Tithes & Alms

Women's Grooming

Women's eyebrows​

Deu 14:1  

Ye are the children of Ahayah your Alahayim: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldnessH7144 between your eyes for the dead.

Definition:

H7144 (Strong)

From H7139; baldness:- bald (-ness), X utterly.

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• Designing and lining the eyebrows for beauty is lawful (so long as one doesn't make either eyebrow completely bald). The law of Duet 14:1 is in regards to balding the eyebrows completely as oppose to lining or designing the eyebrows for beauty as the definition of baldness in H7144 says "baldness" and "utterly." The definitions help us understand this law in Duet 14:1 is relaying that it is unlawful to make the eyebrows completely bald (unless it’s for cleansing of a leper) [Lev14:9] yet when it pertains to designing (lining) the eyebrows for beauty, it is lawful to design them so long as one doesn't make the eyebrows completely bald. Be sure not to bald the eyebrows completely to draw eyebrows for beauty as well because the practice of balding the eyebrows completely is a practice for the dead according to the law, so be sure not to bald your eyebrows completely for any reason aside from the cleansing requirements for leprosy. 

Leviticus 14:9

But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off, and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.

Women's Shaving

• Concerning shaving the body hair, there is no law that restricts a woman from shaving her body hair. It is lawful for women to shave their mustache and trim their beard if they have them. It is not lawful to shave their beard entirely lest they "mar" the corners. {Lev 19:27}

Leviticus 19:27

27  Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou marH7843 the corners of thy beard.H2206

Definition: 

Beard H2206 זקן From 2204; the beard, chin; the beard (as indicating age):— beard.

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• Notice the law is pertaining to the beard on the chin, so one cannot shave the beard completely. On the other hand, the law did not include the mustache , so the law doesn't prohibit shaving the mustache. The commandment was spoken unto "the congregation of the children of Israel," {Lev 19:2} so women are included. 

Definitions:

Mar H7843 שחת A primitive root; to decay, that is, (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively): - batter, cast off, corrupt (-er, thing), destroy (-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, X utterly, waste (-r).

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• The word "mar" has meanings like “ruin, destroy, mar, waste, to decay” which shows the word mar is explaining that one cannot destroy the beard completely. For this reason, it’s lawful to trim it low without completely destroying the beard by shaving it bald. 

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Women's make-up

• The testimonies command for women not adorning their heads or faces to deceive the mind of a man by outward attractions. 

Testament of Reuben chapter 5 

5 1 For evil are women, my children; and since they have no power or strength over man, they use wiles by outward attractions, that they may draw him to themselves. 2 And whom they cannot  bewitch by outward attractions, him they overcome by craft. 3 For moreover, concerning them, the angel of the Lord told me, and taught me, that women are overcome by the spirit of fornication more than men, and in their heart they plot against men; and by means of their adornment they deceive first their minds, and by the glance of the eye instill the poison, and then through the accomplished act they take them captive. 4 For a woman cannot force a man openly, but by a harlot’s bearing she beguiles him. 5 Flee, therefore, fornication, my children, and command your wives and your daughters, that they adorn not their heads and faces to deceive the mind: because every woman who useth these wiles hath been reserved for eternal punishment..

• The testimonies command for women (regardless of age) not to adorn themselves to deceive the mind of a person, yet beautifying oneself is not a sin in itself because the issue is the intent of the heart of the person who is beautifying themselves. An example of adorning one's self beautifully with good intent can be for the sake of joy unto Alahayim on one's wedding day:

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in Ahayah, my soul shall be joyful in my Alahayim; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Ezekiel 16:8, 11-14

Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord Ahayah, and thou becamest mine. 11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. 12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. 13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. 14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord Ahayah.

