Instructions about Head Coverings

Now I praise you[a] because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions(A) just as I delivered(B) them to you. But I want you to know that Christ is the head(C) of every man, and the man is the head of the woman,[b](D) and God is the head of Christ.(E) Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors(F) his head. Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved.(G) For if a woman doesn’t cover her head, she should 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 head be covered.

A man should not cover his head, because he is the image(H) and glory of God.(I) So too, woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man.(J) Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. 10 This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:2 Other mss add brothers,
  2. 11:3 Or the husband is the head of the wife

Instructions for Public Worship

I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.[a] A man dishonors his head[b] if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. But a woman dishonors her head[c] if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.[d]

A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory. For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. 10 For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. 11:3 Or to know: The source of every man is Christ, the source of woman is man, and the source of Christ is God. Or to know: Every man is responsible to Christ, a woman is responsible to her husband, and Christ is responsible to God.
  2. 11:4 Or dishonors Christ.
  3. 11:5 Or dishonors her husband.
  4. 11:6 Or should have long hair.
  5. 11:10 Greek should have an authority on her head.