Explanation on 1 Corinthians 11:14 ?

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I

iReallyNeedGod

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#1
#1
1 Corinthians 11:14 - Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

I don't get it.. A lot of the time people that share their testimony say they encounter Jesus and say He has long hair usually around shoulder-length.. I've heard a good amount of people say that so I doubt every single one of them is lying. Is this verse really translated in English correctly? All the drawn pictures of Jesus from waaayyy back in time have Him with long hair. Did they really draw Him like that for no reason? In nature, a lion has a mane (long hair) and a lioness doesn't. We all know God represents Himself as a lion.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#3
#3
It's a symbolical statement.
 
notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#4
May 17, 2013
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#4
Most men had short hair at the time. The Romans wore their hair short. The Jews only wore long hair if they were under a Nazarite vow. Beards they wore in keeping with Jewish tradition.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#5
Dec 19, 2009
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#5
iReallyNeedGod said:
1 Corinthians 11:14 - Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

I don't get it.. A lot of the time people that share their testimony say they encounter Jesus and say He has long hair usually around shoulder-length.. I've heard a good amount of people say that so I doubt every single one of them is lying. Is this verse really translated in English correctly? All the drawn pictures of Jesus from waaayyy back in time have Him with long hair. Did they really draw Him like that for no reason? In nature, a lion has a mane (long hair) and a lioness doesn't. We all know God represents Himself as a lion.
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This is the first I've heard that God represents himself as a lion, and if he did represent himself as I lion, I wouldn't think it was because the lion has long hair.

It takes a lot of work to take care of long hair, and there is no need for a man to have long hair.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#6
#6
It goes back to the Nazarites. Nazarites in the Old Testament were set apart for God. They were to not do three things: shave their hair or beard, drink wine, or touch dead bodies. Sampson was a Nazarite as was John the Baptist. The point of not shaving the beard or hair was a sign of humility. They looked like shaggy mountain men- and it kept them humble (or was supposed to- Sampson had some issues). The hair was a covering for women, to protect their modesty. Men didn't need such protection. Verse 16 clears it up, though. "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

So Paul ends up saying, if it causes arguments, then just wear long hair. It's no biggee.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#7
#7
resurrection33 said:
This is the first I've heard that God represents himself as a lion, and if he did represent himself as I lion, I wouldn't think it was because the lion has long hair.

It takes a lot of work to take care of long hair, and there is no need for a man to have long hair.
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Jesus is referred to as "the Lion of Judah". I think that is what the op was talking about.
 
I

iReallyNeedGod

Guest
#8
#8
resurrection33 said:
This is the first I've heard that God represents himself as a lion, and if he did represent himself as I lion, I wouldn't think it was because the lion has long hair.

It takes a lot of work to take care of long hair, and there is no need for a man to have long hair.
Click to expand...
I didn't mean to say God reps Himself as a lion because of the long hair. I meant to say because of what the verse says, I don't really see anything in nature that shows it is a shame for men to have long hair. Like if it is such a shame, why does God say he is the Lion of Judah, when it just so happens that a male lion has longer hair than a lioness. What Paul said doesn't really make much sense. Where in nature does it show it is a shame? I agree that when a man has long hair it takes a lot of care and attention to keep it nice. I have long hair, its kind of annoying but as of right now it looks better for me to have it than to have short hair.
 
I

iReallyNeedGod

Guest
#10
#10
Galatea said:
It goes back to the Nazarites. Nazarites in the Old Testament were set apart for God. They were to not do three things: shave their hair or beard, drink wine, or touch dead bodies. Sampson was a Nazarite as was John the Baptist. The point of not shaving the beard or hair was a sign of humility. They looked like shaggy mountain men- and it kept them humble (or was supposed to- Sampson had some issues). The hair was a covering for women, to protect their modesty. Men didn't need such protection. Verse 16 clears it up, though. "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

So Paul ends up saying, if it causes arguments, then just wear long hair. It's no biggee.
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Ah thanks sister. Helpful answer. I didn't notice verse 16. I haven't even gotten to 1 Corinthians yet I'm still on Romans. Its just that I see Christians nowadays saying you're not allowed to have long hair so I was kind of getting paranoid. But I also hear that Jesus has long hair so I was questioning the legitimacy of verse 14.
 