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• In the testimonies, Judith beautified herself on feast days in joy with her husband and later with the good intent of saving her people by the Lord. [Judith 10:3-4] The sin can enter in when ones intent isn’t upright by adorning one's self to deceive the mind of another by the bewitching of outward attraction unto fornication. [Testament of Reuben 5:1,5] So it’s really a matter of where our heart’s intent lies as oppose to the wearing of make up in itself or beautifying one's self in itself. Wearing make up is no transgression as it is merely painting one’s face to make yourself fair. [Jeremiah 4:30] Just be mindful of unclean ingredients from unclean creatures that could defile you by chance. Women have to be mindful not to adorn their face or their heads with the intent to deceive the mind of another by outward attractions unto fornication and not to associate with men according to the admonition against fornication in testament of Rueben.

Testament of Reuben 6:1-4

1 Beware, therefore, of fornication; and if you wish to be pure in mind, guard your senses from every woman. 2 And command the women likewise not to associate with men, that they also may be pure in mind. 3 For constant meetings, even though the unholy deed be not wrought, are to them an irremediable disease, and to us a destruction of Beliar and an eternal reproach. 4 For in fornication there is neither understanding nor holiness, and all jealousy dwelleth in the lust thereof. 

• The lessons “the lust of the eyes” and "The Eye: Light or Darkness" both touch on this topic with scriptures:

"The Lust of the Eyes":

https://youtu.be/zfAV_XE5v3s

"The Eye: Light or Darkness":

 https://youtu.be/QN2DexxQtbA?si=z3e46XeEeQG4KMZ6

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• The lesson on “the tribe of Reuben” also addresses these admonitions:

https://youtu.be/XwFXhTVdFgw

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•  Hopefully the lessons will be helpful and the pdf notes can be found on the doctrine video notes tab. Also if one doesn’t wear make up it’s nothing wrong with that as some women don’t wear it for certain reasons. It’s a personal choice between a wife and her husband or father and his daughter. 

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Women's Hairstyles​

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• There is place of torment for women who are turned unto fornication and plait their hair with the intent to entice men through their outward adorning unto perdition.

Apocalypse of Peter Chapter 7

"... And again behold two women: they hang them up by their neck and by their hair; they shall cast them into the pit. These are they which plaited their hair, not to make them beautiful, but to turn them to fornication, that they might ensnare the souls of men unto perdition. And men that lay with them in fornication shall be hung by their loins in that place of fire; and they shall say one to another: We knew not that we should come unto everlasting punishment."​​

Testament of Reuben 5:5

5 Flee, therefore, fornication, my children, and command your wives and your daughters, that they adorn not their heads and faces to deceive the mind: because every woman who useth these wiles hath been reserved for eternal punishment..

• There is no law against braiding, plaiting, or twisting one's hair even with extensions to make one's self beautiful. The women just need be mindful of their heart's intent because if they are doing it to draw someone into fornication or bewitch them by outward attraction, punishment is reserved for that because of their ill intent. [Testament of Reuben 5-6, apocalypse of Peter 7]  Yet, braiding, plaiting, or twisting the hair in itself is no sin if your heart's intent is right to dress your hair as you please to make yourself beautiful as it was given to us for comeliness and glory. [Testament of Naphtali 2:8]

Testament of Naphtali 2:8

For Alahayim made all things good in their order, the five senses in the head, and He joined on the neck to the head, adding to it the hair also for comeliness and glory...

• Hair relaxers aren’t against the law. Just ensure your hearts intent is upright. Although relaxers do burn and harm the hair, but that’s ones personal choice. The only other command for women to be mindful of (aside from not adorning the head with the wrong intent) when it comes to the hair of their heads is to be sure not to "round the corners of their heads."

Leviticus 19:27

27  Ye shall not round the corners of your heads...

• Women may trim their hair as they like, so long as they don't shave the sides of their heads bald alone in hair styles like flat tops, fades, temp fades, or mohawks because they will be "rounding the corners of their heads" which is against the law. Women may also shave their heads bald (though it is a shame unto her [1 Cor 11:15]  and a dishonoring of her head if she does so. On the other hand, her long hair is a glory to her. [1 Cor 11:15]

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• Through scriptures, beatifying one's self, whether the face, the hair, or dressing nicely in modest apparel is no transgression so long as the intent of the heart is pure and a sister understands it's the beauty of her inner self through the fruits of righteousness that is of great price with Alahayim:

1Pe 3:3-4

 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of Alahayim of great price.

