Hair Like Wool
A material obtained from sheep- predominantly white in color, it is of the biblical significance that it connotes purity. It was one of the most common fabrics worn in Israel at the time, as it was easily obtainable – many raised sheep as an occupation.
In addition to the above, Prophet Isaiah in the bible also kept showing us the spiritual; the significance of wool, when he compared the ability of God’s forgiveness – saying it was able to wash off even the most formidable and darkest shades of sin to a whole new level of purity like wool – it is pure bright white (Isaiah 1 vs. 18.)
Now that we have identified the various comparisons of wool in the bible, we can examine why the comparison “hair like wool” was mentioned in the bible. Who had hair like wool? Why was it compared to wool? What does it mean to have hair like wool? Let us find out.
Where It All Started
This statement “hair like wool” occurred in Revelations 1 vs. 14, a book in the bible that contained what was revealed to John in the bible. The book contained warnings about the impending coming of Christ and the persecution that would arise from his coming.
There were a lot of divine mysteries that were revealed to John in this book, which he clearly documented. There were visions about the beast with seven heads, the number 666, the persecutions attached with the coming of Christ, and many more. But our focus would be that which John had of Christ.
While we are trying to visualize what John saw in his vision with our mind, we must also try to picture the full image he saw – the seven golden lampstands, a figure wearing a long robe with a golden sash around his chest – Jesus all have their significance. If you reimagined the image correctly, you would know it gave off the image of authority in a person.
A Look At His Face
I am very sure that if it were alive at this time and in the same position John was in, he would have taken the opportunity to have a look at what was happening. I can’t be taking instructions from some familiar voice without confirming the face, right? Hold on; John got a glimpse.
As John continued to describe Jesus, though it was clear and obvious he saw a higher being; we can recall that John said that he was like the son of a man with white hair on his head – this suits the image Daniel had already seen earlier as described in Daniel 7.
John saw a look of his face Revelations 1 vs. 14 and compared his hair like wool – as white as wool, as snow, and his eyes like blazing fire. All these generated a fiery and fierce image, powerful so much that John fell as though he was dead. Why did John fall? I’m sure the sight before him overwhelmed him, and he bowed in response to the magnitude of what he saw.
Why Did John Fall On His Face?
It is important to note that this was not just a blip or a one-off reaction. In fact, it was not uncommon in the scripture to see or read people who saw a vision of what the glory of God was like react this way – Ezekiel and Daniel (Daniel 8 vs. 17) both fell on their face when they caught sight of a powerful spiritual being, much more Jesus himself.
There is more than one feature to the face that John saw to make him fall on his face. Revelations 1 vs. 14 says he had Hair like wool, eyes like fire, and a mouth from which came a sword. This figure laid hands on John and gave him instructions; indeed, there was more to just having hair like wool to do this to a man.
John saw the first and the last, who was dead but alive forever. He saw Christ in his eternal self, an image of what he will be forever and evermore, in all his power and glory. We can remember that Moses (Exodus 33 vs. 18 – 20) caught just a glimpse of the face of the Lord and had to wear a cloth over his head for a long while after.
What’s So Important About His Hair?
There is more than just a meaning attached to having hair like wool; we can all ascribe a meaning to it based on our understanding. However, we can attach it to a common few below:
Holiness: Hair like wool as described meant it was white – shone bright and pure. This is a testament to the purity and holiness of the being John had seen. Holy from the tip of his hair to the sole of his feet. This is who the lamb who had been slain for our sin is, Pure and Holy. He embodies and radiates holiness; everything about him is holy.
Purity: Wool is commonly whitish, which tells us it has not seen any form of impurity. He once said he has the power to wash us of our sins, even if they might be so serious they are as red as crimson. Being as white as wool can be deemed the highest form of purity that we as humans can attain. There is no lost cause for God when it comes to helping humans attain holiness; he can wash us of our sin and make us as white as snow and wool. His hair gives us a view into his pure nature.
Eternalness: As humans, we often attach the presence of white and grey hair to old age. For someone whose hair is like wool – white, we can say it’s a testament to his age – he has been there since the beginning, and would be there till the end. The son of man has been here for quite a while, and would still be here for longer – age to age; he is still the same.
F.A.Q
What does white like wool mean?
As we have said above, white means purity, which in turn connotes holiness. Jesus, having hair as white as wool, emphasizes the extent of his holiness to us as humans. He is holy just like our father in heaven, also showing us that regardless of how grave our sins might be – he went a step further by telling us that even if our sins are as bright red as crimson, he can wash us off of them to make us as white ( Isaiah 1 vs. 18) – holy – like wool. Therefore, white like wool denotes purity.
What color is God’s skin?
Let’s go back a bit to the story of creation, shall we? As it was said in Genesis 1 vs. 27, that God, while creating humans, created us in His own image – that is, we are like God – male and female, made after what He looks like.
As much as we might like to use our human mind with the available texts and biblical references to imagine what his skin would look like, Jeremiah 32 vs. 27 says to us that he is the God of all flesh – black, white, caucasian, and many more, he is the God of all flesh.
In the light of the above, a God of all flesh, as well having many skin colors, and he is not limited by it. He answers the prayers of all tongues and languages, the least we need to worry about is his skin – he will always be God of all.
What was the first image of Jesus?
Without seeing the first image of Jesus, and with all the descriptions that we have given above, we can try to piece together what the image of Jesus would look like – with the story of his birth – like an ordinary male child, and how he resembled a human – there was no outcry about him looking different. He was born and grew up like a normal child would.
However, there have been human renditions on images that they think Jesus would look like – some drew their various inspirations from what the bible said and the growing fashion statement from that period to create an image they think would be that of Jesus.
In the light of the above, the oldest known man-made depiction of Jesus was found in Syria – dating to about 235 AD. This portrait showed him as a beardless young man with a bearing that exudes dignification and authoritativeness. However, there were various controversies from each denomination of the religion about this image pictured with our human thoughts and constraints.
In summary, there are no known images of Jesus Christ from his time anywhere. All we have are just depictions of our thoughts, all of which would fall under scrutiny. Like we said above, how can the God of all flesh be white or black or caucasian or any race? We can’t even use the bible to perfectly depict his image, as there are inconsistencies in how his image was described.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the importance we can commonly attach to having hair like wool. The holy spirit ministers to us in different ways, which is the same way he explains things to us. He can explain to you in a different way. However, we can all relate and find meaning to the few we have highlighted above. What do you think?
There are no verified images of Christ; however, we only have human depictions, all of which would fall under scrutiny with their inconsistencies.
