Why don't Christian women cover their hair?

[Butch5]

It says it is in the scripture "I" posted. I says hair is given to her as a covering.

I've said that Paul uses a different Greek word there. It's parabolian, not katakalupto. I've shown that your claim turns Paul's argument nonsensical. I've shown you how the early church understood this and I've shown how the church the Paul wrote the letter to understood it. If the Corinthian church understood Paul's words to be saying that they needed to have their heads veiled, why would you think that your understanding is more accurate than theirs? After all, they are ones who asked the question.

 

[Butch5]

Cover your head, meaning........if you don't have hair.........put a covering on.

Seriously? It always amazes me how so many rebel at something so simple.

 

[LovethroughDove]

I've said that Paul uses a different Greek word there. It's parabolian, not katakalupto. I've shown that your claim turns Paul's argument nonsensical. I've shown you how the early church understood this and I've shown how the church the Paul wrote the letter to understood it. If the Corinthian church understood Paul's words to be saying that they needed to have their heads veiled, why would you think that your understanding is more accurate than theirs? After all, they are ones who asked the question.

You and I won't see this the same. Period. I'm not rebelling if it literally says "For long hair is given to her as a covering." I'm not twisting this to make it anything but what it says exactly. Sorry we ain't connecting.

 

[Butch5]

You and I won't see this the same. Period. I'm not rebelling if it literally says "For long hair is given to her as a covering." I'm not twisting this to make it anything but what it says exactly. Sorry we ain't connecting.

You're misunderstanding it. I've already shown you that the hair can't be the covering that Paul is talking about. In my opinion it is rebellion, because you're not trying to reason through it. You simply reject everything we've said. That tells me you don't want the answer.

 

[Tertul]

I am following the Bible.

1 Corinthians 11:15 - - - - For long hair "is" given to her as a covering.

Our long hair IS the covering. God created it that way. Why are you gonna go against God and put something on top of what he created for the covering! Stupid.

V6 "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." Long hair isn't the cover Paul teaches. Long hair is nature's covering, to a lady's glory, demonstrating that even nature implies women should wear a head covering.

But, as it is, I suppose you think the women in your church with short hair are being inappropriate?

Conversely, a man shouldn't wear a head covering when praying. My church's youth pastor is teaching from home, via streaming video. He wears a baseball cap the whole time, including during prayer. It's all the worse that he's wearing the cap inside. Was he raised in a cave? Probably not a cave, just in the world.

 

[Tertul]

He's not saying that the hair is the covering. He uses a different Greek word. The confusion is because the translators translate these two different words with the same English word cover

The two different (and unrelated) Greek words should settle it: peribolaion vs. katakalypto. The covering provided by long hair is not the same as the covering provided by a hat or scarf. Besides, common sense tells us that because pagan women typically have long hair, that long hair itself is little sign of virtue.

I thinking of the possibility that a head covering served the function of a wedding ring in the first century.

 

[Butch5]

The two different (and unrelated) Greek words should settle it: peribolaion vs. katakalypto. The covering provided by long hair is not the same as the covering provided by a hat or scarf. Besides, common sense tells us that because pagan women typically have long hair, that long hair itself is little sign of virtue.

I thinking of the possibility that a head covering served the function of a wedding ring in the first century.

Yeah, all one needs to do is to take a quick look at history to see that the hair is not the covering. For almost 2000 years women covered their heads. Whether it was with a veil, a hat, or a cloth, it was covered, It's only really since the feminist movement that women began to rebel. How many non Christian woman do you see that say they are submissive to their husbands? Many Christian women began to think this same way.

 

[Edward]

Why are you opposed to wearing a cover. If you'e unsure isn't it better to err on the side of caution?

We have to keep in mind that the Lord is not the author of confusion. The verse is fairly short and very clear.

1 Corinthians 11:
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.../

Short. Clear. Nevertheles, I did doublecheck in Strongs as to the definition of covering within this verse...and it was not as you said.

Outline of Biblical Usage [?]

1. a covering thrown around, a wrapper
   1. a mantle
   2. a veil

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
περιβόλαιον peribólaion, per-ib-ol'-ah-yon; neuter of a presumed derivative of G4016; something thrown around one, i.e. a mantle, veil:—covering, vesture.../

It is the woman's mantle. It is her veil. Her hair is given her for a covering. Meaning, it IS her covering and certainly the glory of a woman. The verse, the definition, are both succinct and to the point. There is no confusion here. There is no need to write 6 paragraphs to explain why such a short verse doesn't mean what it says. A women's hair should be long and thrown around her shoulders, her veil and her glory as a woman!

