Razor — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

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).

Show passage in OET: NUM 8:7

OET-RV NUM 8:7

7 This is how to make them pure: sprinkle the sin offering water on them, then they must shave their entire bodies and wash themselves and their clothes.

OET-LV NUM 8:7

7 And_thus you _will _do to/for_them to_purify_them spatter on_them water _of sin _offering and_they _will _cause _to _pass a _razor over all _of body _of_their and_they _will _wash clothes _of_their and_they _will _purify _themselves.

Show passage in OET: EZE 5:1

OET-RV EZE 5:1

5 Then you, son of humanity, take a sharp sword as a barber’s razor for yourself, and use it to shave your head and beard, then get some scales so you can weigh your hair and divide it equally into three piles.

OET-LV EZE 5:1

5 And_you(ms) Oh _son _of humankind take to/for_yourself(m) a _sword sharp (the)_razor _of (the)_barbers you_will _take _it (for)_yourself and_you _will _make_it_pass over head _of_your and_over beard _of_your and_you _will _take to/for_yourself(m) balances _of weight and_you_will _divide _them.

Show passage in OET: NUM 6:5

OET-RV NUM 6:5

5 “For the entire time of their vow to Yahweh as a Nazirite, they mustn’t cut their hair—they must sacred and grow their hair long.

OET-LV NUM 6:5

5 All _of the _days _of the _vow _of his _consecration _of_his a _razor not it _will _pass over his/its_head until the_days which he _will _be _a _Nāzīr to/for_YHWH are _completed holy he _will _be the _lock[s]_of the _hair _of his/its_head he _will _make _grow.

Show passage in OET: SA1 1:11

OET-RV SA1 1:11

11 Then she made a vow, saying, “Commander Yahweh, if you would only notice the misery of your female servant and remember me. Don’t ignore me. Help your female servant to give birth to a son, then I’ll give him to you for his entire life, and he’ll never have his hair cut.”

OET-LV SA1 1:11

11 And_she/it _vowed a _vow and_she/it _said Oh_YHWH soldiers/messengers if really _(look) you _will _look in _the_affliction your(ms)_female _slave and_you(ms)_will _remember_me and_not you _will _forget DOM your(ms)_female _slave and_you(ms)_will _give to/for_your(ms)_female _slave offspring _of men and_I _will _give_him/it to/for_YHWH all _of the _days _of his/its_life and_(a)_razor not it _will _go _up on his/its_head.

Show passage in OET: JDG 13:5

OET-RV JDG 13:5

5 because you’ll definitely become pregnant and will give birth to a son. His hair must never be cut because he’ll be a Nazirite to God from his conception. He will begin to rescue Yisrael (Israel) from the oppression of the Pelishtim.”

OET-LV JDG 13:5

5 If/because HERE_you will _be_pregnant and_you _will _bear a _son and_(a)_razor not it _will _go _up on his/its_head if/because a _Nāzīr _of god he _will _be the_lad from the_womb and_he he _will _begin to_deliver DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_the _hand _of the_Pəlishtiy.

Show passage in OET: JDG 16:17

OET-RV JDG 16:17

17 So finally he told her his secret, “My hair has never been cut because I’ve been a Nazirite to God since my birth. If my head would be shaved, then my strength would leave me, and I’d become weak—I’d be just like any other man.”

OET-LV JDG 16:17

17 And_he _told to/for_her/it DOM all _of his/its_heart and_he/it _said to/for_her/it a _razor not it _has _come _up on my_head if/because am_a _Nāzīr _of god I from_the _womb _of my _mother _of_my if I _was _shaved and_it _will _depart from_me strength _of_my and_I _will _be _weak and_I _will _be like_every _of the_humankind.

Jump to OET NUM 8:7 section.

Jump to OET EZE 5:1 section.

Jump to OET NUM 6:5 section.

Jump to OET SA1 1:11 section.

Jump to OET JDG 13:5 section.

Jump to OET JDG 16:17 section.

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