Ezekiel Chapter 44 Vs. 20

Rules for Levitical Priests

Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads. Eze 44:20

Neither shall they... Up to this point in Ezekiel 40-48 we have had no less than 43 commands recorded. We saw 116 commands in, Eze. 44:6. In this section (Eze. 44:20-31) we have 17 commands to priests concerning their outward appearance and personal conduct. They were to be a very special class, wearing special garments when they ministered to the Lord in the temple services. Among the people they were to be normally dressed—like the people to whom they ministered. In their rooms that were sanctified and called holy, they were to change clothes before carrying on other duties.

shave their heads... And they were to keep their hair cut—not wear long locks as the Nazarites. 

they shall only... Poll means to shear. It is not alright to shave their heads, or to grow their hair long. Shear would mean to cut neatly. 

They were not to have any special mark of identification while in normal life among men; all distinction as to dress and outward appearance was to be only while in the actual temple service. 

The priests were the teachers and judges in Israel (Eze. 44:23-24), and were limited as to whom they could marry (Eze. 44:22). As to dead bodies they were allowed to touch only those of very close relatives (Eze. 44:25), after which they were to go through seven days of ceremonial cleansing in order to become fit to minister again in the temple, such a ceremony being concluded with a sin offering for the uncleanness (Eze. 44:26-27). The priests were also limited as to inheritances and earthly possessions; and they were the only group in Israel to receive and use certain parts of the sacrifices and offerings, the devoted things, the firstfruits of all things, and oblations (Eze. 44:28-31). And finally, they were not to eat any meat of any animal that had died of itself, or that had been torn by any wild beast or by an accident of any kind (Eze. 44:31).

The priests must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long. Completely shaving one’s head or letting one’s hair go unkempt were signs of mourning (cf. Lev. 10:6; 21:5, 21:10).