Do Christian women need to wear head coverings when praying?
No. I believe 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 is referring to the length of a women’s hair while praying, and prophesying, and it is not referring to her wearing cloth like head coverings. Verses 5-6, and Verses 14-15 gives us the defined interpretation of the meaning behind the head uncovered or head covered. Verses 5-6 talks about the head being shorn (hair cut short) and the head being shaven. Verses 14-15 talks about long hair. In fact, verse 15 says, “for
her hair is given her for a covering.” So this is the head covering. It is her long hair. A head uncovered means… short hair.
1 Corinthians 11:3 says,
“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.”
Here we see the authority is the main theme being established here in relation to this upcoming topic involving hair length for believers in Jesus Christ. Christ is the authority head over every man, and the authority head over every woman is the man, and the authority over Christ (the Eternal Word) is God the Father.
1 Corinthians 11:4 says,
“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.”
We must not forget to keep in context that the discussion of a believer’s length of hair involves the topic of praying and prophesying. This is the context we must always keep in mind while reading this portion of Scripture. So a man who prays with long hair hanging down over his face (or covering his whole head) dishonors his authority or head in Christ. Many will say that Samson had long hair and thus he could not have prayed to God. But if Samson tied back his hair whereby his long hair did not cover his head and or his face entirely, he could pray to God without dishonoring his head.
1 Corinthians 11:5 says,
“But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.”
This is saying that every believing woman who prays or prophecies without her head covered by having long hair (i.e. she has short hair like a man) she dishonors her head and face, for it would be better if she had a shaven head (sarcasm, or irony). Surely Paul is not truly saying it is better for the woman to have her head shaven. He is speaking sarcastically here. For many know that a woman who shaves her head, it is a shame unto her. Granted, in life there are exceptions to the rules on things like a cancer patient, etc.;
1 Corinthians 11:6 says,
“For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.”
Paul says here in verse 6 that it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven. We see Job in Job 1:20 shave his head when he lost his children and his property. This could be indicative that Job may have felt shameful over his life because of the bad that happened to him. For most likely he was feeling great pain over his great loss. Anyways, Paul is saying here that if a woman be not covered (with long hair), let her be shorn (cut with short super short hair). But Paul says if it be a shame for the woman to be shorn (to have short hair) or shaven, then let her be covered with her long hair.
1 Corinthians 11:7 says,
“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.”
So a man ought not to cover his head (WHILE PRAYING or PROPHESYING). So Samson could have prayed with his hair tied up. Samuel could have prophesied with his hair tied up. But we are under a New Covenant with new commands, as well. Christians are not under any Nazarite vows found in the 613 Laws of Moses given to Israel. For Paul here is saying that a man ought not to cover his head with long hair for man is made in the glory of and image of God. For if man was made in God’s image, he should not try to hide it with having long hair covering up his face and trying to hide it. But the woman has long hair because she is the glory of the man.
1 Corinthians 11:8 says,
“For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. ”
For the woman was created out of man in that God took one rib from man and made the woman. So the woman is a part of the man. For Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23).
1 Corinthians 11:9 says,
“Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.”
For the animals did not offer Adam in being a sufficient partner. Only Eve could be his true compliment or completion in being one flesh.
1 Corinthians 11:10 says,
“For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”
There are several potential interpretations behind this mysterious verse.
Possible Interpretation #1.
1 Corinthians 11:10 - Because of this, (woman having being shaped in view of man's vulnerability - See note below), it is a necessary obligation for the woman to have an authority over her own head, over herself, just as it is necessary even for the angels to be held accountable, who betrayed mankind, having shamed themselves, betraying the vulnerability of the ones they were sent to protect.
Note: Vulnerability - In the garden, God recognized Adam's need, declaring: "it is not good for man to be alone ..."
Possible Interpretation #2.
If woman did not respect God’s authority by creating her to be the glory of the man by her cutting her hair short, the angels could potentially not fight as hard to either answer her prayer, or to protect her when she prays. For it took a long time for the angel to get to Daniel (with him fighting other forces) as a part of him answering Daniel’s prayer.
For Daniel 10:12-14 says,
“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.”
1 Corinthians 11:11 says,
“Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”
This verse reminds me of Ephesians 5:28-29. For Ephesians 5:28-29 says, “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”
1 Corinthians 11:12 says,
“For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.”
I like how the NLT says this verse (Which helps to clarify what the KJV is saying).
“For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.” (1 Corinthians 11:12) (NLT).
“For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” (1 Timothy 2:13).
So we see the flow of authority here and origin of things.
So the woman wearing long hair shows her natural order of things in that she is of the glory of the man (in that she was taken out of Adam), and their union would propagate their offspring that would fill the Earth. But of course God is the One who ultimately formed all life to begin with.
1 Corinthians 11:13 says,
“Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?”
Paul asks the question is it comely (fitting or appropriate) that a woman pray unto God uncovered (i.e. not covered with her long hair)? Paul’s answer is implied as a… “no,” because of the answer gives us in the next verse.
1 Corinthians 11:14 says,
“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?”
This is in reference to man in general and not those who have taken a Nazarite vow under the 613 Old Testament Laws given to Israel that does not apply to the New Covenant believers in Jesus Christ. For Hebrews 7:12 says the Law has changed. So by nature, we know that if a man has long hair, it is a shame unto him. To see a man with long hair on the street in ripped clothes could make us think he is a poor man in need of help. A man with long hair like in a rock band shows a form of rebellion against the natural order of things. For if a man showed up at your door in long hair and tattoos, would you feel comfortable in answering the door? What if it was a cleaning cut shaven man with short hair in a business suit? Would you not be more welcoming of the business man? Sure you would because the man is in proper authority. Can you imagine a police officer with a shaggy super large Afro? Again, the respect would not be there if such were the case. Granted, we are not to judge by outward appearances, but God does want us to represent His kingdom properly and hair length is involved in that.
1 Corinthians 11:15 says,
“But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”
The man does not have long hair (i.e. a covering) because he is to shine forth the glory of the image of God. The woman is given her long hair as a glory to her. For the woman is the glory of the man (See: 1 Corinthians 11:7).
1 Corinthians 11:16 says,
“But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”
The wording here in the King James is archaic (not in accurate by any means). But if the reader is not careful to read other translations, etc. the KJV could lead the reader to falsely think that this instruction is optional and we do need to enforce such a teaching in the church involving hair length. But the NLT (New Living Translation) helps to clarify a little better what the KJV is saying here.
1 Corinthians 11:16 NLT says,
“But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.”
The King James is saying that if any man is in strong disagreement with what he said on the matter of length of hair, we have no such custom that would agree with this contentious individual, neither the churches of God. For even nature itself teaches that it is a shame for a man to have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14).
Anyways, I hope this answer helps, and may the Lord bless you greatly.
Sincerely,
~ BL. Highlighter.
