They shall not shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they shall surely trim the hair of their heads.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about haircuts; it's about intentionality and avoiding extremes. The priests are forbidden from shaving their heads (a sign of mourning or idolatry) and from letting their hair grow too long (associated with vanity or even specific pagan practices). Instead, they are to keep it neatly trimmed, maintaining a distinct, moderate appearance that sets them apart for holy service.
They shall not shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they shall surely trim the hair of their heads.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is describing the future restoration of worship in a purified temple, detailing specific regulations for the returning priests. These instructions come after God has shown Ezekiel the restored temple itself and the divine glory returning to it. The focus here is on maintaining a distinct, orderly appearance for the priests, setting them apart from both pagan practices and the excesses of grief or pride.
Why would God care so much about how His priests wore their hair? It wasn't just about fashion; it was about identity and worship.
In Ezekiel 44:20, God lays down very specific rules for the priests' hair: 'Neither shall they shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they shall surely trim the hair of their heads.' This command is a call to find a balanced, moderate way of presenting oneself, avoiding the extremes that carried certain meanings.
Serving God isn't just about what you do on the inside; it's also about how you stand out from the crowd.
The instructions for the priests' hair in Ezekiel 44:20 served a crucial purpose: to distinguish them from both the surrounding pagan cultures and from those with special vows within Israel.
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The detailed instructions for priests in Ezekiel's vision reflect a concern for distinctiveness and holiness amidst the potential for syncretism, both with surrounding pagan practices (like shaving heads for mourning or imitating pagan priests) and with ordinary life. This was especially critical as Israel faced the possibility of returning from exile and rebuilding their religious life.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of many Israelites. This event marked a significant blow to the worship at Shiloh and the perceived religious center.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire conquer Jerusalem and deport King Jehoiachin and thousands of Judeans, including Ezekiel. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel's First Vision
The prophet Ezekiel receives his initial commissioning vision by the Chebar River in Babylon, establishing his prophetic ministry during the exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, bringing an end to the Davidic monarchy and further scattering the Judean people into exile.
c. 571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of the New Temple
Ezekiel receives a complex vision of a new temple, a new city, and a restored Israel. This vision, recorded in Ezekiel chapters 40-48, outlines detailed instructions for worship and the priesthood in a future restored community.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, overthrows the Babylonian Empire, creating the possibility for exiled peoples to return to their homelands.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return of Exiles
Cyrus issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their ancestral lands and rebuild their temples. This marks the beginning of the return from Babylonian exile.
This passage directly prohibits priests from shaving their heads or making their hair 'thin' (cutting it extremely short), aligning with Ezekiel's command to avoid extremes.
Numbers 6:5This passage describes the Nazarite vow, where uncut hair signifies dedication. Ezekiel's instruction for priests to 'poll' their heads (keep it trimmed) distinguishes them from this special vow, emphasizing a different kind of sacred service.
1 Corinthians 11:14Paul discusses long hair being a 'dishonor' for men and connects it to a sense of effeminacy or improper adornment, echoing the concern in Ezekiel about priests maintaining a distinct, moderate appearance.
Leviticus 10:6Following Nadab and Abihu's judgment, priests were warned not to let their hair 'go in disarray' or 'grow long' in a way that suggested mourning or improper grief. Ezekiel's regulation reinforces the need for priestly decorum and separation from the general populace's expressions of sorrow or excess.
clarkeEzekiel 44:20: "Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads."
Neither shall they shave their heads - The priests of Isis shaved their heads close to the skin; the priests of Budhoo do so still, their ordinances oblige them to shave their heads every tenth day. To let the hair grow long would have been improper; therefore the Lord commands them to poll - cut the hair short, but not to shave.
pulpitEzekiel 44:20: "Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads."
Verse 20. - The next rubric concerned the mode in which the priests should wear their hair. It should neither be shaved nor worn long, thus avoiding excess on either side (compare for the first, Leviticus 21:5; and for the second, Leviticus 10:6; Leviticus 21:10, Revised Version), but should merely be polled. The obligation to let the hair grow freely was imposed upon th…
This isn't just about haircuts; it's about intentionality and avoiding extremes. The priests are forbidden from shaving their heads (a sign of mourning or idolatry) and from letting their hair grow too long (associated with vanity or even specific pagan practices). Instead, they are to keep it neatly trimmed, maintaining a distinct, moderate appearance that sets them apart for holy service.
Ezekiel is describing the future restoration of worship in a purified temple, detailing specific regulations for the returning priests. These instructions come after God has shown Ezekiel the restored temple itself and the divine glory returning to it. The focus here is on maintaining a distinct, orderly appearance for the priests, setting them apart from both pagan practices and the excesses of grief or pride.
Ezekiel is describing the future restoration of worship in a purified temple, detailing specific regulations for the returning priests. These instructions come after God has shown Ezekiel the restored temple itself and the divine glory returning to it. The focus here is on maintaining a distinct, orderly appearance for the priests, setting them apart from both pagan practices and the excesses of grief or pride.
"They shall not shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they shall surely trim the hair of their heads." — This isn't just about haircuts; it's about intentionality and avoiding extremes. The priests are forbidden from shaving their heads (a sign of mourning or idolatry) and from letting their hair grow t…
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Last reviewed October 2026