Long Hair or Uncut Hair

Women that follow William Branham's message are not permitted to cut their hair. This is one of the primary legalistic tenets of william Branham's followers. In fact, the easiest way to identify women that are followers of William Branham is the length of their hair and their mode of dress. William Branham said: 1. Thus saith the Lord, if a married woman cuts her hair, her husband has a right to divorce her. 2. It is a sin for a woman to cut her hair. But what are the scriptural requirements relating to the length of a woman's hair? What does the Bible say? The events that lie behind 1 Cor 11:3–16 seem to proceed as follows. Because of their new found freedom in Christ, women in the Corinthian church were praying and prophesying (v. 5a). Christian tradition from Pentecost on had approved of such practice (Acts 2:18), and it readily fit Paul’s own emphasis on freedom. But these women were not merely speaking in worship but doing it in a way that unnecessarily flaunted social convention and the order of creation. So Paul has to encourage them to exercise restraint. As in chapters 8–10, knowledge must be tempered with love. Unfortunately, you can't look at the English meanings to arrive at anything close to a real answer. The Bible was written in Greek and then translated into English. The Greek words for long hair are "κομάω" or "κόμη" (komao or kome). It is interesting to note that the word for hair is θρίξ (thrix) and is used 15 times to denote the hair of the head or the hair of animals. It is also interesting to note that κομάω is a single word which only appears in 1 Corinthians 11 and is used to designate the hair as an ornament (with the notion of length being only secondary and suggested) and hence differs from the word for physical hair. The opening sentence in 1 Cor 11:16, “If anyone wants to be contentious about this,” is one of four such sentences in 1 Cor., each indicating that this is what some are doing. Most likely this refers to some women who are discarding a traditional “covering” of some kind. Paul’s final appeal to these women is that “we have no such practice—nor do the churches of God.” The words “such practice,” therefore, must refer to that which the “contentious” are advocating, and which this argument has been combating. This is the third time that Paul has tried to correct Corinthian behavior by appealing to what is taught or practiced in the other churches. This probably reflects something of the independent spirit that is at work in this community. The distinction between “we” and “the churches of God” is most likely between the Pauline (and therefore the “we” includes the Corinthians) and other churches. If so, then Paul is also reminding the Corinthians of how much greater a body it is to which he and they belong. Even though Paul has now spent considerable effort on this issue, the very nature of his argument reveals that it is not something over which he has great passion. Indeed, there is nothing quite like this in his other letters, where he argues for maintaining a custom, let alone predicating a large part of the argument on shame, propriety, and custom. Two observations, therefore, need to be made. First, the very fact that Paul argues in this way, and that even at the end he does not give a commandment, suggests that such a “church custom,” although not thereby unimportant for the Corinthians, is not to be raised to the position of a legal requirement. The very “customary” nature of the problem, which could be argued in this way in the common uniform cultural environment of the Roman empire, makes it nearly impossible to transfer “across the board” to the multifaceted cultures in which the church finds itself today—even if we knew exactly what it was we were to transfer, which we do not. But in each culture there are surely those modes of dress that are appropriate and those that are not. Second, the more casual way Paul argues against this present “deviation” in comparison with what follows, seems to indicate the greater significance—for him at least—of the next one. Here he can appeal to shame, propriety, and custom; in the abuse that follows there is only attack and imperative. What they were doing with the Lord's Supper cut at the heart of both the gospel and the church; therefore, much is at stake. But here it is not quite so. The distinction between the sexes is to be maintained; the covering is to go back on; but for Paul it does not seem to be a life-and-death matter Quotes QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.ON.GENESIS_ JEFF.IN COD WEDNESDAY_ 53-0729 He said, "Now, if they would cut it, if there's something wrong they had to cut their hair," said, "let them take a razor and shave it all off and make her hair real slick until it come out their head." That's right. That's what the Scripture said. It says if she cuts her hair, she dishonors her husband. And a woman that's dishonorable has a legal right to be put away in divorce. But he can't marry again now. But he--but he can put her away in divorcement. That's right. That's Scripture. Oh, brother, what we need is some question nights. That's right. That's I Corinthians the 14th chapter, if you want to read it. All right. Now, that--that... Now, this woman... QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.ON.GENESIS_ JEFF.IN COD WEDNESDAY_ 53-0729 Therefore He said, "Let the man cut his hair