Commandment Details

Mishneh Torah #: 69
Mishneh Torah Book #: 1
Mishneh Torah Book: Knowledge
Mishneh Torah Category: 4- Idolatry and Gentile Customs
Reference: Leviticus 19:27
Scripture Book: Leviticus
Scripture Chapter: 19
Scripture Verse: 27
English: You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.
Hebrew: כז לֹא תַקִּפוּ, פְּאַת רֹאשְׁכֶם; וְלֹא תַשְׁחִית, אֵת פְּאַת זְקָנֶךָ.
Greek: 27 οὐ ποιήσετε σισόην ἐκ τῆς κόμης τῆς κεφαλῆς ὑμῶν οὐδὲ φθερεῖτε τὴν ὄψιν τοῦ πώγωνος ὑμῶν.
Parashah: 30- Kedoshim
Sefer Hachinuch #: 252
Sef. Hach. Command: The prohibition against marring the edges of the beard
Category: Personal Appearance
We can perform today: Yes

"You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard." (Leviticus 19:27) The LITV translation says, "You shall not round the edge of your head, nor mar the edge of your beard." (Leviticus 19:27 LITV) The literal commandment is that we should not harm the edges of our beards.

The Literal Commandment

You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard. (Leviticus 19:27)

The LITV translation indicates this:

You shall not round the edge of your head, nor mar the edge of your beard. (Leviticus 19:27 LITV)

The literal commandment is that we should not harm the edges of our beards.

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

Pictures of Messiah

This commandment indicates that we should be visually distinct from the rest of the world in our appearance. Messiah was absolutely distinct from the world in His appearance but not in a gaudy, showy fashion. Isaiah prophesied of Him:

He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. (Isaiah 53:2)

Messiah was a Jew in the midst of a Roman world. He was in the world but not of the world... distinct in His appearance and behavior including obedience to the commandments. It was His obedience to this commandment that contributed to His distinct appearance.

How Messiah Fulfilled

We know that Messiah was without sin (Hebrews 4:15) so we know Messiah fulfilled this commandment. How He specifically fulfilled it is not known from Scripture.

Traditional Observance

This commandment is observed in various ways by different Jewish sects. Some observe it by growing large beards. Others observe the commandment by growing a beard of any size. Yet other groups allow their members to be clean shaven as long as a razor is not used.

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and men should not shave their beards.

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Men must not shave their beards with a razor