BEARD

The Hebrews regarded a thin, scanty beard as a great deformity; while a long, full, flowing beard was esteemed the noblest ornament of personal beauty and dignity. A man’s honor was lodged, as it were, his beard. To insult it by word or act was the grossest indignity; to take it respectfully in the right hand and kiss it, was a mode of expressing high esteem and love permitted only to the nearest friends. It was cherished with great care, Ps 133:2 Da 10:3. To neglect, tear, or cut it, indicated the deepest grief, Ezr 9:3 Isa 15:2 Jer 41:5 48:37; while to be deprived of it was a mark of servility and infamy. Many would prefer death to such a mutilation. These facts explain many passages of Scripture: as the gross insult offered to David’s ambassadors, 2Sa 10:4-14; the zealous indignation of Nehemiah, Ne 13:25; the mode in which the feigned insanity of David was expressed, 1Sa 21:12, and the grief of Mephibosheth, 1Sa 19:24; the treachery of Judas; also several passages in the prophets, Isa 7:20 50:6 Eze 5:1-5.

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Beard. Beard
The mode of wearing it was definitely prescribed to the Jews (Lev. 19:27; 21:5). Hence the import of Ezekiel’s (5:1-4) description of the “razor” i.e., the agents of an angry providence being used against the guilty nation of the Jews. It was a part of a Jew’s daily toilet to anoint his beard with oil and perfume (Ps. 133:2). Beards were trimmed with the most fastidious care (2 Sam. 19:24), and their neglet was an indication of deep sorrow (Isa. 15:2; Jer. 41:5). The custom was to shave or pluck off the hair as a sign of mourning (Isa. 50:6; Jer. 48:37; Ezra 9:3). The beards of David’s ambassadors were cut off by hanun (2 Sam. 10:4) as a mark of indignity.

On the other hand, the Egyptians carefully shaved the hair off their faces, and they compelled their slaves to do so also (Gen. 41:14).

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BEARD. → Worn long by Aaron Ps 133:2 → Samson Jud 16:17 → David 1Sa 21:13; Eze 5:1 → Shaven by Egyptians Ge 41:14 → Untrimmed in mourning 2Sa 19:24 → Plucked Ezr 9:3 → Cut Isa 7:20; 15:2; Jer 11:5; 48:37 → Lepers required to shave Le 13:29-33; 14:9 → Idolatrous practice of marring, forbidden Le 19:27; 21:5 → Beards of David's ambassadors half shaven by the king of the Amorites 2Sa 10:4

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Western Asiatics have always cherished the beard as the badge of the dignity of manhood, and attached to it the importance of a feature. The Egyptians, on the contrary for the most part shaved the hair of the face and head, though we find some instances to the contrary. The beard is the object of an oath, and that on which blessing or shame is spoken of as resting. The custom was and is to shave or pluck it and the hair out in mourning, (Ezra 9:3; Isaiah 15:2; 50:6; Jeremiah 41:5; 48:37) Bar. 6:31; to neglect it in seasons of permanent affliction, (2 Samuel 19:24) and to regard any insult to it as the last outrage which enmity can inflict. (2 Samuel 10:4) The beard was the object of salutation. (2 Samuel 20:9) The dressing, trimming, anointing, etc., of the beard was performed with much ceremony by persons of wealth and rank (Psalms 133:2) The removal of the beard was a part of the ceremonial treatment proper to a leper. (Leviticus 14:9)

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Le 14:9; 19:27; 21:5; 1Sa 21:13; 2Sa 10:4; 19:24; Ezr 9:3 Ps 133:2; Isa 7:20

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beard. Beard, n. hair on the chin, &c. a jag, point, wool

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Beard (bērd), n. [[OE. berd, AS. beard; akin to Fries. berd, D. baard, G. bart, Lith. barzda, OSlav. brada, Pol. broda, Russ. boroda, L. barba, W. barf. Cf. 1st Barb.]] 1. 1. The hair that grows on the chin, lips, and adjacent parts of the human face, chiefly of male adults.
2. 2. (Zoöl.) (a) The long hairs about the face in animals, as in the goat. (b) The cluster of small feathers at the base of the beak in some birds (c) The appendages to the jaw in some Cetacea, and to the mouth or jaws of some fishes. (d) The byssus of certain shellfish, as the muscle. (e) The gills of some bivalves, as the oyster. (f) In insects, the hairs of the labial palpi of moths and butterflies.
3. 3. (Bot.) Long or stiff hairs on a plant; the awn; as, the beard of grain.
4. 4. A barb or sharp point of an arrow or other instrument, projecting backward to prevent the head from being easily drawn out.
5. 5. That part of the under side of a horse's lower jaw which is above the chin, and bears the curb of a bridle.
6. 6. (Print.) That part of a type which is between the shoulder of the shank and the face.
7. 7. An imposition; a trick. Chaucer.
Beard grass (Bot.), a coarse, perennial grass of different species of the genus Andropogon. — To one's beard, to one's face; in open defiance.