Where Do the Scriptures Suggest That Men Should Be Clean Shaven?
1) Direct Answer
Scripture does not command men to be clean shaven. The Bible teaches men to keep a clear, masculine distinction and to avoid long hair, but it does not require shaving the beard.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- 1 Corinthians 11:14—“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” The emphasis is on hair length for men, not on shaving beards.
- Deuteronomy 22:5—God forbids blurring the male–female distinction. Appearance should clearly reflect manhood.
- Leviticus 19:27; 21:5—Israel was told not to mar the edges of the beard or shave the head in pagan ways. That shows beards themselves were normal and not condemned; the issue was pagan customs.
- Ezekiel 44:20—Priests were not to shave their heads nor let their hair grow long, but to “poll” (trim) their hair. The principle is modest, masculine trim—neither shaven bald as a ritual nor long and unkempt.
- 2 Samuel 10:4—Shaving off half the beard was used to shame David’s men, showing a beard was a sign of manly honor in Israel’s culture.
- Isaiah 50:6—“I gave my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair,” indicating hair on the cheeks (a beard) in the prophetic picture of Christ’s suffering.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9—“Nor effeminate…” God rejects soft, feminized presentation in men.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- The Bible never says, “Thou shalt be clean shaven.” It does say a man’s long hair is a shame and warns against effeminate appearance and pagan grooming rites.
- Therefore, the safe, biblical line is: keep a masculine look, keep hair short, keep grooming modest and clean. A beard, if worn, should not be unkempt or used to mimic worldly, effeminate, or rebellious styles.
4) Reinforcing Statement
So the standard is not “must shave,” but “look like a man,” keep it decent and orderly before God. The Word sets boundaries—short hair and masculine distinction—while leaving beard or no beard as a matter of liberty, testimony, and modest discipline.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
And thy Seed shall possess the gate of His enemy
62-0121M §69
A woman might be as ugly as all get out. She might be big, fat, little, skinny, black-headed, brown-eyed, blue-eyed, gray-eyed, one one way, and one the other. But if that woman is clean... Lady, there ain't a man in the country but what would take off his hat to them, if he's got an ounce of man in him (that's right), because she's... She produces what she is, and men appreciate it. So God'll appreciate a man that'll be what he is. Or men that professes Christianity, let's be a Christian filled with the Holy Ghost...
Revelation, Chapter 4c Throne of mercy and judgement
61-0108 §73
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord ^^ (because he is your lord)^^. How many knows that, you women? That's exactly right. The Bible said so at the beginning. It's still the same way. Wives, submit ^^yourself ^^unto your own ^^husband^^, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. So is the husband---you ought to know that, you married people and adults, or children that's old enough to know the...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 3:E-14
Just to seal this point on the True and false vines mingling and demonstrating the two spirits that are at work, let us look into I John 4:1-4, and Jude 3, 4, 12. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is tha...
The Rejected King
60-0610 §65
I think any woman ought to be clean. She ought to look her best. Any man ought to, too. Look pretty and clean, but be decent. You know if you dress yourself, just them old clothes that people wear, them old shorts and... Woman said to me some time ago, said, "Brother Branham, I don't wear them shorts," said, "I wear slacks." I said, "That's worse." Worse. You know what God said? It's an abomination in the sight of God for a woman to put on a garment that pertains to a man. And God is God and never changes. He's the...
Pride
55-0807A §40
And they give you that, and you wash your hands with it. Then they give you a towel, and you wipe your hands. Then the next they give you, is some more of it, and you put it on your neck, the back of your neck, on your cheeks and on your forehead. Both men and women in Palestine must do this, because the sunrays are so hot. They do that, and then it creates a smell. Then after you wipe the most of it off, you're refreshed. Your feet is washed; you are washed; your hands are clean; your face is clean. Then you're ta...