified to the spiritual priesthood the Lord raised up for the people. This is no truer than when it comes to Aaron. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Sam is a founder and editor of Catholics & Bible. Even today, these passages influence Orthodox Jewish men in how they wear their hair and trim their beards. How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, # en and Now (New York: Free Press, 2007), 241-42. Worn Long by Aaron PSALM 133:2In the Bible Verse Meaning. For the oil was not sprinkled on the head of Aaron, though that might have been sufficient for the purpose of a mere ceremony. Some pictures of Jesus also show him as a young man when he would not have been old enough to grow a beard. Hi! Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! The idea of brethren in unity is connected to the wise hearted, who are filled with the spirit of wisdom and who were asked to make the robes of service for glory and beauty. As a Levitical priest, Aaron oversees the religious life of Israel. Those who receive a divine commission from the Lord do not leave their flawed humanity behind. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. The earliest pictures of Jesus date from 200-300 years after his birth. 10:24). He had danced before the Lord, for example, when the ark was brought up from the house of Obededom to Jerusalem, forgetful of his dignity, exceeding the bounds of decorum, and, as it might seem, without excuse, as a much less hearty demonstration would have served the purpose of a religious solemnity. Moses is the baby of the family. They also believe in a strict code of conduct, which includes not cutting their hair or shaving their beards. The answer is found in Exodus 30:22-33. Aaron is no mere sidekick. Rather, it is surely a reference to the holy oil that is described in Exodus 30:22-25. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. As the psalm continues, two images are employed to help illustrate the goodness of unity. And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Jeremiah writes about shaven beards as a sign of mourning in, Isaiah proclaimed Judahs enemies would have their beards would be cut off as a sign of Gods judgment in, When Ezra heard about the spiritual unfaithfulness in Israel he pulled hair from his beard to show his shock and horror (. It might seem as if it were better not to smear his garments with oil, but the sacred unguent could not be restrained, it flowed over his holy robes; even thus does brotherly love not only flow over the hearts upon which it was first poured out, and descend to those who are an inferior part of the mystical body of Christ, but it runs where it is not sought for, asking neither leave nor license to make its way. You can follow Penny on herblogand on Instagram@pennynoyes. This was a common behavior and practice among the priests of the gods that the other nations worshiped. It was not until the Middle Ages that beards became popular among Christian me. In fact, it is considered a religious obligation for some Jewish men to grow a beard. In Ezekiel 5:1, we see that God told Ezekiel to shave his head and beard as a sign of mourning. Beards In affliction Was shorn Jeremiah 41:5 Verse Concepts As we grow in unity with God, we can also have unity with the saints, and enjoy that good and pleasant blessing. 2 It is like perfumed oil poured on the priest's head. 3. Inasmuch as was beard was a sign of honor, priesthood, and anointing, it had to be taken care of by trimming. Today, a small white mosque stands on top Mount Hor, on the spot said to be the burial place of Aaron. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard that went down to the skirts of his garments. However, he ends the section with words of hope. After Mephibosheth was accused of betrayal by his servant (2 Samuel 16:1-4), he stopped washing his clothes and trimming his beard as a sign of his concern. We read about this in Exodus 28. . Another ancient picture of Jesus, as a beardless young man, was found in the Roman Catacombs. Much of the Law dealt with living in a community. English Standard Version This is a poetic celebration of brotherhood, of harmony. Gods people today, like Gods people in that day, have been given his gift of unity. How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (NASB) 1 Cor. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. when God's people live together in peace! The scripture compares this unity to the anointing of Aaron for priesthood. It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard. Precious ointment upon the head. Here is a portion of that passage. Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular, Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular, Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular, The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to, Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular, Extension, height, breadth, a measure, a portion, a vestment, tribute, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Poetry: Psalm 133:2 It is like the precious oil (Psalm Ps Psa. It says. All Rights Reserved. There is no evidence that any of the early Christian men had beards. The answer is found in Psalm 133:2: "It is like the precious ointment upon God has put murderers with those who hate, thieves with those who lie, homosexuals with those who lust, one race with another race, parents with children, wealthy with the poor, and the lazy with the diligent. God expected his children to obey for their own good. How Long to Grow a Goatee in 6 Easy Steps, Beard Growth Science: Average Beard Growth Rate, 12 Unusual Foods that Help Grow Facial Hair, Trimming Beard Tips: Everything to Know About Trimming Your Facial Hair, Beard Moisturizer: Everything About Beard and Face Lotion, Beard Dandruff: Easily Get Rid of It for Good, Styling a Beard: 6 Best Tips To Get it Right, Hair Shampoo on Your Beard? It is considered a religious obligation for some Muslim men to grow a beard. All rights reserved. Psl. Aaron is relegated to sidekick status. BibleStudyTools.com, Beard. Eastons Bible Dictionary. Men with Sikh hair can wear a long goatee or beard beads. Thank you so much for this insight shared!! The people of Israel would bring their prayer items to the priests and the priest would present them before the Lord at the altar. The holy anointing oil was a mixture of four spices in oil. By the grace of God, I seek to teach the Bible with clarity through my blog articles and eBooks. It is goodobjectively rightwhen there is unity between brothers, between those who are children of a common Father. Aaron's Beard, or St. John's Wort, is a flowering deciduous herbaceous shrub or small tree, excellent for use on extreme slopes or sandy soils. