Headcoverings: Biblical or Not?

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MariaJoy01

Junior Member
Nov 17, 2017
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#1
Is wearing head covering biblical? Many Christians not just Mennonites and simple folk wear them. I have been struggling with the passage in scripture. I have been told differing opinions. When a woman does wear a covering is it for God or Man or Both?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
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#2
Is wearing head covering biblical? Many Christians not just Mennonites and simple folk wear them. I have been struggling with the passage in scripture. I have been told differing opinions. When a woman does wear a covering is it for God or Man or Both?
When a woman wears a head covering, it is for both God, and men, and also angels. What you should do is study 1 Corinthians 11: 1-16, and understand that what womens' head coverings represent is the Divine principle of Headship or authority. The head covering is a symbol of the man's authority over his wife, and also Christ's Headship over the Church and the churches.

Opinions are a dime a dozen. For Christians who wish to be in submission to Christ and the Bible, there is nothing to dispute, since Paul clearly explains the reasons for the head covering and indicates that that is the custom IN ALL THE CHURCHES OF GOD.

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom [of discarding head coverings], neither the churches of God. (v 16).

Some people perversely interpret this to mean the exact opposite of what it says, because Paul did not include the words which I have placed in brackets to clarify this verse.
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
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#3
It is a question to be asked much.. but I think it is in relation to the custom of a lady shaving their head when married.. and Paul could mean we have no custom to do that in regard to what Nehemiah shared..
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#4
1 Corinthians 11:15b "For her hair is given to her for a covering".

Yup, head coverings: natural, hairy ones. :)
 
Apr 15, 2017
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#5
Is wearing head covering biblical? Many Christians not just Mennonites and simple folk wear them. I have been struggling with the passage in scripture. I have been told differing opinions. When a woman does wear a covering is it for God or Man or Both?
The Bible plainly states that it is a woman's hair that is her covering.

It is not talking about a cloth covering.

And it is a shame for a man to have long hair,for even nature teaches that it is a shame for a man to have long hair.

God said if a woman cuts her hair even a little,it is the same as of she was shaven.

A woman can have 10 feet of hair,but if she cuts it an inch,it is the same as if she was shaven.

For God wants a distinction between a man and a woman,and if a woman cuts her hair she is putting herself in the place of a man,and if a man grows his hair long then he is putting himself in the place of a woman.

It is rebellion,and look what happened with the counter culture movement,and its rebellion against authority,they grew their hair long.

But today with all the abundance of hypocrites,their attitude is do not tell us what to do,which they are saying to God,do not tell us what to do,wanting to live anyway they want with no regard for what God says about it.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
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#6
1 Corinthians 11:15b "For her hair is given to her for a covering".

Yup, head coverings: natural, hairy ones. :)
Do you really think that if women s natural hair was what this is all about that the Holy Spirit -- through Paul -- would devoted sixteen verses of Holy Writ to teach the Divine principle of headship (Q) How easy it is to dismiss what God says when it does not suit us.

What Paul was teaching is that if in the natural, material realm women have long hair for a covering, then that undergirds the spiritual principle of the woman s head covering (to hide what is given naturally) in the spiritual realm. If the woman s hair is her glory in the natural state, then in the presence of God she must hide her glory so that only the glory of God and Christ are in view during worship. Additionally she must show the holy angels that she is in submission to her husband (for single women in submission to God), and thereby show God that the entire assembly is in submission to God.
 
Nov 17, 2017
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#7
This is surprisingly interesting....but I just think it's a show of respect to God..plus the natural hair is a new angle to look at for me...never looked at it like that...
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
190
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#8
This is surprisingly interesting....but I just think it's a show of respect to God..plus the natural hair is a new angle to look at for me...never looked at it like that...

Grock do do you wear a covering over your natural covering to church at the present?
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
190
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#9
Do you really think that if women s natural hair was what this is all about that the Holy Spirit -- through Paul -- would devoted sixteen verses of Holy Writ to teach the Divine principle of headship (Q) How easy it is to dismiss what God says when it does not suit us.

What Paul was teaching is that if in the natural, material realm women have long hair for a covering, then that undergirds the spiritual principle of the woman s head covering (to hide what is given naturally) in the spiritual realm. If the woman s hair is her glory in the natural state, then in the presence of God she must hide her glory so that only the glory of God and Christ are in view during worship. Additionally she must show the holy angels that she is in submission to her husband (for single women in submission to God), and thereby show God that the entire assembly is in submission to God.


Some ladies were and still do either shave their head as custom when married or keep the hair covered.. if these ladies were attending fellowship I’m sure there were questions asked.. and Paul is answering them..
 
