Word Study for G3587 (ξυράω) | Strong's Concordance

xyráō /xoo-rah'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom a derivative of the same as ξύλον (meaning a razor)

Meaningto shave or "shear" the hair

KJV usageshave.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of xyráō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word xyráō, represented by G3587, is defined as to shave or "shear" the hair, stemming from a word meaning a razor. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses, where it denotes the specific act of shaving one's head, often with significant symbolic or ceremonial implications.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G3587 is used in two distinct contexts. In Acts, it is part of a formal purification rite under the law, where men are instructed to shave their heads to demonstrate their adherence to religious customs Acts 21:24. In 1 Corinthians, Paul uses the term hypothetically to illustrate a point about cultural and spiritual propriety. He states that a woman praying with her head uncovered is in a state of dishonor, equivalent to if she were shaven 1 Corinthians 11:5. This act is presented as a shame for a woman, alongside being shorn 1 Corinthians 11:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of concepts surrounding head coverings and hair removal:

G2751 keírō: Defined as "to shear," this word is used in parallel with xyráō. It can describe Paul shearing his head to fulfill a vow Acts 18:18, the shearing of a sheep Acts 8:32, or an act of shame for a woman if done to her hair 1 Corinthians 11:6.
G2619 katakalýptō: Meaning "to cover wholly, i.e. veil," this word is presented as the proper and honorable alternative to being shorn or shaven. Paul argues that if a woman will not be covered, she should be shorn, but since that is a shame, she should be covered 1 Corinthians 11:6.

Theological Significance

The symbolic weight of G3587 is tied to its specific context.

Ceremonial Purification: Shaving the head is presented as a legitimate and necessary part of a vow or purification ritual, demonstrating one's commitment to the law Acts 21:24.
Symbol of Dishonor: In the context of 1 Corinthians, for a woman to be shaven is equated with shame and dishonor. It represents a state contrary to the expected order, which a head covering is meant to uphold 1 Corinthians 11:5.
Contrast with Covering: The act of shaving is explicitly contrasted with the act of covering. One is a mark of shame to be avoided, while the other is a sign of proper order 1 Corinthians 11:6.

Summary

In summary, G3587 is a specific verb for the act of shaving with a razor. While it appears infrequently, its usage carries significant weight. It can signify either a sacred act of religious observance for men fulfilling a vow or a symbol of cultural and spiritual disgrace for women in the Pauline church. The word's meaning is therefore heavily dependent on the context and the subject to whom the action is applied.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Middle Infinitive 1×
Future Middle Deponent Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Dative Singular Feminine 1×

Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Middle Deponent: Middle in form but active in meaning.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 1 Corinthians (2 verses); never once in the other 25.

Acts

1 Corinthians

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.