Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that the wearing of facial hair by men was considered a normal aspect of Israel's culture in Biblical times, and was regarded as a sign of masculinity.

The Mosaic Law contained provisions relating to the trimming (or not trimming) of beards, such as Leviticus 14:9, Leviticus 19:27, and Leviticus 21:5.

There were also occasions when a man shaving off some or all of another man's beard was considered an insult that caused the victim shame and distress (2 Samuel 10:4).

The wearing of a beard could expose the wearer to physical danger from enemies, as when Joab killed his cousin (and King David's nephew) Amasa by grasping Amasa's beard to pull him close, and then stabbing him (2 Samuel 20:9). 

The deliberate allowing of a beard to grow without trimming could be a sign of mourning (2 Samuel 19:24), as could also the plucking out or shaving of a beard (Ezra 9:3; Isaiah 15:2). 

There is no passage (as far as I am aware) in either the Old Testament or the New Testament that condemns or even speaks negatively of the wearing of a beard or mustache by a man under normal "everyday" conditions (as opposed to cases related to special conditions such as cleansing from leprosy (Leviticus 14:9, as cited above), in which the removal of facial hair was required). 

However, by the same token, there is also no guidance in the New Testament requiring (or even encouraging) Christian men to wear facial hair. Some men might regard the wearing of facial hair as a way to honor God for His giving of that ability to men. However, in my opinion, beards and mustaches are external attributes. God is far more concerned about the condition of the inner, spiritual aspects of a person (whether male or female) (1 Samuel 16:7).

February 07 2018 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report