Razor

A sharp knife used to shave hair from the skin.

An ancient razor (Egyptian, 1550–1458 BCE)
An ancient razor (Egyptian, 1550–1458 BCE) (Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) Razor

About Razor

A sharp tool used for shaving off the beard or hair (Nm 8:7; Ez 5:1). Use of the razor was proscribed for those under the Nazirite vow (Nm 6:5; 1 Sm 1:11). The instrument played a central role in Samson’s life (Jgs 13:5; 16:17).

The razor is a simile for a slanderous tongue (Ps 52:2) and a metaphor for judgment (Is 7:20).

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Numbers 6:5

For the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. He must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long.

Judges 13:5

For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Isaiah 7:20

On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.

All Scripture References (9)

Numbers (2)
Numbers 6:5

For the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. He must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long.

Numbers 8:7

This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.

Judges (2)
Judges 13:5

For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 16:17

Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

1 Samuel (1)
1 Samuel 1:11

And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Psalms (1)
Psalm 52:4

You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue.

Isaiah (1)
Isaiah 7:20

On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.

Jeremiah (1)
Jeremiah 36:23

And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.

Ezekiel (1)
Ezekiel 5:1

“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair.