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

I praise you for remembering everything I told you[a] and for holding to the traditions[b] that I passed on to you.

Advice about Head Coverings

Now I want you to realize that the Messiah[c] is the head of every man, and man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of the Messiah.[d] Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head, and every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, which is the same as having her head shaved. So if a woman does not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. If it is a disgrace for a woman to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her own head.

A man should not cover his head, because he exists as God’s image and glory. But the woman is man’s glory. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; and man was not created for woman, but woman for man. 10 This is why a woman should have authority over her own head: because of the angels.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:2 The Gk. lacks told you
  2. 1 Corinthians 11:2 I.e. Jewish traditions
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or Christ
  4. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or Christ