Mar 28, 2016
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#10
Shaven heads represent shame. Man is a representation of the glory of God not seen. His hair is not given as a representative covering/ a glory like the gold covering on the ark He taking the lead is not to cover his head/ hair, the first part of the two fold ordinance. Woman is the representative glory of man . She is not left without a representative glory her own hair, her hair, it must be covered. or shaven off .The only glory to be seen is that by the angels. The bread and wine represent the wedding supper in the new heavens and earth , altogether as one tradition with the hair ordinance used as a ceremonial law or shadow when more than one family gathers together. .

It is not so much about the length of hair in most societies woman hair is longer. it not the issue. The issue is a woman's hair leaving it unconverted as if she was the glory.


A full description of the father of lies in Revelation coming in all its representative glory (angels are neither male not female)full battle array.

And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. Rev 9:5
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
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#11
Paul was writing to the church at Corinith that was beset with many problems and was known as "sin city." The town was dominated by the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love which was built on the heights of the acropolis. There were thousands of temple prostitutes and the city was a by-word for excess and sexual licence. There was even a word for it: to 'Corinthianize.'

The heads of the temple prostitutes were shaved, so a full head of hair was a glory to the person who possessed it. Not only was it a glory to the lady herself, but it was a glory to her husband as well and would bring honour to him.

Another thing the rich women did was to show off their wealth by wearing their jewellery in their hair, and Paul was telling them to keep their heard covered in church so that the poor could not be distinguished from the rich. In this way thanks to the wearing of hats, or even a towel or shawl, all would be equal in the sight of God. The Bible tells us to be modest in all things and both Peter and Timothy address this in 1 Peter 3 and 1 Timothy 2 v8 see below:

“You should not use outward aids to make yourselves beautiful, such as the way you fix your hair, or the jewellery you put on, or the dresses you wear. Instead, your beauty should consist of your true inner self, the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of the greatest value in God's sight. For the devout women of the past who placed their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful by submitting themselves to their husbands.” (1 Peter)

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 1Ti 2:9 KJV

They both put their finger on it when they spoke about our actions and our "true inner self, the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit", because from scripture, Jesus said, "by their fruits ye shall know them."

What we do and say reflects what is in our heart while ornamentation is only outward show and the things of this world rot and rust away.

Briefly, Paul was addressing a problem in the church that existed in his day, and he would be horrified if he knew the controversy it causes today.
 
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Johnny_B

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2017
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#12
Let's not forget that Corinth had lots of temple prostitutes that had converted to Christ, the custom was to shave thier heads so that everyone would know that they were a temple prostitute. The word translated "angels" that is translated messengers in some translations and in the footnote of others. What do angels have to do with this? Nothing, they do not report to the leadership of the Church, there is Church History that there were messengers that would go to Churches to report back to the elders in Jerusalem on how the Churches were doing or if there were anything wrong, we see that Paul received reports as well. I Corinthians 5:1

"
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife."

The reason for the head covering and the messengers is because if the messenger seen a women with a head covering he would know that women was married.
Now a days we have wedding rings for women that are married. Back then if a man married a converted temple prostitute and she still had short hair a head covering would be a sign that she was now a married women and under the authority of her husband. It also helped in the questioning process, if a women had a head covering and was asking question, she was violating the order of the Church or that a wife should ask question of her husband at home. If the messenger seen that a women with a head covering was asking question it would be something that need to be discussed and possibly reported by the the elders in Jerusalem if the matter needed further intervention.

I Corinthians 14:33b-35
"As in all the churches of the saints,34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church."

It basically boils down to a sign of marriage, which we have rings for now a days. I Corinthians 11:8-10

"For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels."

YLT
"
because of this the woman ought to have [a token of] authority upon the head, because of the messengers."

I see no problem with a wife wearing a veil on her head if she so desires, if it is made manditory by the Church leaders then I would say, they need to provide three witnesses for this doctrine, Scripture for the OT, the Gospels and the epistles, to establish this doctrine as mandatory.
 
Mar 28, 2016
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#13
It basically boils down to a sign of marriage, which we have rings for now a days. I Corinthians 11:8-10
A sign of Christ and his church, the bride, as new creatures made up of man and woman.

It was a sign of the new order of government. The time of reformation had come. The types and shadow in respect to the flesh of a Jew had come to an end. The genealogy of the generation of Christ had been fulfilled.

"For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.9Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.10That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels."

YLT "because of this the woman ought to have [a token of] authority upon the head, because of the messengers."

I see no problem with a wife wearing a veil on her head if she so desires, if it is made manditory by the Church leaders then I would say, they need to provide three witnesses for this doctrine, Scripture for the OT, the Gospels and the epistles, to establish this doctrine as mandatory.
And the first part of that ceremonial law with no covering for a man can it be dismissed also should we as men wear hats when gathering together or could we exchange the bread for Jello and blood of the grape for fruit punch?.

