I Need My Head Covered While Praying?

Question

I read a scripture in the Bible that confused me. It talked about keeping a head covering on when women pray. Why was this? Is this still valid? Is it s special head covering or does a hat work?

Answer 1

1Co 11:4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
1Co 11:5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head--it is the same as if her head were shaven.
1Co 11:6 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.
1Co 11:7 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.
1Co 11:8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
1Co 11:9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
1Co 11:10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
(ESV Translation)

11:2 The apostle first of all commends the Corinthians for the way in which they remembered him in all things, and held fast the traditions just as he had delivered them. Traditions refer not to habits and practices that have arisen in the church down through the years, but rather, in this case, to the inspired instructions of the Apostle Paul.

11:3 Paul now introduces the subject of women's head coverings. Behind his instruction is the fact that every ordered society is built on two pillars—authority and subjection to that authority. It is impossible to have a well-functioning community where these two principles are not observed.

Paul mentions three great relationships involving authority and subjection. First, the head of every man is Christ; Christ is Lord and man is subject to Him. Secondly, the head of woman is man; the place of headship was given to the man, and the woman is under his authority. Third, the head of Christ is God; even in the Godhead, One Person has the place of rule and Another takes the place of willing subordination. These examples of headship and submission were designed by God Himself and are fundamental in His arrangement of the universe.

At the outset it should be emphasized that subjection does not mean inferiority. Christ is subject to God the Father but He is not inferior to Him. Neither is woman inferior to man, though she is subordinate to him.

11:4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, that is, Christ. It is saying, in effect, that the man does not acknowledge Christ as his head. Thus it is an act of gross disrespect.

11:5 Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, that is, the man. She is saying, in effect, that she does not recognize man's God-given headship and will not submit to it.

If this were the only verse in the Bible on the subject, then it would imply that it is all right for a woman to pray or prophesy in the assembly as long as she has a veil or other covering on her head. But Paul teaches elsewhere that women should be silent in the assembly (1Co_14:34), that they are not permitted to teach or to have authority over the man but to be in silence (1Ti_2:12).

The passage is admittedly a difficult one. What does seem clear is that in the matter of covering, the woman's duty is the exact opposite of the man's. In other words, it is proper for a woman to be covered whenever it is proper for a man to be uncovered in situations involving prayer and prophesying.

11:6 If a woman is not covered, she might as well be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, then she should be covered. The unveiled head of a woman is as shameful as if her hair were cut off. The apostle is not commanding a barber's operation but rather telling what moral consistency would require!

11:7 In verses 7-10, Paul teaches the subordination of the woman to the man by going back to creation. This should forever lay to rest any idea that his teaching about women's covering was what was culturally suitable in his day but not applicable to us today. The headship of man and the subjection of woman have been God's order from the very beginning.

First of all, man is the image and glory of God whereas woman is the glory of man. This means that man was placed on earth as God's representative, to exercise dominion over it. Man's uncovered head is a silent witness to this fact. The woman was never given this place of headship; instead she is the glory of man in the sense that she renders conspicuous the authority of man.

Man indeed ought not to cover his head in prayer; it would be tantamount to veiling the glory of God, and this would be an insult to the Divine Majesty.

11:8 Paul next reminds us that man was not created from woman but woman was created from man. The man was first, then the woman was taken from his side. This priority of the man strengthens the apostle's case for man's headship.

11:9 The purpose of creation is next alluded to in order to press home the point. Nor was man created primarily for the woman, but rather woman for the man. The Lord distinctly stated in Gen_2:18, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

11:10 Because of her position of subordination to man, the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head. The symbol of authority is the head-covering and here it indicates not her own authority but subjection to the authority of her husband.

Why does Paul add because of the angels? We would suggest that the angels are spectators of the things that are happening on earth today, as they were of the things that happened at creation.

In the first creation, they saw how woman usurped the place of headship over the man. She made the decision that Adam should have made. As a result of this, sin entered the human race with its unspeakable aftermath of misery and woe. God does not want what happened in the first creation to be repeated in the new creation. When the angels look down, He wants them to see the woman acting in subjection to the man, and indicating this outwardly by a covering on her head.

The head-covering is simply an outward sign and it is of value only when it is the outward sign of an inward grace. In other words, a woman might have a covering on her head and yet not truly be submissive to her husband. In such a case, to wear a head-covering would be of no value at all. The most important thing is to be sure that the heart is truly subordinate; then a covering on a woman's head becomes truly meaningful.

Answer 2

Wow, that was a really long answer!! The short version:

There are bible verses which refer to this. These days in most churches it's a matter of choice. If you feel the need to cover your head then certainly do so but the practice is a little like many of the older conventions that we don't pay any attention to in the Bible (like slavery).

Some faiths (the Amish come to mind) still have women cover their head as a sign of subserviance. In "high" churches you will see the practice mostly among the older population.

Now, on Easter Sunday all bets are off and it's often a "how big can my hat get' contest.

Answer 3

The interesting thing that there are Protestant liberals which claim St. Paul is talking about women having long hair rather than wearing veils but this is not what St. Paul is stating. The tradition has always been women having their heads covered (wearing a veil) rather than having them uncovered. Of course the Church is a living Body it's not a Book. The thing is none of the Popes and Majistrium of the Church have every officially abolished this tradition rather it had become a matter of choice for women to wear a veil upon their head during Mass and times of prayer. Because even though a woman does not wear a veil upon her head does not mean she does not wear the veil upon her heart. When a woman makes the choice of wearing a veil upon her head that is the reflection of the veil she wears upon her heart. In the Catholic Church being recognized as an adult within the Church is when the individual is Confirmed, young ladies before that time do not have to wear a veil upon her head during Mass or when they are praying. And no it's not considered as a sin if a woman decides not to wear a veil upon her head.

Answer 4

Ok, any part of the Bible where Jesus is not directly speaking was written by men. Some people believe these men were writing the words of God himself but I do not. In my opinion the only words from God in the Bible come from Jesus.
Seriously, with all the horrible things that happen in this world do you really think God cares if you have something on your head when you pray?

Answer 5

Have you ever noticed that this is a reversal of the Hebrew protocols and didn't come into vogue until--I believe--the 10th century.