### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gâlach**, represented by `{{H1548}}`, is a primitive root meaning to **shave** or **poll**. Its definition includes the concepts of being bald, causatively shaving, and figuratively to lay waste. It appears **23 times** across **18 unique verses**, illustrating its use in a variety of significant contexts from personal grooming to national judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1548}}` is used to denote several important actions. It is a key component of ritual law, such as when a Nazarite completes his vow and must **shave** the head of his separation [[Numbers 6:18]], or when a person undergoing ceremonial cleansing must **shave** off all his hair to be clean [[Leviticus 14:8]]. The act also serves as a profound insult and sign of humiliation, as when Hanun **shaved off** half the beards of David's servants [[2 Samuel 10:4]]. Figuratively, it symbolizes divine judgment, as when the Lord proclaims he will **shave** the land with a hired razor, the king of Assyria [[Isaiah 7:20]]. Conversely, it can mark a simple change in status, as when Joseph **shaved** himself before appearing before Pharaoh [[Genesis 41:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context and meaning of shaving:
* `{{H7144}}` **qorchâh** (baldness): This describes the state resulting from shaving the head. It is often associated with mourning [[Amos 8:10]] and is explicitly forbidden for priests, who shall not make **baldness** upon their head [[Leviticus 21:5]].
* `{{H4177}}` **môwrâh** (razor): This is the instrument used for shaving. Its absence is a sign of consecration for a Nazarite, as Samson notes that no **razor** had ever been on his head, and if he were shaven, his strength would leave [[Judges 16:17]].
* `{{H8593}}` **taʻar** (razor, knife, scabbard): Another word for the tool used to shave. It is this type of **razor** that is used in the prophecy of judgment against Israel [[Isaiah 7:20]].
* `{{H3697}}` **kâçam** (poll, shear): This term is used in direct contrast to shaving. Priests in Ezekiel's vision are instructed not to **shave** their heads `{{H1548}}`, but to only **poll** them [[Ezekiel 44:20]].
* `{{H6213}}` **ʻâsâh** (do, make, trim, pare): This broad verb is used alongside shaving in the law concerning a captive woman, who must **shave** her head and **pare** her nails as part of her transition [[Deuteronomy 21:12]].
### Theological Significance
The cultural and theological weight of `{{H1548}}` is significant, representing major life transitions and spiritual states.
* **Ritual Purity and Consecration:** Shaving is central to the laws of the Nazarite and of cleansing. It can mark the successful completion of a vow [[Numbers 6:18]] or the purification required after defilement [[Numbers 6:9]]. A shaven head signifies a return from a consecrated state or a move from unclean to clean [[Leviticus 14:9]].
* **Humiliation and Judgment:** To forcibly shave someone's beard was a deep sign of dishonor, as seen in the treatment of David's men [[1 Chronicles 19:4]]. This is elevated to a theological metaphor for God's judgment, where a nation is laid bare and shamed by its enemies, who act as God's "razor" [[Isaiah 7:20]].
* **Mourning and Grief:** Shaving one's beard was an outward expression of intense sorrow [[Jeremiah 41:5]]. This practice was specifically forbidden for priests, setting them apart from common mourning customs [[Leviticus 21:5]].
* **Change of Status:** The act of shaving can mark a clear separation from a former life. Joseph shaves his prison growth before entering Pharaoh's court [[Genesis 41:14]], and a captive woman shaves her head to mark her new life before marriage [[Deuteronomy 21:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1548}}` is far more than a word for hair removal. It is a potent symbolic act in scripture, signifying profound changes in an individual's or a nation's status. From the sacred rituals of the Nazarite vow to the shaming of envoys, and from a sign of personal mourning to a metaphor for divine judgment, **gâlach** carries significant weight. It illustrates how a physical act can represent the deepest transitions of life: from consecrated to common, from unclean to pure, from honor to shame, and from one life stage to the next.
TRV