Over the years, I had wondered about the symbolism of hair in Scripture. Recently, the phrase “the will of God” popped up in my mind. This seed got watered when I heard Ian Clayton teach that the Jewish mindset of certain words and phrases were as a function of use, not a literal one. That explains all the revelation Father Yah gave me as far as the Biblical symbolism of words like hand, foot, walk, etc. So, what is the function of hair?

Hair, simply put, is a covering demonstrating the will of Yah in our lives. Animals with hair (fur) usually have it covering most of their bodies. This symbolizes their lives run by the program Yah set into them (instinct) and by either the avoidance of, or submission to (domestication), humans, who are the images (or representatives) of Yah on the Earth.

Unlike animals, human have the choice on what they can do with their hair, representing Yah’s desire by design in wanting us to choose what He wants over what we want. The Nazarites performed a physical representation of submission to Yah by letting their hair grow long. Samson from the Book of Judges (chapters 13–16) is a great illustration of this. The Nazirite vow placed over his life before conception committed him to the service of the Most High. Although he was a sinful man, as long as he kept his hair, Yah could use him to judge the Philistines. This tells us that anyone, saint or not, can be a tool in His hands. The seven locks Samson styled his hair in came from the way the Philistine men fashioned their hair (along with his desire for foreign women) – his willingness to stay in the realm of selfish soul- and flesh-pleasing. Even at the end of his life, when his hair grew back, he still carried out his role as judge over the Philistines by causing many of their deaths.

The New Testament contains the most misunderstood and misinterpreted passages about hair. Much pain, intolerance, and religiosity has surrounded this letter from Paul without truly asking the Father Creator Himself what He meant by it.

1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.

For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

The final verse rendered everything Paul wrote prior to it as moot, but if we read it as a symbolism of function, the message he imparted to the Corinthians become clear.

Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

My interpretation: Thank you for honoring me and the things I have taught you.

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ,

But understand, you ultimately need to follow Christ by His supernatural leading.

the head of a wife is her husband,

The soul (symbolized by the woman) must follow the lead of the Spirit (symbolized by man in the will of God).

and the head of Christ is God.

Christ gets His authority from His Father Creator and follow Him. Follow Christ’s example.

Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,

Whoever from his own authority (the beast, the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil), insults Christ (his true head and covering, all authority comes from Him).

but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

The soul (life) who talks about Yah or His Christ without His authority (covering) is in disobedience (out of His will).

For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short.

You do not have to heed a disobedient soul. Test everything said by this person with the Holy Spirit’s help.

But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.

Let that soul understand they must be in subjection to Christ.

For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God,

Let Christ’s glory shine from you, since you are now reborn in His likeness.

but woman is the glory of man.

Your soul (your life) demonstrates Christ to others.

For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.

You come from the Spirit, not the soul or Earth (the world).

Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

Your soul (life) comes from the Spirit, not anything created on Earth.

That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

That is why your soul (life) needs Christ’s covering, to protect His messengers (spirit or man).

Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;

Literal translation: Furthermore, neither is woman separate from man, nor man separate from woman, in the Lord.

Male (spirit) and female (soul or life) are under Yah’s covering.

for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

Literal translation: For as indeed the woman is from the man, so also the man is from the woman. Moreover, all things are of Yah.

Both soul and spirit come from Yah. You cannot have one without the other.

Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Literal translation: In yourselves, you judge. Is it proper for a woman unconcealed (not housed) to pray to Yah?

By the Spirit within you, judge. Is it proper for an uncovered soul to pray to Yah?

Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?

Literal translation: [Does] not even existence itself teach you that indeed if a man styles his long hair like a woman, it is a dishonor to him?

The Spirit does not have to behave like a beast, being in his own will.

but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

Literal translation: A woman, however, if she styles her long hair, it is [a] glory to her. For the long hair, in place of a covering, is given to her.

The soul in the will of God has freedom to do things in His will.

If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

No argument, we do not practice this in the physical nor do the congregations under Yah.