κομάω

κομάω (s. κόμη, cp. Lat. comans; Hom. et al.; BGU 16, 11; Philo, Deus Imm. 88, Spec. Leg. 3, 37; Jos., Ant. 4, 72) wear long hair, let one’s hair grow long (Diod S 20, 63, 3) 1 Cor 11:14, 15 (Paul argues from nature, but has Roman custom on his side; ancient authors are not unanimous about Greek custom: s. Il. 2, 11 al. ‘long-haired Achaeans’; Hdt. 1, 82, 7 in ref. to a vow; Aristot. Rhet. 1367a, 26 long hair a sign of nobility in Lacedemonia; Plut., Mor. 267b Greeks do not ordinarily wear their hair long; Ps.-Phoc. 212 ἄρσεσιν οὐκ ἐπέοικε κομᾶν; JMurphy-OConnor, CBQ 42, ’80, 484–87: to some an indication of effeminacy, cp. Juvenal 2, 96. For an Israelite perspective s. Judg 16:19; cp. Philo, Spec. Leg. 3, 37; Billerb. III 441f; CGordon, Homer and Bible: HUCA 26, ’55, 84f. Other reff. PvanderHorst, The Sentences of Pseudo-Phocylides ’78, 249f. Perh. Paul refers to the effeminate manner in which some males coiffured their long hair, rather than to the mere wearing of hair in full length.)—MAndronicos et al., The Gk. Museum ’75 (illustr.); RAC IV 629f. DELG s.v. κόμη. M-M.