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

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
L

LPT

Guest
#81
BTW:

In the 7th Chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul reveals his two styles of writing/teaching clearly.

He writes "Thus Sayeth the Lord" meaning that these are commandments from God and there is no room for argument or debate. It is thus sayeth the Lord........PERIOD.

He also writes "It would be better that/I would rather that" meaning he is giving HIS OPINION(s) on matters AND these opinions ARE NOT Commandments from God.

This too causes much confusion with some, and leads to disputations and false teachings in my opinion.
Good messages p_rebein thanks for posting :)
 
L

LPT

Guest
#82
Ive read Some scholars have said men naturally have shorter hair than women, though this isn't the case at all lol,, men and women can grow the same length it's a matter of cutting it.

 
L

LPT

Guest
#84
Because of the fall there things like male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness, congenital aplasia.

God knows and isn't concern if you have hair nor cloth covering etc. it's about your heart and what's in it...
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
#85
Good messages p_rebein thanks for posting :)
1 Corinthians 11:3 3But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Man is the covering of a woman. Paul actually said, "You should at least know that on earth long hair is for a woman's glory". Because what he was talking about is spiritual. The bible is a spiritual book. When you can only understand it as earthy, then you miss the mark.
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
#87
Good messages p_rebein thanks for posting :)
Because God says Thus says the Lord don't make it a commandment. It just means he's saying something.
 

Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
2,359
859
113
73
#88
Why does the bible say that a woman should wear a head covering?

The short answer is "Because God requires it while the holy angels watch".

The longer answer is that because it is significant in the sight of God, the Holy Spirit has devoted 16 verses in the New Testament to this doctrine in order to provide the biblical reasons. So what you should do is study 1 Cor 11:1-16.
I've been a Christian for over 32 years now and still don't understand this portion of Scripture. In my denomination women do wear a veil, but I don't condemn women from other denominations who don't wear it. Regarding this matter I sit on the fence, but I can make some comments:

Paul's words are actually God's /Jesus' words, except when he states that he is speaking of himself;

Let's bear in mind that many churches today look like recreational clubs and their position against the veil is meaningless. This issue must be discussed only among churches that have a sincere desire to obey God;

If we accept dress codes imposed by worldly organizations, why not accept the dress code recommended by God?

I don't feel women must wear a veil -- I have to be sincere --, but maybe my "feelmeter" is faulty. If I were a member of a board of elders and were asked to vote for or against the veil, I would vote for it because it's always nice to stay on the safe side. Wearing a veil doesn't hurt anyone -- it's lightweighted and fits in any woman's purse -- and many sisters say it helps having a deeper communion with God. On the other hand, not wearing a veil may signify disobedience to God.
 
Jul 10, 2018
90
68
18
31
#89
Ive read Some scholars have said men naturally have shorter hair than women, though this isn't the case at all lol,, men and women can grow the same length it's a matter of cutting it.
I'm very traditional so I believe that men should have short hair and women should have long hair.
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,314
1,442
113
#90
I think that I Corinthians 11 means just what it says: Women should cover their long hair with some kind of a veiling when they are praying or prophesying. Pretty simple: it is what the text says.
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
#91
I've been a Christian for over 32 years now and still don't understand this portion of Scripture. In my denomination women do wear a veil, but I don't condemn women from other denominations who don't wear it. Regarding this matter I sit on the fence, but I can make some comments:

Paul's words are actually God's /Jesus' words, except when he states that he is speaking of himself;

Let's bear in mind that many churches today look like recreational clubs and their position against the veil is meaningless. This issue must be discussed only among churches that have a sincere desire to obey God;

If we accept dress codes imposed by worldly organizations, why not accept the dress code recommended by God?

I don't feel women must wear a veil -- I have to be sincere --, but maybe my "feelmeter" is faulty. If I were a member of a board of elders and were asked to vote for or against the veil, I would vote for it because it's always nice to stay on the safe side. Wearing a veil doesn't hurt anyone -- it's lightweighted and fits in any woman's purse -- and many sisters say it helps having a deeper communion with God. On the other hand, not wearing a veil may signify disobedience to God.
1 Corinthians 11:14-15 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?
Do you see where it says ( Does not the very nature of things teach. ) which is saying even on earth, long hair is a woman's glory. that the natural.
1 Corinthians 11:3 3But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Paul is talking about a spiritual covering. Which man. Not a scarf.
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
#92
I'm very traditional so I believe that men should have short hair and women should have long hair.
In this verse it really don't have anything to do with the hair. Paul used that as an example of the glory on the woman's head.
 
