Head Coverings: What on Earth?
Originally written on April 15th, 2010
1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (ESV)
“Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife* is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
5 but every wife* who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.
8 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.*
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God. ”
Head coverings. What were they?
The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible study notes say that culturally, it was a symbol of marital status for a woman to wear a veil. Throwing off the veil would then be seen as identical to throwing off all submission to her husband and acknowledgement of her marriage. Paul says that the refusal of women, presumably wives, to wear any head covering is the same as her having her head shaved.
What?
According to the Inter Varsity Press New Bible Commentary (IVP-BC), “The shaving of the head of the woman who disgraces her husband by commi[t]ting adultery was prescribed by Roman law which applied in the Roman colony of Corinth.”
So the woman who refused to place herself, even symbolically, under her husband’s authority was no different than the woman who committed adultery against her husband. Ouch.
Proverbs 12:4
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.”
The imagery here is reminiscent of Jehovah God’s relationship with Israel. He describes Himself as her suitor, her caretaker, and her Bridegroom. Israel, however, instead of loving and submitting only to Him, showing gratitude and respect for her tender Husband, commits prostitution and adultery with foreign gods, disgracing her heavenly King and herself.
The marriage of one man and one woman is a picture of Christ and the Church. He is the Shepherd, the self-sacrificing, gentle leader and she is the submissive, supporting help-mate.
Unfortunately, we live in a broken, retrograde world. Husbands are not, by nature, tender or gentle when they lead. It is only by the power of Christ that a man can die to self and live for his wife the way Christ lived and died for the Church.
Likewise, no woman can hope to quench her default nature of insubordination and disrespect in her own strength. Anything good is all because of Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me.”
2 Corinthians 4:16
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”
Both men and women desire a life of total independence. Both desire the other person to “meet my needs.” This is the tragedy that has been playing the American circuit theatre of life for so many generations. How many of us know families where Mom and Dad just couldn’t work things out?
Christians, because we have been made new people in Jesus Christ and because we are in-dwelt by His Holy Spirit, can change our own behavior in these areas. We can be lights and guides in an empty, lost world.
Does this mean American christian women should be wearing head coverings?
Let’s come back to “what is a head covering?”
For the Corinthians, head coverings were symbolic of a working marriage: wife submitting to her husband’s leadership.
Is there a symbol like this in our culture? What about wedding rings, tattoos (beloved’s name, etc.), or, do I dare bring it up, our attitudes and body language?
How we use our facial and body expressions says a lot more about us than we might realize or like to admit. We could be legalistic and all walk around piously with our doilies or burkas, but if our heart’s attitude is disrespectful or disdainful toward our husbands we richly deserve to be called out for our hypocrisy.
No, because of its context, I don’t believe women in our culture need to wear head coverings, but we do need to daily check our hearts for evil, selfish thoughts and take every thought (and feeling!) captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
It wouldn’t hurt to remember scripture’s admonitions to dress modestly, whatever we wear.
Ephesians 4:22-24
“...that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
2 Corinthians 13:5
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?”
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”
But what about “because of the angels”?
The IVP- Hard Sayings of the Bible authors record that “a more specific background for this text from Judaism is to be found in the Qumran writings, commonly known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. J. A. Fitzmyer has shown that these Jewish sectarians believed that angels were present when the community assembled for worship, and that they would be offended by any acts which transgr[e]ssed created order.”
This interpretation/belief definitely jives with Paul’s close attention to the woman (translated as “wife” due to context) being created for the man (“husband”), and the husband being the head of his wife, with Christ being the head of every man.
In conclusion, when all is said and done, I’m an unworthy sinner redeemed by Christ who must daily cry out:
Psalms 51:1-4
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.”
Who am I to decide whether God is reasonable or not?
1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (ESV)
“Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife* is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
5 but every wife* who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.
8 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.*
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God. ”
Head coverings. What were they?
The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible study notes say that culturally, it was a symbol of marital status for a woman to wear a veil. Throwing off the veil would then be seen as identical to throwing off all submission to her husband and acknowledgement of her marriage. Paul says that the refusal of women, presumably wives, to wear any head covering is the same as her having her head shaved.
What?
According to the Inter Varsity Press New Bible Commentary (IVP-BC), “The shaving of the head of the woman who disgraces her husband by commi[t]ting adultery was prescribed by Roman law which applied in the Roman colony of Corinth.”
So the woman who refused to place herself, even symbolically, under her husband’s authority was no different than the woman who committed adultery against her husband. Ouch.
Proverbs 12:4
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.”
The imagery here is reminiscent of Jehovah God’s relationship with Israel. He describes Himself as her suitor, her caretaker, and her Bridegroom. Israel, however, instead of loving and submitting only to Him, showing gratitude and respect for her tender Husband, commits prostitution and adultery with foreign gods, disgracing her heavenly King and herself.
The marriage of one man and one woman is a picture of Christ and the Church. He is the Shepherd, the self-sacrificing, gentle leader and she is the submissive, supporting help-mate.
Unfortunately, we live in a broken, retrograde world. Husbands are not, by nature, tender or gentle when they lead. It is only by the power of Christ that a man can die to self and live for his wife the way Christ lived and died for the Church.
Likewise, no woman can hope to quench her default nature of insubordination and disrespect in her own strength. Anything good is all because of Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me.”
2 Corinthians 4:16
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”
Both men and women desire a life of total independence. Both desire the other person to “meet my needs.” This is the tragedy that has been playing the American circuit theatre of life for so many generations. How many of us know families where Mom and Dad just couldn’t work things out?
Christians, because we have been made new people in Jesus Christ and because we are in-dwelt by His Holy Spirit, can change our own behavior in these areas. We can be lights and guides in an empty, lost world.
Does this mean American christian women should be wearing head coverings?
Let’s come back to “what is a head covering?”
For the Corinthians, head coverings were symbolic of a working marriage: wife submitting to her husband’s leadership.
Is there a symbol like this in our culture? What about wedding rings, tattoos (beloved’s name, etc.), or, do I dare bring it up, our attitudes and body language?
How we use our facial and body expressions says a lot more about us than we might realize or like to admit. We could be legalistic and all walk around piously with our doilies or burkas, but if our heart’s attitude is disrespectful or disdainful toward our husbands we richly deserve to be called out for our hypocrisy.
No, because of its context, I don’t believe women in our culture need to wear head coverings, but we do need to daily check our hearts for evil, selfish thoughts and take every thought (and feeling!) captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
It wouldn’t hurt to remember scripture’s admonitions to dress modestly, whatever we wear.
Ephesians 4:22-24
“...that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
2 Corinthians 13:5
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?”
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”
But what about “because of the angels”?
The IVP- Hard Sayings of the Bible authors record that “a more specific background for this text from Judaism is to be found in the Qumran writings, commonly known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. J. A. Fitzmyer has shown that these Jewish sectarians believed that angels were present when the community assembled for worship, and that they would be offended by any acts which transgr[e]ssed created order.”
This interpretation/belief definitely jives with Paul’s close attention to the woman (translated as “wife” due to context) being created for the man (“husband”), and the husband being the head of his wife, with Christ being the head of every man.
In conclusion, when all is said and done, I’m an unworthy sinner redeemed by Christ who must daily cry out:
Psalms 51:1-4
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.”
Who am I to decide whether God is reasonable or not?