Long Hair or a Headcovering
It’s time to wrap up the headcovering series, and today we will dig into the part of the passage which refers to the woman’s hair. This confuses many people, and so it’s important to slow down and look at the full context, the Greek, and church history. Let’s dig in!
If you missed the first posts in this series, click here to see them in order. I’ll pick up in the passage where we left off on the previous post.
“Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.”
I Corinthians 11:13-16 NKJV
Paul is making a final argument in favor of headcovering by pointing to “nature itself”, which is that the woman has long hair and the man has short. Many people have used this portion of the passage to completely negate and contradict all that Paul has previously said, by claiming that the hair is the headcovering Paul has been speaking of all along, but that makes no sense in the full context of the passage.
First, let’s take a look at the Greek words for covering, then we will move on to context, and finally we will look at the way the Church has historically interpreted this passage up until the Women’s Rights Movement.
The Greek
It’s important to remember that we are reading a translation, but the perfect and infallible Word of God was given to us in Hebrew and Greek, this portion being in Greek. So the word choices are divinely chosen by God for a purpose, and should not be overlooked.
The Greek word used throughout the passage up until this particular set of verses dealing with the hair for “cover” and “covering” is:
κατακαλύπτωkatakalýptō, kat-ak-al-oop'-to; to cover wholly, i.e. veil:—cover, hide.
The Greek word for “covering” used in verse 15 referring to the hair is a different word entirely:
περιβόλαιον peribólaion,per-ib-ol'-ah-yon; something thrown around one, i.e. a mantle, veil:—covering, vesture.
This was not by accident, the use of two different words should help bring clarity that two different coverings are being spoken of. One is a natural covering, the woman’s long hair, another is a fabric covering which can be worn at certain times: such as praying and prophesying, and not worn at others. This is derived from the context as well. So let’s dig into the context together.
The Context
To help demonstrate that the interpretation of “the long hair is the covering” will not fit with the larger context of the passage, I am going to do some word replacement in verse 6 because that is where a major problem occurs. I have chosen to use NASB here because it has the most literal word for word translation of the Greek into English.
“For if a woman does not (have long hair) let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her (have long hair).”
1 Corinthians 11:6 NASB
As you can see it would make no sense to say if a woman does not have long hair then let her hair be cut short. It would already be short.
It is also clear by this section that the covering is something which can be put on or off.
“Every man who has something on his head *while praying or prophesying* disgraces his head. But every woman who has her head uncovered *while praying or prophesying* disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.”
1 Corinthians 11:4-5 NASB
This time frame which is given “while praying or prophesying” shows us that it is not a permanent thing such as hair on a head; it can be added or removed. We are quite accustomed to men being asked to remove their hats when praying in our western culture, this concept has come directly from this passage, though sadly the converse for the woman has not been retained. That moves us to the next portion of this post and that is how the Church historically has interpreted these passages.
The Witness of Church History
It can feel quite bewildering to read the clear command in 1 Corinthians 11 and then look at the western Christian church in our current times. The two seem to directly contradict. However, it has been well-documented that historically the church wore coverings during times of prayer and worship, and men were to remove their hats during those times as well. Let’s look at a few quotes.
Tertullian (theologian from Carthage; c. 160 – c. 220): “The Christian man... [is] under no obligation to wear a covering” and the woman's head “is bound to have the veil.” “Throughout Greece, and certain of its barbaric provinces, the majority of Churches keep their virgins covered. There are places, too, beneath this (African) sky, where this practice obtains; lest any ascribe the custom to Greek or barbarian Gentilehood... It is not strange, since it is not among strangers that we find it, but among those, to wit, with whom we share the law of peace and the name of brotherhood... In fact, at this day the Corinthians do veil their virgins.
John Chrysostom (preacher, theologian, bishop of Constantinople; c. 349 – 407): To the man: “Neither do thou.. not being covered... pray before God, lest thou insult both thyself and Him that hath honored thee.” Conversely, the woman should add a cloth covering to her long hair so “that not nature only, but also her own will may have part in her acknowledgment of subjection.” For her to go without a headcovering, contrary to Paul's command, is an “indecency.”
Augustine (theologian and writer in Roman Africa; 354 - 430): “It is not becoming, even in married women, to uncover their hair, since the apostle commands women to keep their heads covered.”
Martin Luther (German theologian and “father” of the Protestant Reformation; 1483 – 1546): “The wife... shall not rule over her husband, but be subject and obedient to him. For that reason the wife wears a headdress, that is, the veil on her head.” “The wife should put on a veil, just as a pious wife is duty-bound to [her husband].” In reference to v.10, Luther states that “women should... be covered with a veil for the sake of the angels.”
