Why does the bible say that a woman should wear a head covering?

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Dec 9, 2011
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1 Corinthians 11: 4 - 5 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.
GOD made man to be the head and women to be man’s help meet.,Nevertheless GOD looks at the heart and sees the the real thruth.Man looks at the outward man.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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GOD made man to be the head and women to be man’s help meet.,Nevertheless GOD looks at the heart and sees the the real thruth.Man looks at the outward man.
I encourage you to look at the Hebrew behind "helpmeet"... and look for where else, and of whom, it is used in the OT. :)
 

FlyingDove

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Dec 27, 2017
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1 Corinthians 11: 4 - 5 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.

Abide by the laws of the land

Matthew 22:
17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Romans 13:
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

We need to understand the custom's of that time frame. Greeks, Romans & Jews. Covered their heads as is a sign of subjection. Temple priests wore a type of turban while preforming their duties.

In public under Roman law, women were to keep silent. We see these same custom's today in middle eastern country's.

The apostle is faced with his message, to abide by the law of the land. But, also he reaches beyond, when teaching about the man's head being covered before the Lord.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

1 Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

1 Cor 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

(NOTE: The woman can see, the man, her covering. Christ, the head of the man, is not seen.

So, the covering of him who is under/ministering for, Christ, is not to be seen. Also, here in the Church/Body of Christ at Corinth. The apostle is sending a rebuke to the Pharisee's, who wouldn't pray unless veiled. The veil showing one is ashamed, unworthy to approach God face to face. Jesus took our shame, we are to lift our hands & face before him in praise & thanksgiving. MOO! My Opinion Only.
 
Mar 2, 2019
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1 Corinthians 11: 4 - 5 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.
I believe I've heard that it means referring to a wife that her husband is the authority in their marriage, like Jesus is the head of the man- true the husband and wife are to submit to one another and in marriage the wife is under the authority of the husband (in love) - wives are to respect, reverence their husbands and husbands are to love and lay down their lives for their wives
 
Mar 28, 2016
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Darned, I missed my edit window....

In summary, women should wear head coverings because of the pervs and/or simply those irreverent do not think of the praying woman in any sense that might otherwise come 'naturally' to them as she is operating in the spirit.

The whole what I would call two part ordinance is one new testament ceremonial law ( the cup with bread and the hair/head covering, uncovering ). Just as bread and blood of grapes is used to represent the gospel the same applies to hair on how it is used .

The doctrine of hair has some great principles applied to help find the understandings found in some of the parables . .the hidden honey. (Manna)

The time of reformation had come. The temple walls came down, the veil was rent .Women who were separated by a 15 foot high wall from men. Men alone were allowed the participate in performance in those the old testament ceremonies that pointed ahead to our suffering savior. They were fulfilled in Christ. From the time of the reformation God was bringing prophets as a kingdom of priest after the new order....Melchizedek, woman and men and children putting no difference,,. Two by two he sent them out to declare the word of God the gospel, spoken of in Joel.

The new ordinance 1 Corinthians 11 that was used to bring the two, men and woman as one representative glory had come. It like a shadow points ahead to the Wedding Supper in the new order as our living hope. Much has been lost with that beautiful ordinance, in the name of a fashion statement or cultural fad.

The hair/head uncovering for men and covering for the woman is made up of two different kinds of glory together as one outward representation of the glory of God...... both drinking the eating of the bread of life . You could say a picture to the world a hope in a new incorruptible one. .One representative glory that seems to be hidden under a Bussell today in many cases.

Man is used to represent Christ our husband as unseen the holy place or source of faith . Man must not cover his head/hair, it represents the unseen glory of God. Woman of the same one creation, mankind, is to represent the new creation is used as a glory to represent her husband. The head of the woman is the man. God did not leave woman without her own representative glory her hair .It must be covered.... the only glory to be seen is by faith the unseen glory that will be the light when the wedding supper is celebrated in the new city the new heavenly Jerusalem.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.Revelation 21:22-26

GLORY, GLORY, GLORY,.
 
Mar 28, 2016
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I don't understand how long does the hair have to be....?
does that mean all men ought to shave their hair while praying.

Im confused. It seems related to how men and women pray.
The length is not the issue .Its the covering or uncovering that does profit.

It was the format for when more than one family gathers together to honor God. ( ceremonial as a shadow not subject to judgement Colossians 2) related to how men and women pray as sign to the angels the mediators that strengthen us as they long to look in grace not being subject to salvation thier own self.
 
Mar 28, 2016
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But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 1 Corinthians 11:15

Her covering must be covered not adorned with jewelry and braids to give it more of a representative glory to her .The only glory is to be seen by faith as it is written.. Not after the temporal seen but the eternal not seen> (2 Corinthians 4:18)

The hair of man is not given to man as a representative glory it must not be covered .Woman is his represented glory. Again God did not leave woman without one.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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The hair of man is not given to man as a representative glory it must not be covered .Woman is his represented glory. Again God did not leave woman without one.
If you are claiming that the woman's hair is her covering, and that she does not need to cover her head, then why would Paul have bothered to teach on this matter? Do you see how absurd that position is?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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If you are claiming that the woman's hair is her covering, and that she does not need to cover her head, then why would Paul have bothered to teach on this matter? Do you see how absurd that position is?
Verse 15 makes that clear: "For her hair is given to her for a covering."