That said...Why do women almost always chop off their hair as they get older? Don't Do That! It is your glory as a woman and pleasing to us men.

 

[jasonc]

We have to keep in mind that the Lord is not the author of confusion. The verse is fairly short and very clear.

1 Corinthians 11:
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.../

Short. Clear. Nevertheles, I did doublecheck in Strongs as to the definition of covering within this verse...and it was not as you said.

Outline of Biblical Usage [?]

1. a covering thrown around, a wrapper
   1. a mantle
   2. a veil

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
περιβόλαιον peribólaion, per-ib-ol'-ah-yon; neuter of a presumed derivative of G4016; something thrown around one, i.e. a mantle, veil:—covering, vesture.../

It is the woman's mantle. It is her veil. Her hair is given her for a covering. Meaning, it IS her covering and certainly the glory of a woman. The verse, the definition, are both succinct and to the point. There is no confusion here. There is no need to write 6 paragraphs to explain why such a short verse doesn't mean what it says. A women's hair should be long and thrown around her shoulders, her veil and her glory as a woman!

That said...Why do women almost always chop off their hair as they get older? Don't Do That! It is your glory as a woman and pleasing to us men.

My wife has headaches ,she complained a long time ago ,doctor said ,ah I see your hair touches below you shoulders .cut it and I,bet the head ache goes.

Aspirin wasn't working ,she gets intense headaches,it didn't cure the pain but but reduced it ,while not super short ,its never gonna touch her shoulders again .

I shave my,head often .due soon .

 

[Butch5]

We have to keep in mind that the Lord is not the author of confusion. The verse is fairly short and very clear.

1 Corinthians 11:
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.../

Short. Clear. Nevertheles, I did doublecheck in Strongs as to the definition of covering within this verse...and it was not as you said.

Outline of Biblical Usage [?]

1. a covering thrown around, a wrapper
   1. a mantle
   2. a veil

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
περιβόλαιον peribólaion, per-ib-ol'-ah-yon; neuter of a presumed derivative of G4016; something thrown around one, i.e. a mantle, veil:—covering, vesture.../

It is the woman's mantle. It is her veil. Her hair is given her for a covering. Meaning, it IS her covering and certainly the glory of a woman. The verse, the definition, are both succinct and to the point. There is no confusion here. There is no need to write 6 paragraphs to explain why such a short verse doesn't mean what it says. A women's hair should be long and thrown around her shoulders, her veil and her glory as a woman!

That said...Why do women almost always chop off their hair as they get older? Don't Do That! It is your glory as a woman and pleasing to us men.

The problem is that your argument makes Paul's argument nonsensical.. It runs contrary to all of church history and it doesn't make sense. Katakalupto is a verb. Paul is telling the women to do something. Please explain to me why Paul would be telling the women to put on their hair. Do they take it off when they are done praying? If hair is a covered then Christian men all need to shave their heads because they are not to be covered. If you look at Paul's argument he says that the man is not to be covered because he is the image and glory of God. So, if a man covers his head he is covering the glory of God. However, the woman is the glory of man. So, if she doesn't cover then she is displaying the glory of man in the presence of God rather than covering the glory of man. She is also exposing her own glory in the presence of God. In God's presence we are not to hide the glory of God and expose our own glory.

 

[GodsGrace]

Butch, it literally says that. Her hair is given to her for a covering.

Hi Love....
This passage is not easy to understand....

NASB

1 Corinthians 11:5
2Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. 3But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. 5But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. 6For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also 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 cover her head. 7For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. 10Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. 13Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.


The Messsage

To Honor God
11 1-2 It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you. All actual authority stems from Christ.

3-9 In a marriage relationship, there is authority from Christ to husband, and from husband to wife. The authority of Christ is the authority of God. Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ. In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband. Worse, she dishonors herself—an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship, while men take their hats off. By these symbolic acts, men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their “heads” to the Head: God.
10-12 Don’t, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women. Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God—that is true. But the head on a woman’s body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her “head,” her husband. The first woman came from man, true—but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let’s quit going through these “who’s first” routines.

