Question 25 (ABM) - Is it OK for a woman to cut her hair?
The following are a series of questions and answers between one of our editors (referred to as BTS) and an anonymous Branham minister (referred to as ABM). This series of Q&A relates to William Branham's doctrine and teaching. The full text of this question and its answer is below.
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Q&A relating to William Branham's Prophetic Ministry
Q&A relating to William Branham's Credibility
Q&A on the current status of the "message"
Question 16 - The Vision of the Plum and Apple Trees
Question 24 - Grounds for Divorce according to William Branham
Question 25 - Is it OK for a woman to cut her hair?
Question 26 - Is it OK for a woman to wear pants?
Question 27 - Are the rules for remarriage different for men and women
Question 31 - What is the significance of a Seven-Lettered Name?
Question 35 - The Prophet and the Eagle
Question 36 - Did King Saul Commit Suicide?
Question 25 - Is it OK for a woman to cut her hair?
Dear ABM,
In our last question, you stated:
- It is only the idolaters who ever took his sayings and interpreted to mean they could not cut their hair at all. It was just his personal desire to see no women cut their hair. The bible does not support an idea like that. If you look into his question and answers series he was asked a question about this. He was very clear that cutting of hair was not completely forbidden, but was acceptable within limits.
I agree with you that the Bible does not forbid women to cut their hair.
You provided a couple of quotes from 1964 that seem to illustrate that William Branham accepted that view.
However, let us look at what William Branham said subsequent to 1964 (emphasis added):
- The Bible said, “It’s wrong (nature teaches you) for a man to have long hair. And it’s a disgrace and a common thing for even a woman to pray with her hair cut.” And how about these? (65-0206 - Doors In Door)
- To cut her hair, makes her a dishonorable woman, a prostitute. (65-0829 - Satan's Eden)
- And that big thing will be laid right before you, every one of them filthy dresses you wore; every time you went to the barber shop, cut that hair that God give you. It’s going to be. You’ll answer for it. (65-0911 - God's Power To Transform)
- Do you think God lies? Does God ever change His mind? Well, people act today like He did. When He said for women not to cut their hair, they say, “We can cut it, Dr. So-and-so said we could. Brother So-and-so said you’re just too narrow-minded.” Uh-huh, uh-huh. See? (65-1127B - Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will)
- “And it’s an abomination for a woman to wear a garment that pertains to a man.” It’s wrong and sinful, “For her to cut her hair,” the Bible said so, “uncommon thing for her to even pray.” (65-1205 - Things That Are To Be) .
There are more quotes but I think the point is made.
If I understand what you are saying, William Branham didn’t mean what he seemed to have plainly said.
Did he not understand what the word “cut” meant?
Of course, there is another way to interpret this. He was simply a hypocrite. He held one standard out to the general public but when pushed in his own family, he backed down and then had to justify the behaviour of his own family by compromising on his stated view. But then, because he still held that view, he went on to repeat it multiple times.
Regardless, his teaching on the subject of hair was hopelessly confused if I try to take the plain meaning of his words just as his teaching on the subject of divorce was confused.
My question: Was William Branham incorrect when he stated, “To cut her hair, makes her a dishonorable woman, a prostitute”?
Shalom,
BTS
Response from ABM
BTS,
In short, I believe when Bro. Branham spoke of a woman cutting her hair, he had a specific thought in mind. Specifically, he was considering a case where a woman cut her hair into a style that was more like that of a man or into a style that was not in keeping modesty. True, his plain words can be taken to mean no cutting whatsoever, and that is what some have interpreted them to mean. But hundreds of fellowships and thousands of his followers have not interpreted his words in that manner. It would seem he himself did not even interpret his own words that way given the fact that his wife and daughters cut their hair. The context of words is also important, and given the context, I feel quite sure in my interpretation.
I am sure, having been in the message many years, you are aware that Bro. Branham's followers interpret his sayings on this topic differently from sect to sect. It is possible to use his statements to justify either position, which is why it is important to use the bible to fully understand. If he did believe it was wrong for a woman to cut her at all (I truly do not think he did), it was no more than his personal conviction. There is nothing wrong with holding a conviction, but it is a mistake to let your conviction become a stumbling block for others. Those who use his sermons to prevent women from doing even basic maintenance on their hair are at best making a stumbling block out of his convictions and at worst twisting his meaning to enforce their own convictions.
I want to reintroduce the quote from my previous email where he explained he had no scripture for his position, and that women of his family cut their own hair and that he personally found nothing wrong with some cutting of hair.
- 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? - Questions And Answers #3 (64-0830M)
Later in the same message her refers back
- Is it wrong to trim the ends of woman's hair? I believe we just went through that a few minutes ago (See?), for the little... I guess they call them--them little things that hang down like that.. - Questions And Answers #3 (64-0830M)
I would also like to introduce the fuller context of the quote from which you base your question:
- Notice, bobbed hair, painted faces, sexually dressed (See?), she does that, and don't know that every one of those things is contrary to the Word of God. To cut her hair makes her a dishonorable woman, a prostitute. To wear shorts puts her disgracefully. Put sexy dresses on her makes her a prostitute, and she don't know it, not because of the holiness of God; because the lust of Satan. - Satan's Eden - 65-0829
As with most times he speaks about cutting hair, he does so in connection with a particular style of hair. So when he mentioned "cut hair", he is referencing back to his earlier statement of a specific type of style. I feel statements like this, properly analyzed, show that "cut hair" equals "bobbed hair" in his vernacular.
You ask: Was William Branham incorrect when he stated, “To cut her hair, makes her a dishonorable woman, a prostitute”?"
Answer: In full context, with a ungodly hair style, a painted face, and sexually dressed - yes I would say that makes her look like a dishonorable woman, and like a prostitute, with an appearance designed to seduce someone. But in the context I think you are interpreting it, where she has merely trimmed her hair, no of course that does not make her appear dishonorable.
Kind regards,
ABM
Footnotes