What's absurd about that?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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Verse 15 makes that clear: "For her hair is given to her for a covering." What's absurd about that?
What's absurd about that is to take it to mean the opposite of what Paul was teaching about the woman's head covering (sixteen verses of inspired Scripture).

The argument from nature is that the NATURAL WOMAN has been given her hair for a covering, which is also her glory. And there is no doubt that a woman with beautiful, long, and lustrous hair enhances her beauty through that.

However, that should lead Christians to see that God has given SPIRITUAL WOMEN a head covering during worship, in order to totally hide her natural glory, in the presence of God, Christ, Christians, and the holy angels.

Which means that women's hair and hairdos should not be a distraction to believers within a church meeting for worship. The focus must be solely on worship. Hence when a woman prays or prophesies (which was current at the time) she is COMMANDED to cover her natural beauty and glory with a head covering, which also symbolizes that (for married women) she is in submission to her husband, as is required by Christ.

There are thousands of Christian women who do cover their heads during worship, whether they know the Bible teaching or not. Until very recently (the 1950s and 60s) almost all Christian women covered their heads.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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What's absurd about that is to take it to mean the opposite of what Paul was teaching about the woman's head covering (sixteen verses of inspired Scripture).

The argument from nature is that the NATURAL WOMAN has been given her hair for a covering, which is also her glory. And there is no doubt that a woman with beautiful, long, and lustrous hair enhances her beauty through that.

However, that should lead Christians to see that God has given SPIRITUAL WOMEN a head covering during worship, in order to totally hide her natural glory, in the presence of God, Christ, Christians, and the holy angels.

Which means that women's hair and hairdos should not be a distraction to believers within a church meeting for worship. The focus must be solely on worship. Hence when a woman prays or prophesies (which was current at the time) she is COMMANDED to cover her natural beauty and glory with a head covering, which also symbolizes that (for married women) she is in submission to her husband, as is required by Christ.

There are thousands of Christian women who do cover their heads during worship, whether they know the Bible teaching or not. Until very recently (the 1950s and 60s) almost all Christian women covered their heads.
"Sixteen verses of inspired Scripture". Actually, several of the preceding verses aren't addressing hair at all, and the verse I quoted is also inspired Scripture. You're playing verses against each other. Paul doesn't contrast "natural women" with "spiritual women" at all.

While hair should not be a distraction, neither should anything else, by intention. Hair is no more a distraction than clothing, shoes, body shape, facial features, voice, or any of a hundred other external aspects of a person that another person may find attractive. Unless a person is actively seeking to get attention, the problem is with the observer, not the observed. Covering the hair isn't going to fix the problem.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
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A bit of contention on word usage here. I believe Paul says clearly "I do not allow…." perhaps I am wrong, but it seems to be a local custom from assembly toassembly………… Paul also expounds how "he" feels about the subject...
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
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Ok, I went back to read what the hair I might've been talking about, and it seemed like I knew exactly what back then, but
 
Dec 9, 2011
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I encourage you to look at the Hebrew behind "helpmeet"... and look for where else, and of whom, it is used in the OT. :)
I was thinking helpmeet when It comes to that term being used of GOD would be that GOD was IN CHRIST making a way for men to be acceptable to a HOLY GOD.
2 Corinthians 5:19
King James Version

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
 
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pottersclay

Guest
Does 1 Corinthians 11:4-5 mean a woman should never ever cut her hair?
by Matt Slick
1 Cor. 11:4-5 says, “Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head; for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved.”
In ancient Greek society, it was the custom of men to keep their heads uncovered during worship. It was the custom of women to keep their heads covered to show reverence to God. But that custom is no longer observed.
Therefore, this verse does not say that a woman is not to cut her hair.
“It seems that the Corinthian slogan, “everything is permissible,” had been applied to meetings of the church as well, and the Corinthian women had expressed that principle by throwing off their distinguishing dress. More importantly they seem to have rejected the concept of subordination within the church (and perhaps in society) and with it any cultural symbol (e.g., a head-covering) which might have been attached to it. According to Paul, for a woman to throw off the covering was an act not of liberation but of degradation. She might as well shave her head, a sign of disgrace (Aristophanes Thesmophoriazysae, 837). In doing so, she dishonors herself and her spiritual head, the man.” 1
For a woman, in that cultural context, to remove her head covering was to suggest equality with men in the church. Now, we must be careful. We are not saying that women are not equal to men in privileges in the church since in Christ there is neither male nor female (Gal. 3:28). However, in the area of church authority, there is a distinction. God has set up the man as the head of the wife (Eph. 5:23) and women are not to be pastors and elders (Titus 1:5-6). This is an authority structure set up by God. So, the authority of God over men was very important, which is why men prayed without head coverings while women did. Why? Paul tells us in v. 7, “For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9 for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. 10 Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head.”
So, Paul is talking about authority. When we recognize the authority of God over us, we are subjecting ourselves to His authority. Likewise, women wearing the head-covering were publically demonstrating their subjection to the authority placed over them.

Well said, might I add that in Jewish foklore it was thought that a woman's hair attracted the fallen angels that are found in Genesis 6.
Not to say this is true but to show some of the superstitions that we're still entering in the church through traditions.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
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Please look to GEnesis 3:15

About the womans head being bruised. I think its for protection.
 

SIMON55

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Feb 15, 2019
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MO,OK,AR
Angels are subject to temptation Gen. 6:4....and you are not changing my mind!