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• So there's nothing wrong with making yourself fair for the sake of being beautiful, just let your true adorning be of the heart in the fruits of the Spirit. On the opposite end, women, through the influences of the world, tend to place importance upon carnal things and outward show that shall not profit instead of focusing on the weighty matters of the heart, yet the Apostle Thomas exhorted the women on what's truly profitable and lasting:

 Acts of Thomas 88 

….Then he said to the woman Mygdonia: Rise up from the ground and compose yourself (take off thine ornaments & be mindful of yourself. For your clothes that you have on shall not profit you. Neither shall the beauty of your body, or your dress, neither your prestige status, or the authority of this world, or the filthy sex with your husband shall benefit you, should you long for true fellowship: for the physical appearance of decoration means nothing, and the body grows old and changes, and raiment wears out, and authority and mastership passes away, the fellowship of sex also passes away and is as it were condemnation. Yache is the only thing that will last forever as well as those that have their hope in Him.

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• So be beautiful in spirit in the sight of Alahayim and be beautiful in appearance as he has given you the measure of faith to be while being mindful not to put an occassion to fall in a brother's way 

​​Romans 14:13

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Women's Head-covering

•  A woman, with good intent, dresses her hair to make herself beautiful and then covers her head in modest apparel when going about in the world so as to maintain shamefacedness as was commanded by the Lord's Apostles:

1 Timothy 2:9

[9]In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

• On the other hand, A shameless woman goes about in the world uncovered, not adhering to the Lord's admonitions and there is a place of punishment for women in this kind of unbelief as was shown to the Apostle Thomas.

Acts of Thomas 56 

And he brought me to another chasm, and as I looked into it I saw mud and worms spouting forth, and souls wallowing there; and I heard a great gnashing of teeth come from them. And that man said to me, ‘these are the souls of women who left their husbands and committed adultery with others, and they have been brought to this torment.’ And he showed me another chasm, and looking into it, I saw souls hung up, some by their tongue, some by their hair, some by their hands, others by their feet, head downward, and reeking with smoke and sulfur. Concerning these the man who accompanied me said the following: ‘the souls hung up by the tongue are slanderers and such as have spoken false and disgraceful words and are not ashamed. Those hung up by their hair are the shameless, who are not ashamed at all to go about with uncovered heads in the world. Those hung by their hands are they who took that which did not belong to them and have stolen, and who never gave anything to the poor, nor helped the afflicted; but they did so because they wished to get everything, and cared neither for law nor right. And these hung up by their feet are those who lightly and eagerly walked in wicked ways and disorderly paths, not visiting the sick nor escorting those who depart this life. On this account each soul receives what it has done.’

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•  From the torments that await and the scriptures for instruction, we see it is lawful for a woman to cut her hair so long as she doesn't round the corners of her head. It's lawful for a woman to braid, twist or plait her hair to make herself beautiful. Regardless of hair style, she ought to be shamefaced when going about in the world by covering her head along with also doing so when praying or prophesying. [I Cor 11:3] She ought to dress in modest apparel and maintain her shamefacedness with sobriety. She may beautify her head and face to make herself fair so long as her heart's intent is not to deceive the mind or bewitch by outward attraction. This understanding would help avoid the punishments for unbelievers by keeping the commands of the Apostles and Prophets. The Apostles understood the punishments to come and their commands are the commands of the Lord. 

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1 Corinthians 14:37

37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

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• We also have to be mindful of the words of the prophets like Reuben for guidance:

2 Peter 3:2

2  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the prophets and Saviour

• ​Lord willing this is edifying for the daughters of Jerusalem, the mother of us all, whether Jew or Gentile. . 

 

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