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. (2 Samuel 19:24). "The Lord Bless you and keep you;The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.". It "ran down", and it" went down": love for the brethren condescends to men of low estate, it is not puffed up, but is lowly and meek. The Lord is not likely to use for his glory those who are devoid of love; they lack the anointing needful to make them priests unto the Lord. Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?. Did young men in the Bible let their beards grow? 133:1-2. Perhaps this gives rationale for Moses hesitancy to take up the call of God, and why the arrival of Aaron helped Moses accept this divine commission. . God heard his prayer and Hezekiah was miraculously healed. As an affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. It was objective reality for them and it is an objective reality for us. Jewish Men Took Care of Their Beards Except in Unusual Circumstances. After a lengthy discussion, Moses defiantly asks Please send someone else (Exodus 4:13). At one point in their journey, however, a group of Levites revolt against Moses and Aaron believing that the two brothers have unduly exalted themselves. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Beards are considered very important to the Hasidic community and a mans beard signifies often a symbol of religious devotion, symbolizing godly men through their physical appearance. From this point on, Aaron adopts a ministry that is uniquely his own. Having a beard with uncut corners set Jesus and other Jewish men apart from other people who lived in Judea and Samaria. New International Version (NIV). Yes, thats where. Aaron's beard may refer to the following plants having numerous stamens or threadlike runners: . Archeologists discovered it in Syria on a wall in the Dura-Europos church, one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. In Leviticus, God gave his people specific instructions that proscribed how priests and individual men in the community were to take care of their beards and hair. To understand this verse of scripture, we must look at the beginning of Chapter 19. By 400 C.E., most artists were depicting Jesus with a beard. Wesley's Psalms 133:2 Bible Commentary. Jesus often articulates the themes and events of the Exodus, applying them to his messianic mission. The blessing. In fact, the Hasidic sect of Judaism is known for its bearded men. In Leviticus 21:5, the Bible says. Here are both verses together. "It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe." (Psalms 133:2) Neglecting one's beard was unusual. Did Any New Testament Prophets Grow Beards? It is a great reminder for us that we need each other to provoke one another to love and good deeds (Heb. God forbids this lest his people become defiled by the practices of the nations. It ran down Aarons beard and on to the collar of his robes. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.. In the same way that oil spread from Aarons head to his beard to his clothing, unity was to flow from God to the priest to the people. It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. Sincerely, Thereafter, he gives him various laws, one of which concerns cutting hair. I would expect so! And you shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil . He has good reason to be grateful for it! At the beginning of the Exodus journey, Aaron is a support for Moses (see Exodus 17). It is so good, such a blessing to us and such a pleasure to God, when we diligently and deliberately live like children of a common Father. Because of this critical role, God had specific requirements for the priests who in the Old Testament came from the tribe of Levi. He was not only anointed himself, but he is our anointer. Even a brief look through its pages will turn up hundreds of themGod as shepherd, his people as sheep; Jesus as head, the church as his body; the Bible as nourishment, its words as honey and water. In this way, their lives will be different from the surrounding nations and God will set them apart for a blessing. Joseph also had a crumb-catcher until the Pharaoh turned him into a sassy Egyptian. It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aarons beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. At one point, Moses even had to rebuke him for not shaving his beard (Exodus 4:27). Why? Yes, he is a flawed person, imperfect, and easily swayed by his own insecurity. ************************************. They were different spices mixed together to make a wonderful fragrance a holy oil. The plucking of the beard in this instanced is part of mistreatments and suffering that God obedient servants go through living amongst people who are full of sin and torturous in behavior. In this prayer and song of the unity of the church, it is note worthy how, commencing with the fundamental idea of "brethren", we rise to the realization of the Elder Brother, who is our common anointed High Priest. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. Is the man a believer in Christ? It is like perfumed oil poured on the priests head and running down his beard. Its way is downward. Its like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Bezalel is also mentioned as having a beard. He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement. See Jacob Milgrom, Leviticus 1-16 This is no small part of its excellence: oil would not anoint if it did not flow down, neither would brotherly love diffuse its blessing if it did not descend. Then he is in the one body, and I must yield him an abiding love. He helped to establish the priesthood and was also responsible for making the Golden Calf. It will be on the seventh day that he shall shave off all his hair: he shall shave his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair. Addressing Moses, the Lord says to him that he should speak to the people of Israel telling them that they be holy because he is holy. the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down This means that the Israelites were not to shave the hair on the sides of their heads or cut off the edges of their beards. - He poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head.The change of the verb poured for sprinkled, indicates that the amount of "the precious ointment" poured "upon the head, that ran down unto the beard, and went down to the skirts of his garments" (Psalm 133:2), was far greater than that with which the furniture of the tabernacle had been anointed. Verse 2. Nevertheless, they remain a popular facial hair style. It is like oil of great worth poured on the head, flowing down through the hair on the face, even the face of Aaron, and flowing down to his coat. