Head Coverings

Now I commend you (A)because you remember me in everything and (B)maintain the traditions (C)even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that (D)the head of every man is Christ, (E)the head of a wife[a] is her husband,[b] and (F)the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife[c] who prays or (G)prophesies (H)with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same (I)as if her head were shaven. 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. For a man ought not to cover his head, since (J)he is the image and glory of God, but (K)woman is the glory of man. For (L)man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but (M)woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Greek gunē. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context
  2. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Greek anēr. This term may refer to a man or a husband, depending on the context
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:5 In verses 5–13, the Greek word gunē is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture
  4. 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report

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