because of Christ. And let the woman have her hair, for if she cuts her hair she dishonors her husband." See? See what I mean or what the Scripture says? I had a hot one on that down the other day in Shreveport. They was talking about the women, and should women wear long hair. And I said, "A woman that bobbed her hair, her husband had a right and a Bible right to divorce her." That's right. That's what the Bible said. That's exactly right. Oh, my. Holy Ghost women setting there, just the way they been taught; that's all... See? Yes, that's...?... loosely. And if... He said, "Now, if they would cut it, if there's something wrong they had to cut their hair," said, "let them take a razor and shave it all off and make her hair real slick until it come out their head." That's right. That's what the Scripture said. It says if she cuts her hair, she dishonors her husband. And a woman that's dishonorable has a legal right to be put away in divorce. But he can't marry again now. But he--but he can put her away in divorcement. That's right. That's Scripture. Oh, brother, what we need is some question nights. That's right. That's I Corinthians the 14th chapter, if you want to read it. All right. Now, that--that... Now, this woman... QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.2_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 54-0103E The Bible said a woman's covering is her hair. And if she cuts her hair, it's a common thing for her to pray. That right? That's Scripture. See? So now, women are supposed to wear long hair, regardless of what you want to think about it; that's what's THUS SAITH THE LORD. If you can show me any place... You say, "Well, my hair's long. See, it's down to my shoulders." That was short hair, "Christ..." You said, "had... Christ had long hair." No, He never. Christ had shoulder length hair, so they say. Just... They just pull it around this way and cut it off, shoulder length hair. Look at the Greek word on that in there, and you'll find out. THE.SEAL.OF.GOD_ JEFF.IN V-26 N-4 FRIDAY_ 54-0514 Looky here. It used to be, a long time ago... And you holiness people, it was wrong for you women to cut your hair. What became right about it, when the Bible said that a, "If any woman cuts her hair, her husband has a right to give her a divorce." Plain teaching, but that's the Bible. And you women, get out here and cut your yards with overalls on and with man's garments. And the Bible said... Almighty God said, "A woman that'll put on a garment that pertains to a man, it's an abomination and filthy in the sight of God." And you do it. And you smoke cigarettes; you go to dances and shows, and still belong to church. You... Shows you've took some sort of a something; you're not marked in heaven, the Holy Spirit. After while we'll get into that and show you different from that. Now, that's just a little thing. THE.WORST.SINNER.IN.THE.CITY_ MINNEAPOLIS.MN SATURDAY_ 56-0218E But let me tell you something. A lot of you women tonight would have an awful time doing that; you'd have to stand on your head to do it. Shame on you. The Bible said, "The hair is given to a woman for her glory." And the Bible rights gives any man a right to leave and divorce and leave his wife, that'll cut her hair. That's the Bible. That's THUS SAITH THE LORD. Too bad you got away from the old fashion trainings, isn't it? A.TRUE.SIGN.THAT'S.OVERLOOKED_ JEFF.IN V-6 N-2 SUNDAY_ 61-1112 These women come up there with bobbed hair and painted faces (Pentecostals) and go in, and come out, and say they spoke in tongues; and never let their hair grow and still do the same thing they did. You tell me that's conversion? That's a mockery of God. The Bible said it's a sin and a disgrace for them to cut their hair. How can a woman with bobbed hair condemn a woman's got paint on her face? Might as well hear it. The hour is coming till the axe is laid to the root of the tree, and every tree that bringeth forth not good fruit is hewed down. What's the matter? It was wrong. 'Cause our modern so-called preachers out here--big crowds, and stuffed shirts, and organizations, know no more about God than a Hottentot does about Egyptian knight. When it comes... They go up there... THE.SPOKEN.WORD.IS.THE.ORIGINAL.SEED_ JEFF.IN V-3 N-1 SUNDAY_ 62-0318 Show me one place, if it isn't a curse for a woman to cut her hair. There you are. Then you fuss at me. Then people say, "Brother Branham's a prophet. Oh, you can believe him as long as he's talking to the people, telling their sins and things like that; but when he goes to teaching, don't you believe that." Well, you poor hypocrite. You don't know nothing. Doesn't the Bible say the Word of the Lord came to the prophets? I don't call myself a prophet; I'm no prophet. But you said so; I'm saying what you said. And then turn around and say a thing like that. Don't say you didn't do it. I've even got it taped where you said it. You didn't know that, did you? Just want you to say you didn't one time; that's all I want you to say. I'll let your own voice play back to you. QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.2_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 64-0823E Also, Brother Branham, I believe a woman should be subject to her husband. But if a Christian woman has a sinner husband who does not even to one of your services--come to one of your services and won't--and wants his wife to be doing things, cutting