I

iReallyNeedGod

Guest
#11
#11
Galatea said:
Jesus is referred to as "the Lion of Judah". I think that is what the op was talking about.
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Yes that's what I was trying to say. I should've included that in my sentence.
 
I

iReallyNeedGod

Guest
#12
#12
A

Adstar

Senior Member
#13
Jul 24, 2016
7,425
3,474
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#13
iReallyNeedGod said:
1 Corinthians 11:14 - Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

I don't get it.. A lot of the time people that share their testimony say they encounter Jesus and say He has long hair usually around shoulder-length.. I've heard a good amount of people say that so I doubt every single one of them is lying. Is this verse really translated in English correctly? All the drawn pictures of Jesus from waaayyy back in time have Him with long hair. Did they really draw Him like that for no reason? In nature, a lion has a mane (long hair) and a lioness doesn't. We all know God represents Himself as a lion.
Click to expand...
Yes that verse has been translated correctly..

All the drawn pictures of Jesus from waaayyy back in time have Him with long hair.
Click to expand...
We should not be even making pictures of Jesus..

Did they really draw Him like that for no reason?
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They did it because of their ignorance of the Bible... catholics where not big on reading the Bible... Not back then and not now.. Actually most people don't read the Bible no matter what denomination they are...
 
I

iReallyNeedGod

Guest
#15
#15
Adstar said:
Yes that verse has been translated correctly..



We should not be even making pictures of Jesus..



They did it because of their ignorance of the Bible... catholics where not big on reading the Bible... Not back then and not now.. Actually most people don't read the Bible no matter what denomination they are...
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Its all clarified to me thanks to the sister above, 1 Corinthians 11:16 - But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. I agree we shouldn't draw pictures of Jesus.
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#16
Dec 19, 2009
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#16
iReallyNeedGod said:
I didn't mean to say God reps Himself as a lion because of the long hair. I meant to say because of what the verse says, I don't really see anything in nature that shows it is a shame for men to have long hair. Like if it is such a shame, why does God say he is the Lion of Judah, when it just so happens that a male lion has longer hair than a lioness. What Paul said doesn't really make much sense. Where in nature does it show it is a shame? I agree that when a man has long hair it takes a lot of care and attention to keep it nice. I have long hair, its kind of annoying but as of right now it looks better for me to have it than to have short hair.
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When I was young, I wanted to look like the Beatles, so I grew my hair out. I've outgrown that.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#17
#17
iReallyNeedGod said:
What do you mean exactly? What is symbolic about it? Honest question.
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The first verse you posted about it's a shame IMO is a symbolic statement not sure on what exactly the shame connection is but there are other statements in scripture that say just the opposite Samson strength was in his long hair and John the Baptist look like a wild man long hair that wasn't well kept. Maybe someone can chime in and give a better account of the shame statement in that verse or maybe we can figure that out by looking towards nature for the answer as stated in the verse.
 
notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#18
May 17, 2013
15,050
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#18
The tradition which is Jewish goes way back as it was a shame for someone to approach the Lord without their head covered. The men wore the little cap which I cannot spell right now because their hair was short. The women wore their long hair as their covering when in the house of God.

1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
I

iReallyNeedGod

Guest
#19
#19
resurrection33 said:
When I was young, I wanted to look like the Beatles, so I grew my hair out. I've outgrown that.
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I do plan on cutting my hair but only when the time is right.
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#20
Dec 19, 2009
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#20
iReallyNeedGod said:
I do plan on cutting my hair but only when the time is right.
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I can get you an appointment with my barber. How about Saturday, December 24, at 8:20? I'll be getting my haircut at 8:40. I'll get there early and we'll discuss the news.
 
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