κομάω

I wear the hair long

Definition

κομάω (komaō) means to wear long hair or to let one's hair grow long. In the New Testament, it specifically describes the natural practice of men and women having hair of differing lengths as part of God's created order. The word is used exclusively by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 to argue from nature that long hair is a glory for a woman but a dishonor for a man. There is no indication in these verses of a ceremonial or ritual meaning; the term refers to the physical state of having uncut, lengthy hair.

Biblical Usage

This verb appears only twice in the New Testament, both in 1 Corinthians 11:14-15. Paul uses it in a rhetorical question to contrast societal norms rooted in nature: 'Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair (κομᾷ), it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman wears long hair (κομᾷ), it is a glory to her?' The usage is descriptive of a cultural and natural observation to support his argument about head coverings and propriety in worship.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek noun κόμη (komē), meaning 'hair,' specifically the hair of the head. The verb κομάω literally means 'to have long hair' or 'to let the hair grow.' It is a straightforward formation from its noun root and carries no complex semantic development.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant in the context of 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul discusses gender distinctions, glory, and order within creation and worship. Understanding κομάω clarifies that Paul is appealing to a natural, created distinction as a basis for propriety in the church. It enriches reading by showing his argument is not about arbitrary cultural rules but about honoring the symbolic order established by God, where hair length serves as a natural 'covering' reflecting the relationship between man, woman, and Christ.

In Greco-Roman culture, long, well-kept hair was often associated with feminine beauty and virtue, while short hair was the standard for men. For a man to wear excessively long hair could be seen as effeminate or associated with certain pagan religious practices (e.g., some devotees of Dionysus). Paul's argument assumes his readers share this basic cultural perception, viewing it as a teaching of 'nature itself.' The modern reader must recognize this shared cultural understanding to grasp the force of his rhetorical question.

θρίξ (thrix, G2359) — This is the general Greek word for 'hair,' referring to the substance itself, whereas κομάω describes the action or state of wearing it long.

Word Details

Scripture References