Leviticus 19:27 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 19:27 mean?

Leviticus 19:27 instructs the Israelites not to cut their hair or beards in certain ways: “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.” This means they were not to shave the edges of their hair or beard, likely to avoid practices linked to surrounding cultures’ religious rituals.

In this verse, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses, giving them specific instructions about their appearance. The context is a larger section where God sets out various laws to keep Israel distinct from other nations, especially in matters of worship and daily life. The verse addresses grooming habits that may have had religious or cultural significance among neighboring peoples.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 19:27

• “round” (נָקַף, naqaf): This word means to go around or to cut in a circular fashion. Here, it refers to trimming the hair at the edges or in a rounded way, which was a common mourning or religious practice among some ancient peoples.
• “corners” (פֵּאָה, pe’ah): This word means “edge” or “corner.” In this verse, it points to the edges or sides of the head and beard, not the entire head or beard.
• “mar” (שָׁחַת, shachat): This word means to ruin, destroy, or disfigure. The instruction is not to damage or disfigure the edges of the beard.
• “beard” (זָקָן, zaqan): This is the ordinary word for beard, emphasizing the specific area not to be disfigured.

Why Leviticus 19:27 matters

• Leviticus 19:27 helps clarify that the command is about specific grooming practices, not a general ban on cutting hair or beards.
• The verse highlights how Israel was called to avoid customs that had religious or superstitious meanings in surrounding cultures, setting them apart in visible ways.
• This instruction fits into a broader pattern in Leviticus 19, where many laws are given to help Israel maintain a distinct identity and avoid adopting pagan rituals.