The prophet Isaiah was commanded to put off the sackcloth from his loins and his shoes from his feet, and to go naked and barefoot three years. Isa. xx 2, 3.

Likewise

The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to draw a barber's razor upon his head and upon his beard, to burn a third part [of the hair] in the midst of the city, to smite a third part with the sword and to scatter a third part to the wind; and to bind a little from these in his skirts, and finally to cast it into the midst of the fire and burn it. Ezek. v 1-4.

[2] Because the prophets represented the Word, and consequently signified the doctrine of the Church from the Word, as was said above, and because by the head is signified wisdom from the Word, therefore, by the hair of the head and by the beard is signified the ultimate of truth. In consequence of this signification it was a mark of deep mourning, and also a great disgrace, for anyone to make himself bald, and also to appear bald. For this reason and no other the prophet was directed to shave off the hair of his head and his beard, that he might thereby represent the state of the Jewish Church as to the Word. For this reason and no other,

The forty-two children who called Elisha bald head were torn in pieces by two she-bears. 2 Kings ii 23, 24;

for the prophet represented the Word, as was observed before, and baldness signified the Word without its ultimate sense.

[3] The Nazirites represented the Lord as to the Word in its ultimates, as will be seen below, No. 49; and, therefore, it was a statute for them that they should let their hair grow and shave off none of it. Moreover, the term Nazirite in the Hebrew tongue signifies the hair of the head.

It was also a statute for the high priest that he should not shave his head. Lev. xxi 10.

Similarly for the head of a family. Lev. xxi 5.

[4] Hence it was that for them baldness was a great disgrace, as may be evident from the following passages:

On all their heads shall there be baldness, and every beard cut off. Isa. xv 2; Jer. xlviii 37.

Shame shall be upon all faces and baldness upon all their heads. Ezek. vii 18.

Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled. Ezek. xxix 18.

I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head. Amos viii 10.

Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness ... for they are gone into captivity from thee. Micah i 16.

Here by putting on and enlarging baldness is signified falsifying the truths of the Word in its ultimates; and when these are falsified, as was done by the Jews, the whole Word is destroyed. For the ultimates of the Word are its stays and supports; indeed, every word is a stay and support of its celestial and spiritual truths. As the hair signifies truth in its ultimates, therefore, in the spiritual world all who despise the Word and falsify the sense of its Letter appear bald; but those who honour and love it appear with becoming heads of hair. On this subject see also below, No. 49.