Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BALD(NESS)

The biblical vocabulary of baldness refers to several phenomena. Natural hair loss from the head (qaraḥ) or the forehead (gibbēaḥ) is found in males. Hair loss associated with disease processes and self-inflicted baldness are found in both genders.

Baldness may be an ordinary condition (Lev. 13:40-41) or may result from carrying burdens on the head (Ezek. 29:18). Elisha reacted badly when a crowd of youngsters shouted at him, “Go on, Baldy” (2 Kgs. 2:23).

If a certain type of sore is found in bald spots, “leprosy” may exist, and the sufferer must be examined (Lev. 13:43-44; cf. v. 55).

Intentional self-inflicted baldness, associated with mourning, is an ordinary practice in Israel in Jeremiah’s time (Jer. 16:6). Such baldness is among the appropriate responses to national disasters, both in Israel (Isa. 22:12; Ezek. 7:18; Amos 8:10; Mic. 1:16; among women only, Isa. 3:24) and elsewhere (Isa. 15:2; Jer. 47:5; 48:37; Ezek. 27:31). However, such baldness is prohibited in the Torah: both to priests (Lev. 21:5; cf. Ezek. 44:20) and to all Israel (Deut. 14:1). Related mourning practices include cutting off or shortening the beard (Lev. 19:27; Isa. 15:2) and cutting the flesh (Lev. 19:28; 1 Kgs. 18:28; Jer. 16:6).

Victoria Andrews/M. O’Connor

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BALD(NESS)

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)