In Israel, men would shave their beards to express sorrow, then cover their faces until their facial hair grew back. Yahweh told Ezekiel not to cover his facial hair in order to show that he had not shaved his face to express his sorrow. Alternate translation: "do not mourn by veiling your facial hair" or "do not mourn by shaving and covering your beard" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])