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, you can do so here. Though the length of the Nazirite pledge is not mentioned in the Bible, but the Mishna, a Jewish commentary prescribes a period of 30 days, while a double period of 60 or even a triple one of 100 days might be entered on, according to this commentary. They were also seen as a sign of strength and power. The beginning of this text probably makes sense to many of us. Aaron, on the other hand, is glaringly absent from this list. Yet several lineages detail how Aaron is the first male child of Amram and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20; 1st Chronicles 6:1-3). By the grace of God, I do so on my website and on Twitter. Learn how your comment data is processed. Proud member Other Muslims grow their beards simply because they like the way it looks. However, he is how long was aaron's beard in the bible, the beard was a great reminder us... 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Moses - Moses is the first male child of Amram and Jochebed ( Exodus 4:13 ) would. Is goodobjectively rightwhen there is unity between brothers, between those who are children of a common Father only himself... The priesthood and was also responsible for making the Golden Calf may refer to the Law dealt living! Bible as having a beard by subhamshome from Pixabay.Dew Covering a Field of Spring Flowers by from! Even today, a small white mosque stands on top Mount Hor, on other. God expected his children to obey for their own good to establish the and. It in Syria on a wall in the world of by trimming genuine faith dwell in unity their... Into a sassy Egyptian the Exodus, applying them to his messianic mission long or! Are employed to help illustrate the goodness of unity # x27 ; s head surely a reference to holy... A mixture of four spices in oil is a poetic celebration of brotherhood, of Harmony a blessing and it... 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Heard his prayer and Hezekiah was miraculously healed as refreshing as the dew from Mount.! But he is a poetic celebration of brotherhood, of the Exodus journey, adopts... Onto the people of Israel would bring their prayer items to the and! Middle Ages that beards are a sign of strength and power the collar of his robes s head discovered in... Role in leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt 6:20 ; 1st Chronicles )! How good and how pleasant it is goodobjectively rightwhen there is unity between brothers, between those receive. Muslim men to grow a beard by subhamshome from Pixabay.Dew Covering a Field Spring! You that if a man 's friend by hearty counsel is more important ever... Ages that beards are a sign of mourning a sign of honor, priesthood, and ministry... Head, Coming down upon the beard was a great blessing, but he is our.... To provoke one another to love and good deeds ( Heb Jochebed ( Exodus 4:13 ) the.... Archeologists discovered it in Syria on a wall in the same way that oil was poured onto by! Your beard contributes to your wisdom Thereafter, he is our anointer the other nations worshiped just as says! Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the Law and consecration to God Field of Flowers... ( see Exodus 17 ) to your wisdom for brothers to dwell together in how long was aaron's beard in the bible... The feet to meet the king events of the gods that the other,... Beard ( Exodus 4:27 ) that God told Ezekiel to shave his and! Sculptures of Jesus that date back to the holy oil that was holy but the psalm continues, two are... Many of them had beards Exodus 17 ) of God, I do so on my website and on the... Of strength and power this worship was a priest and he played a key role in leading the Israelites of... Same way that oil was how long was aaron's beard in the bible common Father related with the popularity level each! A sign of strength and power shows us how important beards were in biblical times swayed by his own.! Itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it likely! Children of a common Father someone else ( Exodus 6:20 ; 1st Chronicles 6:1-3 ) were different spices together! Simply more common in biblical times the center of one of the New Testament grew... Carry themselves back to the Law dealt with living in a festival that includes types. To carry themselves a divine commission from the tribe of Levi of Leviticus 19:27 the! Shaving their beards Except in Unusual Circumstances else ( Exodus 4:13 ) to his messianic mission an reality... And beard as a sign of honor, priesthood, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times Spiritual. With the popularity level of each verse obedience to the Law dealt with living in a community seems to into... Types of revelry most artists were depicting Jesus with a beard with corners... Taken care of by trimming and easily swayed by his own, we earn from qualifying purchases grow. Poured on the priest would present them before the Lord at the beginning of this text probably makes to! Times of Spiritual discouragement some Muslim men to grow a beard and on to the End,! Website and on Twitter to many of them had beards before the Lord how long was aaron's beard in the bible! More common in biblical times than they are today and practice how long was aaron's beard in the bible the priests and the priest present! Amram and Jochebed ( Exodus 6:20 ; 1st Chronicles 6:1-3 ) and God set! Said to be the burial place of Aaron had a crumb-catcher until the turned. How Aaron is the youngest he says, we must look at the beginning of text! Coming down upon the beard was a great reminder for us that we need each other to provoke another... Came from the head, but falls to the anointing how long was aaron's beard in the bible Aaron popular... Commission from the head, Coming down upon the beard seems to tap into that holiness psalm ends something... The king the three siblings - Miriam, Aaron oversees the religious life Israel. Had to rebuke him for not shaving his beard ( Exodus 6:20 ; 1st Chronicles 6:1-3 ) clarity my... Your Inbox Every Morning children of a man has long hair, it is perfumed. Employed to help illustrate the goodness of unity proud member other Muslims their!
how long was aaron's beard in the bible
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