13-16 Don’t you agree there is something naturally powerful in the symbolism—a woman, her beautiful hair reminiscent of angels, praying in adoration; a man, his head bared in reverence, praying in submission? I hope you’re not going to be argumentative about this. All God’s churches see it this way; I don’t want you standing out as an exception.


New Living Bible

Instructions for Public Worship

1And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

2I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. 3But 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 4A man dishonors his headb if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5But a woman dishonors her headc if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. 6Yes, 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


7A 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. 8For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. 10For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.e

11But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. 12For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.

13Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? 14Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 15And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. 16But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

 

[WIP]

I am following the Bible.

1 Corinthians 11:15 - - - - For long hair "is" given to her as a covering.

Our long hair IS the covering. God created it that way. Why are you gonna go against God and put something on top of what he created for the covering! Stupid.

I was going to mark this reply with a like until I got to your last word.

 

[Tessa]

I find this very interesting because it is something that had been on my mind. Paul said women shoild wear a covering when they are praying or prophesying. He didn't say they should wear a covering on their head all the time.
I can't see a problem with this. There are many scarves, shawls and veils you can buy or make. It doesn't take a second to slip it on and is a great lesson in humility.
I think it looks attractive.
Perhaps this is where the practice of a bride wearing a veil comes from?

 

[jasonc]

I find this very interesting because it is something that had been on my mind. Paul said women shoild wear a covering when they are praying or prophesying. He didn't say they should wear a covering on their head all the time.
I can't see a problem with this. There are many scarves, shawls and veils you can buy or make. It doesn't take a second to slip it on and is a great lesson in humility.
I think it looks attractive.
Perhaps this is where the practice of a bride wearing a veil comes from?

no, I can look at my grandparents wedding which is from the time where Jewish women and men didn't sit side by side in the temple. in their photos, I don't see that in their photos. white is worn, but no head covering. the chuppa . I could be wrong.

 

[Edward]

The problem is that your argument makes Paul's argument nonsensical.. It runs contrary to all of church history and it doesn't make sense. Katakalupto is a verb. Paul is telling the women to do something. Please explain to me why Paul would be telling the women to put on their hair. Do they take it off when they are done praying? If hair is a covered then Christian men all need to shave their heads because they are not to be covered. If you look at Paul's argument he says that the man is not to be covered because he is the image and glory of God. So, if a man covers his head he is covering the glory of God. However, the woman is the glory of man. So, if she doesn't cover then she is displaying the glory of man in the presence of God rather than covering the glory of man. She is also exposing her own glory in the presence of God. In God's presence we are not to hide the glory of God and expose our own glory.

Man's hair was not given to him as a covering or to be his glory. That is a feminine attribute. I'm sorry you're having difficulty understanding the chapter.

 

[JohnDB]

Paul wrote that he wanted women to dress modestly and decently.

Decently is what many today should think of as modestly...IOW you don't wear a sexy party dress to church.

Modestly....don't wear the most lavish dress or a potato sack. Blend in with the average person.

If the average woman isn't wearing hats or veils...then don't.

 

[JohnDB]

But then again I do miss seeing the ladies dressed up wearing outlandish hats on Easter Sunday...

 

[LovethroughDove]

Thanks for all the responses. I think. This shouldn't be that controversial because as Christian women we don't wear head coverings. If those words weren't as stated, we'd be wearing head coverings. My hair isn't super long....but right to my shoulders.

 

[Edward]

Paul wrote that he wanted women to dress modestly and decently.

Decently is what many today should think of as modestly...IOW you don't wear a sexy party dress to church.

Modestly....don't wear the most lavish dress or a potato sack. Blend in with the average person.

If the average woman isn't wearing hats or veils...then don't.

This makes so much sense. Just be modest. Hair can be long and even worn modestly, or worn provocatively or otherwise inappropriately. If a lady choose to wear a traditional style head covering when she worships, that's ok too, whatever her heart convicts her of.

I never heard of a lady cutting her hair because it gave her headaches. Oh I beieve it if she said so. That's ok. I would not try to tell a woman how to dress herself or wear her hair though. I can tell her if it looks good, or not.

 

[Edward]

But then again I do miss seeing the ladies dressed up wearing outlandish hats on Easter Sunday...

View attachment 9804

Those aren't too bad, lol. How about the ones they used to wear back in Cowboy days! Those are kewl too.