How long was Jesus' hair?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible does not describe Jesus’ physical appearance, including His hair length. However, historical and cultural context can help us infer how long Jesus’ hair was. As a Jewish man living in the first century, Jesus likely followed the custom of keeping His hair trimmed and distinct from women’s hairstyles. Paul suggests that long hair on men was generally viewed as disgraceful, supporting the idea that Jesus likely had short to medium-length hair (1 Corinthians 11:14). While modern portrayals often depict Jesus with long hair and fair skin, these are influenced more by culture than Scripture or history. Overall, Jesus’ physical features were typical of a Middle Eastern Jewish man of His time, and Scripture emphasizes His mission and message over His appearance.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In general, Jewish men in the Old Testament kept their hair well-groomed. Long, unkempt hair was often associated with mourning or shame (e.g., Ezra 9:3; Job 1:20).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus was a Jewish male who followed Jewish teachings (Matthew 5:17; Luke 4:16). Therefore, we should expect a man with olive or light brown skin, dark hair, and likely brown eyes—typical features of first-century Jewish men living in the Middle East (Isaiah 53:2). Jewish men did not have the same luxuries of modern hair stylists available to provide regular haircuts. While Jewish men did trim their hair, it was not as often as in modern times, meaning a rougher appearance was likely.
• The apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthians offers an insightful commentary into the Jewish attitude of men's hair. It notes, "Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him?" (11:14). Paul's argument is that men were not to be known for hair that looked like that of women. While this does not indicate the length of Jesus' hair, it does reveal that He likely had hair shorter than Jewish females of the time. Though some exceptions are found in the Bible of men with long hair (such as Samson and John the Baptist), most Jewish men kept shorter hair to distinguish themselves from women as well as for practical purposes.
• Scripture does not focus on the physical appearance of Jesus but on His teachings. He came to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), coming to live among humanity to provide salvation to all who will believe in His name (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Many artistic portrayals and films of Jesus Christ present Him with long or shoulder-length hair. He has also been portrayed as a Caucasian with blue eyes and pale skin. But that fits a cultural view of Jesus rather than the most likely accurate physical attributes based on what is known of His ethnicity and traditional background.

Jesus followed Jewish customs. Also, statues of men from his time period generally reveal men with short hair. While nearly all statues from this period were Greco-Roman, the consistent portrayal of short-haired men affirms this was a more likely scenario for Jewish men as well during this time period.

Based on these considerations, Jesus likely had hair that was in the "normal" range for His culture. It would likely not have been down to His shoulders nor was His head likely shaved. Instead, Jesus would have had mid-length hair common in His time. This is not to indicate what the Bible teaches regarding men's hair but rather the most likely deduction to answer whether Jesus had long hair during His time on earth.

UNDERSTAND

• The Bible doesn’t specify Jesus’ hair length, but cultural norms suggest short to mid-length hair typical of first-century Jewish men.
• Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:14 indicates long hair on men was seen as disgraceful, supporting the idea Jesus kept shorter hair.
• Scripture focuses on Jesus’ mission rather than His appearance.

REFLECT

• How do your assumptions about Jesus’ appearance influence the way you relate to Him?
• How are you tempted to focus more on outward appearances than on the heart and mission of Christ?
• How does knowing Jesus likely looked ordinary by human standards challenge how you view others’ worth and significance?

ENGAGE

• What can our modern portrayals of Jesus teach us—both positively and negatively—about our cultural values?
• How can our portrayals of Jesus impact people’s views of Him, and what can we do to make sure that our portrayals of Him don’t get in the way of someone receiving the gospel?
• How does the Bible’s silence on Jesus’ physical features shape our understanding of what God wants us to focus on?