They are ceremonial as shadows and not something we should judge, but why let it drift away ?What next ? Can marriage mean whatever we want it to? Is there a difference between male and female? Has his kingdom came on earth? Where there will be no giving in to marriage and we a no longer know each other after that seen but we can use our imaginations as our own source of faith .

Makes me wonder when he comes will he find His faith working in the heart of man or just some worn out religious book that cannot perform what it informs us it does?
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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#14
Let's not forget that Corinth had lots of temple prostitutes that had converted to Christ, the custom was to shave thier heads so that everyone would know that they were a temple prostitute. The word translated "angels" that is translated messengers in some translations and in the footnote of others. What do angels have to do with this? Nothing, they do not report to the leadership of the Church, there is Church History that there were messengers that would go to Churches to report back to the elders in Jerusalem on how the Churches were doing or if there were anything wrong, we see that Paul received reports as well. I Corinthians 5:1
RED: Angels or messengers in this instance are the apostles and teachers. They were angels of God who ministered to the people, sometimes by letter as in this instance, and sometimes, as with others, in person.
 
Mar 28, 2016
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1,528
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#15
RED: Angels or messengers in this instance are the apostles and teachers. They were angels of God who ministered to the people, sometimes by letter as in this instance, and sometimes, as with others, in person.
Amen it could be your next door neighbor or someone on line. Messengers entertaining messengers sharing the daily bread of the gospel

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
 

Johnny_B

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2017
1,954
64
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#16
A sign of Christ and his church, the bride, as new creatures made up of man and woman.

It was a sign of the new order of government. The time of reformation had come. The types and shadow in respect to the flesh of a Jew had come to an end. The genealogy of the generation of Christ had been fulfilled.



And the first part of that ceremonial law with no covering for a man can it be dismissed also should we as men wear hats when gathering together or could we exchange the bread for Jello and blood of the grape for fruit punch?.

They are ceremonial as shadows and not something we should judge, but why let it drift away ?What next ? Can marriage mean whatever we want it to? Is there a difference between male and female? Has his kingdom came on earth? Where there will be no giving in to marriage and we a no longer know each other after that seen but we can use our imaginations as our own source of faith .

Makes me wonder when he comes will he find His faith working in the heart of man or just some worn out religious book that cannot perform what it informs us it does?

Our own source of faith, whatever it may be is useless if it is not placed in the source of salvation. Faith in and of itself is meaningless, it is just another self-righteous work of men that profits nothing.

Titus 3:4-7
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

No need to follow any judizer add-ons to salvation, it is by His grace and grace alone. Grace, is God's unmerited favor, there is not one thing you can to do to gain it and if you think you can you are calliong God a liar.
 

Johnny_B

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2017
1,954
64
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#17
RED: Angels or messengers in this instance are the apostles and teachers. They were angels of God who ministered to the people, sometimes by letter as in this instance, and sometimes, as with others, in person.
Can you post the Scripture where angels wrote letters?

Are you part of the sons of God are angels cult? Let me clarify that, that fallen angels had sex with women.
 
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Nov 17, 2017
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#18
No I don't..no one does in my church....it's not a law we follow....
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#19
Paul clearly explains the reasons for the head covering and indicates that that is the custom IN ALL THE CHURCHES OF GOD.

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom [of discarding head coverings], neither the churches of God. (v 16).

Some people perversely interpret this to mean the exact opposite of what it says, because Paul did not include the words which I have placed in brackets to clarify this verse.

do i have this straight:

you say Paul clearly explains this, and that some people interpret it as the opposite of what it says.
so you interpret it by inserting your own words into the scripture saying your additions are necessary to '
clarify it' - you insert some words into the scripture to change how it might be interpreted without your words, because you say people who don't insert your words are interpreting it the opposite of how you do?

hmm.

i don't know about your version. it's hard to make sense of having "
no such custom" of not having a custom. it's easy to make sense of 'neither we nor any of the churches have such a custom' -- and without inserting words of our own into that, it's pretty difficult to come up with that meaning 'both us and all the churches keep this custom' -- you're right, they are total opposites - but ((without adding to scripture)) it seems like your view is the one that's the opposite of what it actually says?
 
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posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
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#20
i.e you're saying it's perverse to interpret
"we have no such custom"​
as meaning literally "
we have no such custom"
and that instead we should understand that
"we have no such custom"​
literally, obviously and clearly means "
we all have just such a custom"

and that this is totally not a perversion or exactly the opposite of what it actually says?