The question that started this: "I know that's why some Jewish people have curly cues at their temples. But whyyyy?"
"Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard."
— Leviticus 19:27 NIVThose curls are called payot, and aye, this verse is why. But let's get into the why behind the why.
What Was Actually Happening
Same chapter, same Holiness Code. And look at what's right before this verse—verse 26: "Do not practice divination or seek omens."
That's not an accident. These commands are grouped together deliberately.
The Pagan Connection
The nations surrounding Israel—Egyptians, Canaanites, various Mesopotamian cultures—had specific mourning rituals and worship practices that involved cutting hair in particular patterns:
One—Mourning rites for the dead. Pagan cultures would shave or cut their hair in specific shapes as offerings to their gods on behalf of the deceased. Look at the very next verse, 28: "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves." Same category. Same pagan funeral practice. God's saying: "You don't grieve like they grieve. You don't worship death like they worship death."
Two—Devotion to specific deities. Certain hair configurations were markers of which god you served. Shaping your hair a particular way was basically wearing a pagan team jersey. God was saying: "Your appearance doesn't advertise their gods. You belong to Me. You look like Mine."
Three—Divination practices. Hair offerings were tied to sorcery and consulting the dead. That's why verse 26 about divination sits right next to verse 27 about hair. They're connected practices.
So It Wasn't About Haircuts
God wasn't saying "Never touch scissors." He was saying: "Don't participate in pagan religious rituals that use hair modification as worship of false gods or communication with the dead."
The action was cutting hair. The issue was what it meant—who it was for.
Why Orthodox Jews Still Practice Payot
They take the command at face value as still binding. In Orthodox Judaism, the Torah's commands don't expire—there's no "fulfilled by Messiah" framework the way Christianity reads it. So they honor the literal instruction: don't cut the hair at the temples.
And honestly? I respect it. Even where I disagree theologically on whether it's still binding, there's something beautiful about a people who've kept a command for three thousand years without flinching.
Does It Apply to Christians?
Same answer as the mixed fabrics. Ceremonial law specific to Israel's covenant identity. You're under the New Covenant through Christ.
But the principle still matters:
Don't adopt the worship practices of the world around you and dress them up as yours. Don't let culture's rituals replace God's.
The answer is almost always the same in Leviticus: because the nations around Israel did something tied to idol worship, and God said "Not you. You're Mine."
— Sebastian, from the prayer table