κείρω

I shear, cut the hair of

Definition

The verb κείρω means 'to shear' or 'to cut hair.' In its active voice, it refers to the act of cutting someone else's hair, as seen in the quotation of Isaiah 53:7 in Acts 8:32, describing a sheep being sheared. In the middle voice, it means to cut one's own hair or to have one's hair cut, as when Paul had his hair cut at Cenchreae in Acts 18:18. This distinction in voice is important for understanding who is performing the action. The word is also used metaphorically in 1 Corinthians 11:6 to discuss the cultural shame associated with a woman having her hair cut or shaved.

Biblical Usage

κείρω is used only three times in the New Testament, each in a distinct context. In Acts 8:32, it appears in a quotation from the Septuagint (Isaiah 53:7) describing the silent submission of the suffering servant, likened to a lamb being sheared. In Acts 18:18, it describes a personal vow Paul undertook, cutting his own hair. In 1 Corinthians 11:6, it is used in a rhetorical argument about head coverings and propriety in worship, stating that if a woman will not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off.

Etymology

The word κείρω is a primary Greek verb meaning 'to shear' or 'to cut,' particularly referring to hair or wool. It is related to the noun κουρά (koura, not in NT), meaning 'a shearing' or 'haircut.' The root is ancient and appears in other Indo-European languages with similar meanings related to cutting.

Semantic Range

While primarily a practical action, κείρω gains theological significance in its contexts. In Acts 8:32, its use in the Isaiah quotation directly connects Jesus as the suffering servant to the imagery of an innocent, silent lamb being sheared, highlighting his submission and sacrifice. In 1 Corinthians 11:6, it is part of Paul's teaching on order, propriety, and cultural expressions of gender and authority within the worshiping community, making it relevant for understanding early church practice and cultural accommodation.

Hair cutting held specific cultural and religious meanings in the ancient world. Shearing sheep was a common pastoral activity. Cutting one's own hair was often associated with the fulfillment of a Nazirite or other religious vow (as implied in Acts 18:18), signaling the end of a period of dedication. For women in Greco-Roman and Jewish culture, long hair was commonly seen as a glory and a marker of femininity; having it cut short or shaved could be a sign of mourning, disgrace, or being under discipline, which informs the strong rhetorical point in 1 Corinthians 11:6.

ξυράω (xyraō, G3587) — to shave (the head or face), often implying a closer cut than shearing. τέμνω (temnō, not in NT) — a more general verb meaning to cut or sever, not specific to hair.

Word Details

Scripture References