Growing up, I never felt the need to understand the significance of head coverings for women during prayer. My church taught it, my mom did it, so it seemed right. But now, as a husband and father, I feel a stronger responsibility to go back to the Word for guidance. The key passage on this topic is 1 Corinthians 11:2-16:
"2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 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... 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."
It’s important to read the entire passage to understand the context. Paul starts by reminding them to keep the traditions he passed down. While some traditions are cultural and tied to that time, head coverings seem to point to something deeper, especially since Paul connects it to headship: Christ is the head of man, man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ (verse 3). Then he goes into the specific instructions about head coverings for both men and women.
Verse 4 says that when a man prays with his head covered, he dishonors Christ. In contrast, verse 5 explains that a woman praying with her head uncovered dishonors her head, which I believe refers to her husband in the context of marriage. Paul makes a clear connection between the physical covering and the roles established by God.
The idea of covering, whether it's for men or women, seems more than just a cultural issue. Some argue that verse 15 suggests a woman's long hair is her covering, which removes the need for a physical one. But if that were the case, why does Paul go into such detail? Why would he bring up headship if it were simply about hair length? And if hair is enough of a covering for women, what are men supposed to do—shave their heads? These are the questions that make me believe Paul is talking about a physical head covering, not just hair.
The argument that head coverings were just for the culture of that time doesn’t hold up well either. Cultures all the way back through Abraham’s descendants understood this as a physical covering, whether they were Hebrews or even later in Islamic traditions. It wasn’t just a matter of wearing a covering so Christian women stood out from the prostitutes, as some argue. Paul’s concern wasn’t about walking in public without a veil—it was about what happens during prayer. His teaching wasn’t limited to a cultural scandal but was rooted in God’s order.
Before Christ came, priests were instructed to cover their heads while praying, like Aaron and his sons who wore ornate turbans as part of their priestly garments (Exodus 39:27-31). But after Christ, the order of headship shifted, which is why Paul says men shouldn’t cover their heads anymore. It’s all connected to the headship of Christ, God’s plan for authority in marriage, home, and the church.
It’s interesting that veils and head coverings were common practice in most Christian communities up until the mid-20th century. The cultural changes of the 1960s and 70s, along with the rise of feminist movements, led to a shift. Women started rejecting symbols of submission as they pushed for independence and equality. Churches, instead of holding firm to biblical teachings, started relaxing these requirements, often to please congregants. For instance, in 1962, the Catholic Church stopped requiring head coverings during Mass, and many Protestant churches followed suit.
So why did this teaching suddenly become “cultural” in the 1960s? If Paul was only talking about hair or addressing a local cultural issue, why did nobody understand it that way for nearly 2,000 years? The timing of this shift seems more influenced by society than by Scripture.
It’s also clear that Paul didn’t see this as just a cultural practice. Verse 10, “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels,” shows there’s something spiritual at play. We may not fully understand the reference to angels, but it’s obvious that it goes beyond culture and into the realm of spiritual authority and order. It’s a symbol of submission to God’s order and much like baptism or communion, It’s not about salvation, but it’s a public statement of a deeper belief and commitment.
When people argue that Paul’s teaching on head coverings was purely cultural, they’re dismissing the theological significance he placed on it. As Christians, we are required to let Scripture speak for itself, not adjust it to fit modern norms.
I believe the reason the practice of head coverings has been abandoned by Christians in general is tied to a deeper rejection of God’s order of headship. Many families today operate with the wife in charge in the role God gave the man, resulting in the eventual rejection of a head covering. We hear things like, “This is what works for us,” as an excuse for the woman to take the man’s God appointed place. God’s Word and commands are what matter—not whether the wife is a better decision-maker or head of the household. The outward symbol of a head covering can be a reflection of the deeper submission to God’s order, and when we drop the symbol, the meaning often goes with it. Paul didn’t say, “Grow long hair so we know you honor your husband.” He said to wear a covering to show you honor God’s design for headship.
To conclude, 1 Corinthians 11:5 says: “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.” This isn’t just a cultural teaching; it’s rooted in God’s order laid out in verse 3, which remains relevant today. If we believe that man is still the head of the woman, then a head covering is still a valid practice.
This isn’t about being legalistic or trying to hold onto old-fashioned traditions. It’s about acknowledging God’s design and reflecting that in our actions. Husbands need to lovingly teach and guide their wives in this area, not submit to cultural pressures or modern ideas about equality. Would a woman be ashamed to walk into church with a shaved head? If so, she should also feel ashamed to pray without a covering, not because of man’s approval, but because of what God’s Word says.
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