her hair, wearing shorts, and going to ungodly places, is this woman supposed to be subject to this man in this way? Please explain this more clearly, as this is a question that is asked often. No, sister, you are not subject to such a person. No indeedy. For this cause you'll leave everything and cleave to God. Now, the thing... If you want--that man wants to live with you, and you be--stay a Christian... But if he's going to make you wear shorts, cut your hair, and do all these other things, and ungodly places, you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. You're not bound to such a person as that. "But as long," the Bible says, "as she is pleased and he is pleased to dwell together (You remember that?), let them..." And now, these, I didn't put the Scriptures down, 'cause I just picked them up (You see?) a few minutes ago. I pick up one now and then that I haven't got time... QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.3_ JEFF.IN COD SUNDAY_ 64-0830M When they cut it in... Is long--is long hair when they cut it in front? (Huh. Now, wait a minute; let me get this here. I...) Is long hair when they... Well, I--I--maybe they mean this: "Is it long hair any longer when they cut it in front?" Not any longer; they've cut it off. See? But like the man that had the trousers cut them off three times and still too short. What say? What say? [Brother Branham has conversation with someone in audience--Ed.] Oh, that's what they're talking about. As I tease my little girl, she said... The "booms" I call them, you know, bangs, or whatever it is, you know, across the front here. Well, I imagine those kids that's cutting their hair in front... You--maybe your mother could tell you about that (See?), if she wants you to do that way. I think it'd look kinda--kinda a little bit like a woman was looking through the rear view if she passed about twenty-five years old and wanted to cut them off in front like that, look like some little kid. Look on out here where you're going, sis, not where you've been. See? And now, but cutting the hair, I--I--I'll tell you this. I can't--I--I ain't got no--no Scripture to say that you can cut so much of it and can't do the other. I--I haven't got no Scripture for that; I--I couldn't tell you that, sister, or brother, ever who it is. I say one thing. I wished... Now, I know my kids has done that too, Rebekah and Sarah, I seen when they cut their hair off here in front, and plait it back here in the back, and make these things across the front, like this. I--I don't, I--I... Now, not holding them. See? No, sir. To me, I wished they didn't even put a scissors on their hair at all. But when they got all long, hanging down like this, and just cut the front of it out of their eyes, little kids maybe. I--I wouldn't know whether that'd be wrong; I wouldn't think so. See? But when you get... If you can, I--for you sisters, I'd just let it the way the Lord made it. See? And of course, I know women wants to look pretty; that's nature; and that--that's what they should be. See? They should be that way. And so, that's fine, but just don't--don't; otherwise like this, don't look like the world (See?); don't pattern after the world. Things wrong... You want it cut off, like that, but don't cut your hair now. If you got the braids hanging down, or--or whatever it is in your hair, you leave it long. Don't cut it like it's going to look like the world. If you're just them little girls... A.THINKING.MAN'S.FILTER_ JEFF.IN V-5 N-6 SUNDAY_ 65-0822E Now this is going to be a--a little bitter maybe to somebody. But when she started through God's Filter, and It says in there for them not to cut their hair, then (what?) she lodges on the other side. If It said it's a sin for a woman to do such, and she's dishonorable to do such. "If she wants to," he says, "well, she's got to have her hair cut." Said, then, "Shave it off then." And said, "We know that that's a shame for a woman to have a head shorn." Said, "Then let her have her head covered." And her hair is her covering; not a hat, lady. Her hair is her covering, the Bible said. Right. Shows she's a Nazarite unto the Lord. Long hair, to a woman, means a Nazarite to the Lord. Now, we find that that's true. GOD'S.ONLY.PROVIDED.PLACE.OF.WORSHIP_ SHP.LA V-7 N-4 SUNDAY_ 65-1128M Seeing, Lord, that the mental condition, the nervous age that the people's living in, it's driving them out of their mind; to exactly fulfill what the Scripture said and promised, the great hideous things would come upon the earth; like locusts, to haunt the women that cut their hair, they'll have long hair like a woman. And different hideous sights that they'll be able to see, Lord, in that mental, diluted conditions they're in, and then screaming for the rocks and the mountains. Women who would mother dogs and cats, and not raise children to honor You. Those that You did give children to and they did conceive them, turn them loose on the streets to do as they want. No wonder You said, Lord, when You were going to the cross, "Then they'll begin to cry for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them." References Blomberg, C. 1994. 1 Corinthians. The NIV Application Commentary (208). Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, MI Fee, G. D. 1987. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (530). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.: Grand Rapids, MI