Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 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. 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. 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. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 1 Corinthians 11:4-16
Is Paul saying that a woman should have her head covered when she prays or prophesizes? Let's examine a few key verses from the passage above using the Bible's own principles for studying scripture to discern what God's word really says on the matter.
Is it disrespectful for a man to pray or prophesy with his head covered?
First, does every man praying or prophesying while his head is covered really dishonour his head? God himself, through Moses, gave instructions on how the Levites and high priest were to dress while serving God in the tabernacle and, later, in the temple in Jerusalem. The high priest was to wear a turban like headdress made of fine linen to which a golden head plate was attached. The other priest also covered their heads with simpler caps made of linen while serving in the tabernacle or temple.
No only were the priests instructed to wear a head covering while serving before God in the temple, but they were also warned not to uncover their heads lest they die!
And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: Leviticus 10:6
Is it disrespectful for a woman to have a shaved head?
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord: ...All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. ...And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. Numbers 6:2, 5, 18
In the Old Testament, God, again through Moses, instructs those who make a Nazarite vow. During the entire time of their vow they were to let their hair grow and not cut or shave their hair. After the time of their vow was complete, that same person was to shave their head and burn their shaven hair in the fire that was under the sacrifice of the peace offering. These instructions for taking a Nazarite vow, head shaving an all, applied to both men and women.
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Does nature teach us that is is shameful for a man to have long hair?
Again, according to the instructions given by God himself, both men and women, should they take a Nazarite vow, were not to cut or shave their hair until the time of their vow was fulfilled. Naturally, the hair of both men and women will continue to grow, and grow long, unless it is cut. Men are just as capable of growing long hair women; how long, for both the man and woman, will depend on their genes, not their sex. (Conversely, while not as common as with men, women can also inherit patterned baldness!)
Hannah, mother of the prophet Samuel, made a vow that in exchange for a son she would offer that son to the Lord as a Nazarite all the days of his life. No doubt, unless he became bald later in later, of which the Bible makes no mention, Samuel, a faithful servant of God, would have had long hair.
And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 1 Samuel 1:11
Samson was another hero from the Bible who was dedicated to be a life-long Nazarite before he was even born. The angel of the LORD appeared to Samson's mother, who was barren, and foretold that she would have a son and that he would be a Nazarite from the womb.
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: Judges 13:5
There hath not come a
razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my
mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I
shall become weak, and be like any other man. Judges 16:17
This is why Samson had such long hair, by command of God. In fact, it was Samson's continued disobedience to that Nazarite vow that resulted in his losing his hair, and thus his strength. Repeatedly Samson disobeyed God's commandments including those to avoid alcohol and sexual immorality, especially with pagan women.
Nature teaches us that the hair on both men and women will eventually grow long unless cut. Even in the animal kingdom the male may have long hair, even longer than the female, as God designed, no shame or dishonour.
Examples of women covering themselves with veils in the Bible.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. Genesis 24:63-65
Notice in the passage above that Rebekah only covers herself with a veil after she inquires and learns the identity of the approaching Isaac, meaning she was not covered while travelling with Abraham's servant, at least not all of the time, and not when they first approach Isaac. Is it not a popular custom today among many cultures for a bride to have her face covered when she is first formally presented to her husband to be, usually during the wedding ceremony.
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. Genesis 38:14
Much later we see Jacob's son Judah mistaken his own daughter-in-law for a harlot because she was covered with a veil which also covered her face. Perhaps, in order to conceal their identity and avoid stigma and shame, it was customary for prostitutes to cover their faces, thus such coverings became associated with the profession. This is not typically the custom today except in certain countries with particularly strong religious or cultural traditions regarding sex work.
A woman's hair is her covering.
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. 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. 1 Corinthians 11:5-6
The same Paul who said in verse 5 and 6 that a woman to pray or prophesize with her head uncovered dishonours her head, (not God), also says in verse 15 that a woman's hair is her covering. Paul also said that if it is a shame for a woman to have a shaved head, her head should be covered, if!
Most women have hair, in which case her head is covered. But some women, for various reasons, don't have hair. Perhaps they have alopecia, or female pattern baldness, or have suffered hair loss due to chemotherapy. Some shave their hair due to damage, (a sort of start over), or because they find their hair makes them too hot due to a medical or hormonal condition like diabetes or menopause. Some shave their hair in solidarity to a loved one going through chemotherapy, or for cultural or religious reasons. Regardless, depending on the culture or traditions of these women there may or may not be stigma attached to their lack of hair. Those women who belong to such cultures where there are stigma or taboos associated may cover their heads. Some women are part of cultures where even if she has hair it is taboo not to have their head covered. Is this ultimately what Paul is trying to say?
While there are examples of women who covered their heads in the Bible, there is no explicit command for women regarding head coverings either way. There are explicit instructions, however, for men, specifically the priests who served in the tabernacle and later the temple. It was not uncommon for men and women both, in what today we call the Middle East, to cover their heads during their day-to-day activities as protection from the intense sun.
At the end of the day, the decision to cover one's head or not is essentially one of custom and personal conviction. The church in Corinth was a culturally diverse church and it was unfortunately not uncommon for divisions to arise over clashing customs. Ultimately Paul summarizes thus:
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 1 Corinthians 11:15, 16
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Romans 14:13