The Greek verb keírō, represented by G2751, is a primary verb meaning to shear. It appears 5 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. The word's usage centers on the act of cutting hair, whether it involves animals or humans.
In the biblical narrative, G2751 is used in both literal and figurative contexts. It describes the literal act of cutting hair as part of a vow, as when Paul had his head shorn in Cenchrea Acts 18:18. Figuratively, it is used in a prophecy quoted in Acts, describing a submissive figure as a lamb before its shearer Acts 8:32. The word also appears in an instructional context regarding a woman's appearance, where being shorn is presented as a shameful state 1 Corinthians 11:6.
Several related words provide context for the act of shearing:
- G286 amnós (a lamb): This word is directly connected in the description of a submissive figure being like a lamb before its shearer Acts 8:32.
- G3587 xyráō (to shave or "shear" the hair): Used in parallel with keírō, this term highlights a similar action. The two are mentioned together in the instruction that it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven 1 Corinthians 11:6.
- G4263 próbaton (a sheep): This term identifies the animal typically associated with shearing. It is used in the prophecy where one is led like a sheep to the slaughter, whose silence is compared to a lamb before its shearer Acts 8:32.
- G4967 sphagḗ (butchery... or (figuratively) of men (destruction)): This word appears alongside the imagery of shearing to describe a sacrificial or destructive end, as in being led like a sheep to the slaughter Acts 8:32.
The theological weight of G2751 is seen in its application within specific spiritual contexts.
- Sacrificial Submission: The most potent theological image is of the silent lamb before its shearer Acts 8:32. This illustrates a profound theme of non-retaliatory submission in the face of an action that strips one bare.
- Acts of Devotion: The act of being shorn is explicitly tied to a religious vow in the case of Paul Acts 18:18. This frames the cutting of hair not as a mundane event, but as an outward sign of a commitment made to God.
- Symbol of Order: In the Corinthian church, being shorn is presented as a mark of shame for a woman, contrasted with being covered 1 Corinthians 11:6. This usage connects the physical act to concepts of propriety and order within the community of believers.
In summary, G2751 moves beyond its simple definition of "to shear." It functions literally as an act of religious devotion, as in the fulfillment of a vow Acts 18:18. Figuratively, it becomes a powerful symbol of quiet submission in the face of being stripped bare, as seen in the prophecy of the lamb and its shearer Acts 8:32. The term also carries social and religious weight, where being shorn can signify shame and a violation of communal order 1 Corinthians 11:6.
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