Jul 10, 2018
90
68
18
31
#93
In this verse it really don't have anything to do with the hair. Paul used that as an example of the glory on the woman's head.
I've seen verses that talk about the woman's hair but I can't recall them off the top of my head right now.
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
#94
1 Corinthians 11:14-15 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?
1 Corinthians 11:3 3But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Man is the covering of a woman. Paul actually said, ("Does not the very nature of things teach you) You should at least know that on earth long hair is for a woman's glory". Because what he was talking about is spiritual. The bible is a spiritual book.
 

Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
2,359
859
113
73
#95
1 Corinthians 11:14-15 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?
Do you see where it says ( Does not the very nature of things teach. ) which is saying even on earth, long hair is a woman's glory. that the natural.
1 Corinthians 11:3 3But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Paul is talking about a spiritual covering. Which man. Not a scarf.
I agree that long hair is natural for women and short hair is natural for men, but I can't see why women must wear a veil when they pray. I know they have to wear it just because Paul says so -- not because I feel they have to. Nature teaches me that stealing is wrong, but it doesn't teach me that it is wrong for a woman to pray without covering her head.

No doubt God appointed men to take the spiritual leadership at home, but I know some guys who have to be dragged to church by their wives.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,769
113
#96
I agree that long hair is natural for women and short hair is natural for men, but I can't see why women must wear a veil when they pray. I know they have to wear it just because Paul says so -- not because I feel they have to.
Feelings have nothing to do with obedience. No matter how Abraham *felt* about sacrificing Isaac, he went ahead and did exactly what God commanded. And there are (and have been) thousands -- if not hundreds of thousands -- of Christian women who have covered their heads during worship without worrying about their feelings. It is a matter of faith and obedience, not feelings.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,769
113
#97
Ive read Some scholars have said men naturally have shorter hair than women, though this isn't the case at all lol,, men and women can grow the same length it's a matter of cutting it.
What's your point LPT?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,325
13,713
113
#98
Did you even stop to think that if this was indeed true, then there would be ABSOLUTELY NO NEED for sixteen verses of Scripture to teach THE EXACT OPPOSITE?


What is this verse teaching?

That a woman's long hair are a NATURAL covering for natural women, THEREFORE a woman's head covering during worship (while hiding her natural glory before God) will be a SPIRITUAL covering for a spiritual woman, who is in submission to husband, God, and Christ.

It is truly amazing that even though the Holy Spirit informs Christians at the very start that this is all about headship and authority within God's order in the home and in the local church, Christians are prepared to ignore everything that God says through Paul in this passage, and concoct their own theories. The heart of this Bible doctrine about the woman's covered head during worship is found here (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.

By slightly rearranging these words, Christians can grasp what is being said:

1. the head of Christ is God

2. the head of every man is Christ

3. the head of the woman is the man

4. The woman's head covering is symbolic of these relationships.
I notice that you change the order of the words to suit your interpretation. That’s eisegesis.
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
#99
I agree that long hair is natural for women and short hair is natural for men, but I can't see why women must wear a veil when they pray. I know they have to wear it just because Paul says so -- not because I feel they have to. Nature teaches me that stealing is wrong, but it doesn't teach me that it is wrong for a woman to pray without covering her head.

No doubt God appointed men to take the spiritual leadership at home, but I know some guys who have to be dragged to church by their wives.
This has nothing to do with the local church. Church keeps you in infancy. They should have taught you about the spiritual coverings. 1 Corinthians 11:10 10It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels

It's for her protection.
 

Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
2,359
859
113
73
Feelings have nothing to do with obedience. No matter how Abraham *felt* about sacrificing Isaac, he went ahead and did exactly what God commanded. And there are (and have been) thousands -- if not hundreds of thousands -- of Christian women who have covered their heads during worship without worrying about their feelings. It is a matter of faith and obedience, not feelings.
Here is my statement:
I agree that long hair is natural for women and short hair is natural for men, but I can't see why women must wear a veil when they pray. I know they have to wear it just because Paul says so -- not because I feel they have to. Nature teaches me that stealing is wrong, but it doesn't teach me that it is wrong for a woman to pray without covering her head.

I feel that stealing is wrong and this feeling is correct because the Bible teaches the same thing: stealing is wrong. I don't feel that it is wrong for a woman to pray with her head uncovered, but the Bible says it is wrong and I think it would be better to follow the Bible -- not my feeling. What is wrong with my statement in blue?