1 Corinthians 11:2-10
Wycliffe Bible
2 And, brethren, I praise you, that by all things ye be mindful of me; and as I betook to you my commandments, ye hold [and as I betook to you my commandments, ye keep].
3 But I will that ye know, that Christ is [the] head of each man; but the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4 Each man praying, or prophesying, when his head is covered, defouleth his head.
5 But each woman praying, or prophesying, when her head is not covered, defouleth her head; for it is one, as if she were polled [as if she be made bald, polled, or clipped].
6 And if a woman be not covered [For if a woman be not veiled, or covered], be she polled; and if it is foul thing to a woman to be polled, or to be made bald, cover she her head.
7 But a man shall not cover his head, for he is the image and glory of God; but a woman is the glory of man.
8 For a man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.
9 And the man is not made for the woman, but the woman for the man.
10 Therefore the woman shall have a covering on her head, also for angels.
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1 Corinthians 11:2-10
New Matthew Bible
He rebukes them for abuse and for disorder concerning the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and brings them again to the first institution.
2 I commend you, brethren, that you remember me in all things, and keep the observances even as I delivered them to you.
3 I would that you understood that Christ is the head of every man. And the man is the woman’s head. And God is Christ’s head. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having anything on his head, dishonours his head. 5 Every woman who prays or prophesies bare-headed dishonours her head, for it is one and the very same thing as if she were shaven. 6 If the woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. If it is dishonourable for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her cover her head.
7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God. The woman is the glory of the man, 8 for the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman’s sake, but the woman for the man’s sake. 10 For this reason, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head – for the angels’ sakes.
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1 Corinthians 11:2-10
1599 Geneva Bible
2 [a]Now brethren, I commend you, that ye remember all my things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3 [b]But I will that ye know, that Christ is the (A)head of every man: and the man is the woman’s head: and God is [c]Christ’s head.
4 [d]Every [e]man praying or prophesying having anything on his head, dishonoreth his head.
5 [f]But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth bareheaded, dishonoreth her head: [g]for it is even one very thing, as though she were shaven.
6 Therefore if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: and if it be shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7 [h]For a man ought not to cover his head: forasmuch as he is the (B)image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 [i]For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.
9 (C)[j]For the man was not created for the woman’s sake: but the woman for the man’s sake.
10 [k]Therefore ought the woman to have [l]power on her head, because of the [m]Angels.
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- 1 Corinthians 11:2 The fifth treatise of this epistle concerning the right ordering of public assemblies, containing three points, to wit, of the comely apparel of men and women, of the order of the Lord’s supper, and of the right use of spiritual gifts. But going about to reprehend certain things, he beginneth notwithstanding with a general praise of them, calling those particular laws of comeliness and honesty, which belong to the ecclesiastical policy, traditions: which afterward they called Canons.
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 He setteth down God, in Christ our mediator, for the end and mark not only of doctrine, but also of ecclesiastical comeliness. Then applying it to the question proposed, touching the comely apparel both of men and women in public assemblies, he declareth that the woman is one degree beneath the man by the ordinance of God, and that the man is so subject to Christ, that the glory of God ought to appear in him for the preeminence of the sex.
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 In that, that Christ is our mediator.
- 1 Corinthians 11:4 Hereof he gathereth that if men do either pray or preach in public assemblies having their heads covered (which was then a sign of subjection) they did as it were spoil themselves of their dignity, against God’s ordinance.
- 1 Corinthians 11:4 It appeareth that this was a political law serving only for the circumstances of the time that Paul lived in, by this reason, because in these our days for a man to speak bareheaded in an assembly, is a sign of subjection.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 And in like sort he concludeth, that women which show themselves in public and ecclesiastical assemblies without the sign and token of their subjection, that is to say, uncovered, shame themselves.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 The first argument taken from the common sense of man, forsomuch as nature teacheth women, that it is dishonest for them to come abroad bareheaded, seeing that she hath given them thick and long hair, which they do so diligently trim and deck, that they can in no wise abide to have it shaven.
- 1 Corinthians 11:7 The taking away of an objection: Have not men also hair given to them? I grant, saith the Apostle, but there is another matter in it: For man was made to this end and purpose, that the glory of God should appear in his rule and authority: but the woman was made, that by profession of her obedience, she might more honor her husband.
- 1 Corinthians 11:8 He proveth the inequality of the woman, by that, that the man is the matter whereof woman was first made.
- 1 Corinthians 11:9 Secondly, by that, that the woman was made for man, and not the man for the woman’s sake.
- 1 Corinthians 11:10 The conclusion: Women must be covered, to show by this external sign their subjection.
- 1 Corinthians 11:10 A covering which is a token of subjection.
- 1 Corinthians 11:10 What this meaneth, I do not yet understand.
1 Corinthians 11:2-10
Authorized (King James) Version
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 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. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Read full chapter2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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