John Bunyan (writer and pastor in England; 1628 - 1688): “'For this cause ought the woman to have power', that is a covering, 'on her head, because of the angels'... Methinks, holy and beloved sisters, you should be content to wear this power or badge.”
Charles Spurgeon (British baptist preacher; 1834 – 1892): “The reason why our sisters appear in the House of God with their heads covered is ‘because of the angels.’ The apostle says that a woman is to have a covering upon her head because of the angels.”
A.W. Pink (1886–1952), according to his biographer Iain Murray, is “one of the most influential evangelical authors in the second half of the twentieth century.” He pastored churches in the United States and Australia but he is best known for his books such as “The Attributes of God” and “The Sovereignty of God“.
excerpted from "A. W. Pink's 'Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 5'":
"For every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head" (I Corinthians 11:5). Observe, first, there is nothing in this verse (or in any verse of Holy Writ) which limits the injunction to any particular time or place.
What is here said applies to women whether engaged in prayer in some public meeting, at family worship, or in the privacy of her own room.
In other words, the Divine requirement to have some "covering" over her head when she engages in prayer, holds good at all seasons and in all places.
The needs-be for our pointing this out is because this word is almost universally disregarded today, even by professing sisters in Christ. Doubtless, in many instances, this is due to ignorance; yet is there no excuse, for the Scripture is plain enough.
When attention is drawn to this Divine requirement, not a few seek to evade its force by saying that their "hair" is given them for a covering. That is true, but it is not all the truth. If I Corinthians 11 be read attentively, and with an honest desire to learn and do God's will, there will be no difficulty in perceiving that God requires the woman to place something (a hat or "veil") on her hair. First, observe that it is said in verse 5 "every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaved." In other words, it is just as shameful for a woman to pray without any headgear as it is for her to have her head completely shaved. Second, in verse 6 it is said, "If the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn": the word "also" removes all doubt that there must be another "covering" in addition to the hair.
It should be obvious that there can be nothing in verses 14 and 15 which can weaken what has been said in verses 4 to 6, for the apostle would not contradict himself. No, rather is appeal made unto the natural to illustrate the spiritual. If "nature" teaches that it is more becoming and decorous for the woman to have "long hair" (alas that many have sunk so low morally as to be deaf even to the voice of human propriety), then none should murmur because the Spirit requires an additional head covering (in token of submission) when bowing before God in prayer.
John Murray (Scottish theologian, Princeton professor, seminary founder; 1898 – 1975): “Since Paul appeals to the order of creation, it is totally indefensible to suppose that what is in view and enjoined had only local or temporary relevance. The ordinance of creation is universally and perpetually applicable, as also are the implications for conduct arising therefrom.”
The Final Exhortation
Paul ends the topic with a final and strong exhortation.
“But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.”
I Corinthians 11:16 NKJV
This is a sobering statement, especially in light of what we look around and see today. What does it mean for all the churches of our day who have completely thrown off this command? I am not the one who can say. The Lord is the judge of all the earth, but we can not deny the clarity and finality of the last statement that Paul made. It should be a sobering warning to all elders and ministers that this is no light matter to simply interpret in a way that will appease the culture and those influenced by it. There are many Christian men and women who would no doubt obey this command without hesitation if the Pastors and Preachers of our day would faithfully teach it, and leading them astray will certainly be something the Shepherds will be held accountable for.
““But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”
Mark 9:42 NKJV
“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:19 NKJV
When did this shift happen in the church from obedience to disobedience? That is a post for another day, and it’s much broader reaching than the practice of headcovering. Over the last 200 years, most of the western churches have been drifting further and further away from Scripture and replacing their practices with the wisdom of the world. It’s a spiritually dangerous and sad situation. We should fervently pray that the Lord would purify the visible church, and bring them back to faithful submission to the Word of God.
What Now?
It is simple, obey with joy! And if anyone asks you why, be ready to give a Scriptural explanation.
You do not need to fret about those who do not interpret it the same way as you do. You do not need to pressure them. You should not question their salvation. Sanctification is the Lord’s work, and He is faithful to complete what He has begun in His timing and in His way. Simply love your brothers and sisters who see this differently, and seek Biblical Christian unity with them on the points of Scripture you agree on, and when the time is right and they are open to hearing your thoughts, then share why you believe and practice headcovering the way that you do with love, boldness, and clarity. Pray for the Lord to open their eyes and give them understanding. Walk in joyful faithfulness to what Scripture has convinced you of, and don’t question it based on the amount of people who are doing the same thing as you.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV