Peace.
The hair symbolizes length….as in the length of words that come out of the mouth (such as being “long”–winded in speech). The words are not cut short but continue on in length just as a woman wears her hair long.
In 1st Peter 3:4, we find every person has a “hidden man of the heart”.
If this is the case, there must be a “woman” also to every person.
The “woman” or wife is the “weaker vessel”. The tongue is that “weaker vessel” that gives birth to words that comes from (conceived within) the “hidden man of the heart”.
Out of the overflow of the heart does the tongue beget words into the air. Words can be used for good or evil...depending on the breath (spirit) within. Words can be spoken in joy, gentleness, wrath, covetousness, etc. What breath or spirit is within is used to speak words.
The hidden man of the heart must rule over the tongue (the “weaker vessel”) as the tongue can easily speak rash words in wrath. We are to refrain our tongues from speaking evil and guile (deceit).
The tongue can be used to speak flattering, glittering words in order to deceive others…..hence the “plaiting of hair” and the wearing of gold and the putting on of apparel.
This is not literal but speaks of the use of our words that come out of the mouth. The tongue gives birth to words. These words can be glittery, flattering words that are used to deceive others.
1 Peter 3:3-4 KJV (3) 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 God of great price.
This is why Peter continued to say that those who want to love life and see good days must refrain his tongue (the “woman”….the “weaker vessel”…. to the “hidden man of the heart”) from speaking evil or using the tongue to speak “guile”….speaking flattering words to deceive others. Some who preach with guile in their mouths use “braided” words to deceive others .
1 Peter 3:10-11 KJV (10) For he that will love life, and see good
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they
speak no guile: (11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek
peace, and ensue it.
The "wearing of apparel" speaks of the “cloak” to cover up the covetousness within one’s heart.
The apostles of Christ did not use their tongues to speak flattery to others. They did not use flattering words as a cloak to cover up any covetousness within their hearts. No guile was found within their mouths nor was any covetousness within their hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5 KJV (3) For our exhortation was not of deceit,
nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: (4) But as we were allowed of God
to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing
men, but God, which trieth our hearts. (5) For neither at any time
used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God
is witness:
When one hears the Word of God spoken in truth and sincerity, some will become angry within their hearts….within the hidden man of the heart...as they will not believe in what they hear.
Wrath starts within the heart of man….it is conceived within… and then that hidden man desires to speak words of wrath outwardly. Sin lies at the door of the mouth wanting to proceed out of the mouth, but we must rule over our wrath.
Sin is “born” by the tongue (the “woman” so to speak) as the tongue is used to speak words of wrath that was conceived within the hidden man of the heart. Out of the overflow of the heart does man speak. Death and life are in the power of the tongue...which is the "weaker vessel".
James 1:13-16 KJV (13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am
tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth
he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of
his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it
bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
death. (16) Do not err, my beloved brethren.
The evil things that proceed out of the mouth comes from the heart….the “abyss”….the pit. The evil hidden deep within the heart manifests itself outwardly by the use of the tongue that begets sin…evil words.
Matthew 15:17-20 KJV (17) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever
entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into
the draught? (18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth
come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of
the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which
defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
In Revelation 9, we find that the “bottomless pit”….which is the abyss of the heart….is opened from which arose “smoke” out of the pit. “Smoke” in this context speaks of wrath….great wrath…. that arises within the heart.
Revelation 9:1-2 KJV (1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a
star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of
the bottomless pit. (2) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there
arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the
sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
The “locusts” in the context of Revelation 9 are a multitude of evil words (sin is manifested) that come flying out of the mouths of those who do not rule over their tongues. Sin instead has dominion over them.
These evil words have power to sting those who do not keep the sacrifice of the Lord in their lives (the green things).
These green things are His people who will not return evil for their evil…nor return threatening for their threatening. We shall not be harmed by their evil words by keeping the sacrifice of the Lamb within our lives by dying to sin….not returning railing for their railing against us. Those who believe in God believe in His Word of Truth and keep the dying of the Lord....they are faithful unto the death...the death of our Lord who died for us.
Revelation 9:3-4 KJV (3) And there came out of the smoke locusts upon
the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the
earth have power. (4) And it was commanded them that they should not
hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any
tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their
foreheads.
Which brings us to Revelation 9:8 where it speaks of the wicked in words being long-winded in their wrathful tirades….they had hair as the hair of women.
The length of their evil words is long and there is no break in their evil. They do not pause but continue in length in evil words. The tongue will not cease from speaking evil which will bring themselves torment and those who do not keep the daily sacrifice of the Lamb within their lives by dying to sin....not returning evil for evil.
Revelation 9:8 KJV (8) And they had hair as the hair of women, and
their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
Their words will be piercing as the “teeth of lions” as they are “set on fire”. The tongue is a fire….a world of evil…and it will torment those who will be set on fire with it.
Psalms 57:4 KJV (4) My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them
that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and
arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.