Poll
The Meaning of Poll in Scripture
Modern readers encountering the word "poll" in older Bible translations may be puzzled, since the word has largely fallen out of common usage in its biblical senses. In the King James Version and other older English translations, "poll" carries two distinct meanings: as a verb, it means to cut, shear, or trim hair; as a noun, it refers to the head itself, particularly in the context of counting individuals.
Understanding these usages helps unlock several passages that deal with mourning customs, priestly conduct, and the organization of Israel's tribal structure.
Poll as Cutting or Shearing Hair
As a verb, "poll" translates several different Hebrew words, each with its own nuance. The most significant passages include:
Mourning customs: In Micah 1:16, the prophet commands, "Make yourself bald and cut off your hair for the children of your delight; enlarge your baldness like the eagle, for they shall go from you into captivity." Cutting or tearing one's hair was a widespread expression of grief throughout the ancient Near East. The shearing of hair symbolized the stripping away of beauty and dignity that accompanied bereavement or national disaster.
Priestly regulations: Ezekiel 44:20 instructs the priests, the sons of Zadok: "Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads." The priests were to maintain a middle path — neither shaving their heads completely (which was associated with pagan mourning rites) nor letting their hair grow wild (which could suggest neglect of their sacred duties). This measured grooming reflected the holiness and orderliness expected of those who served in God's presence.
Absalom's famous hair: In 2 Samuel 14:26, we learn that Absalom cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him, weighing about two hundred shekels by the royal standard. This detail, while seemingly trivial, foreshadows Absalom's downfall — his abundant hair would become caught in an oak tree during his flight from battle, leading to his death (2 Samuel 18:9-15).
Pagan hair customs: In Jeremiah 9:26, 25:23, and 49:32, the phrase translated "those who cut the corners of their hair" (or "those who are polled in the corners") refers to Arabian tribes who practiced a distinctive form of hair trimming, shaving the temples while leaving hair elsewhere. This practice was associated with pagan worship and was forbidden to Israelites (Leviticus 19:27).
Poll as a Head Count
As a noun, "poll" derives from the Hebrew word gulgoleth, which literally means "head" or "skull." When the Bible speaks of counting people "by their polls," it means counting them head by head — much as we still use the expression "head count" or "poll" in the context of voting.
This usage appears prominently in the census accounts of Numbers. When God commanded Moses to number the people of Israel, the counting was done "by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward" (Numbers 1:2, 18, 20, 22). The same method was used for the Levites when calculating the redemption price for the firstborn (Numbers 3:47). The term reappears in 1 Chronicles 23:3 and 23:24, where David numbers the Levites by their individual heads for the organization of temple service.
Hair and Identity in the Ancient World
The biblical attention to hair cutting and head counting reflects the broader cultural significance of hair in the ancient Near East. Hair was closely tied to personal identity, social status, and religious commitment. The Nazirite vow involved allowing one's hair to grow uncut as a sign of consecration to God (Numbers 6:5). Conversely, shaving could represent humiliation, mourning, or cleansing after a period of ritual impurity (Deuteronomy 21:12; Leviticus 14:8-9).
The regulations about priestly hair in Ezekiel and the warnings against pagan hair customs in Jeremiah both reflect a concern with maintaining distinctive identity. Israel's grooming practices were to set them apart from the surrounding nations, visibly marking their allegiance to the God who had called them to be a holy people.
From Census to Community
The census usage of "poll" also carries theological weight. When Israel was numbered "by their polls," each individual was counted and recognized before God. The census was not merely an administrative exercise; it was accompanied by a half-shekel offering that served as "a ransom for his life to the LORD" (Exodus 30:12). Every person counted was acknowledged as belonging to God's covenant community, with both the privilege and responsibility that entailed.
Biblical Context
As a verb meaning to cut hair, poll appears in Micah 1:16 (mourning), Ezekiel 44:20 (priestly regulations), 2 Samuel 14:26 (Absalom), and Jeremiah 9:26, 25:23, 49:32 (pagan customs). As a noun meaning head, it appears in the census passages of Numbers 1:2, 18, 20, 22; 3:47; and 1 Chronicles 23:3, 24. The term spans the Pentateuch, historical books, and prophets.
Theological Significance
The varied uses of poll touch on several theological themes: the proper expression of grief within the bounds of covenant faithfulness, the distinctiveness required of God's priestly servants, the dangers of conforming to pagan customs, and the individual significance of every member within God's covenant community. The census poll reminds readers that God counts and knows His people by name.
Historical Background
Hair customs in the ancient Near East carried deep cultural and religious meaning. Archaeological evidence and texts from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Canaan show that specific hairstyles marked priestly status, mourning, tribal identity, and religious devotion. The Arabian practice of cutting the corners of the hair, referenced in Jeremiah, is attested by Herodotus, who describes certain Arabian tribes shaving their temples in honor of their deity. The census practices of ancient Israel find parallels in other ancient Near Eastern administrative records.