κόμη

hair, long hair

Definition

Κόμη specifically refers to the hair of the head, often with the connotation of long, uncut, or well-kept hair. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively in a positive sense to describe a woman's long hair as her natural 'glory' and covering (1 Corinthians 11:15). This contrasts with shorter male hair, establishing a visual distinction in appearance according to the cultural norms of the time. The word does not appear elsewhere in the New Testament, so its meaning is defined entirely by this single, symbolic usage in Paul's discussion of head coverings.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 11:15. Here, Paul uses κόμη in his argument about propriety in worship, stating that a woman's long hair is given to her 'for a covering.' Its usage is entirely within the context of establishing gender distinctions and propriety in the Corinthian church, relating to the practice of head coverings during prayer and prophecy.

Etymology

Derived from the ancient Greek noun κόμη (komē), meaning 'hair of the head.' It is a primary word with no complex derivation, though it is related to the verb κομάω (komaō, G2863), which means 'to wear long hair' or 'to let the hair grow long.' This verb-noun pair clearly connects the state of having hair with the act of growing it long.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is central to Paul's teaching on gender, glory, and order within corporate worship in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. Paul presents a woman's κόμη as a God-given 'glory' and natural covering, which serves as a basis for understanding the symbolic act of wearing a physical head covering. It touches on doctrines of creation order, the relationship between men and women, and the principle of doing all things decently and in order for the sake of the angels and the testimony of the church.

In Greco-Roman culture, long, uncut hair on a woman was a nearly universal symbol of femininity, beauty, and often virtue. For a man to wear long hair in certain contexts could be associated with effeminacy, licentiousness, or the worship of particular deities (like Dionysus). Paul's argument leverages this strong cultural understanding to make a spiritual point about natural distinctions and propriety within the Christian assembly, urging the Corinthians not to blur God-given, visible symbols.

θρίξ (thrix, G2359) — The general, biological term for a single 'hair' or 'hairs' anywhere on the body (e.g., Matthew 10:30). κόμη is more specific, referring to the hair of the head as a collective, styled entity.

Word Details

Scripture References