I’ve done a deep study on head coverings and wanted to share my notes with Y’all. I also found a good video that goes over the history of head coverings. I’ll post it in another post when I find it.
The History of Head Coverings:
The practice of women wearing head coverings was an established custom among the Hebrew people and continued among early believers, including those in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Paul instructs women to cover their heads while praying or prophesying, appealing to both creation order (verses 7-9) and cultural propriety (verse 13). While some argue that Paul was addressing a cultural issue unique to Corinth, he states in verse 16 that this practice was upheld by all the assemblies of Elohim.
– Head Coverings in Hebrew Culture
In ancient Israel, head coverings were a common part of a woman’s attire. While the Torah does not explicitly command it, modesty (tzniut) was a significant value in Hebrew culture. Married women especially covered their hair as a sign of modesty and marital faithfulness. Numbers 5:18 suggests that an uncovered head signified disgrace for a woman suspected of adultery or harlotry.
-Head Coverings in Early Christianity and Church History
For centuries after Paul’s writings, Christian women continued wearing head coverings, and this practice was widely maintained across various Christian traditions, including the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches. Early Church fathers like Tertullian (2nd-3rd century) and John Chrysostom (4th century) affirmed the practice as a biblical and apostolic tradition.
– The Shift Away from Head Coverings
The widespread abandonment of head coverings among Christian women occurred primarily in the 20th century, especially with the rise of feminism, cultural shifts, and changes in church traditions. Many churches that once required head coverings began to view Paul’s words as culturally specific rather than timeless instruction. The feminist movement played a significant role in challenging traditional gender roles, leading many women to discard head coverings as a symbol of submission.
The biblical and historical evidence supports that head coverings were an established practice or custom among Hebrew women, commanded by Paul as a universal custom among believers, and upheld throughout church history until modern times. Those who seek to return to biblical foundations often choose to revive this practice in obedience to Scripture.
Head Coverings or Veils in the Old Testament:
The Old Testament does not have a direct commandment requiring women to wear head coverings in the same way that 1 Corinthians 11 discusses. However, there are references that suggest women veiling or covering their heads as a cultural practice, a sign of modesty, or for other symbolic reasons. Here are a few relevant passages:
1. Rebekah Covering Herself with a Veil
Genesis 24:64-65 (BSB)
“And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from her camel. Then she said to the servant, ‘Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?’ ‘It is my master,’ the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.”
This suggests that veiling was a customary act of modesty when meeting one’s husband.
2. Tamar Wearing a Veil to Disguise Herself
Genesis 38:14-15 (BSB)
“So she removed her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. Seeing her, Judah thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.”
This shows that veiling could be associated with different social contexts, including concealment.
3. Women Covering Their Heads in Mourning
Isaiah 3:23-24 (BSB)
“And He will take away the fine robes and the capes and the cloaks, the purses, and the mirrors, the linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls. Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.”
This passage suggests that coverings (shawls, tiaras, veils) were part of a woman’s attire, and their removal was a sign of disgrace or mourning.
4. Modesty and Head Coverings in Prophetic Symbolism
Song of Songs 4:1 (BSB)
“Behold, you are beautiful, my darling! Behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.”
This suggests that veiling was a common aspect of a woman’s attire, particularly in the context of beauty and honor.
5. Priests and Women Covering Their Heads in Worship Contexts
While there is no direct command for women to wear head coverings in worship, there are instructions for the Levitical priests:
Ezekiel 44:18 (BSB)
“They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists; they shall not wear anything that makes them sweat.”
This establishes a pattern of head coverings in worship, which may provide some background for Paul’s later teachings in 1 Corinthians 11.
The Old Testament does not explicitly command women to wear head coverings, but it does show that veils and head coverings were culturally significant for modesty, marriage customs, mourning, and beauty. The New Testament (1 Corinthians 11) builds upon these cultural understandings to establish head coverings as a sign of authority in worship.
Head Coverings in the New Testament:
The Greek words used in 1 Corinthians 11 are crucial in understanding Paul’s argument, as he uses different terms for a woman’s artificial covering and her natural hair. Below is a more detailed breakdown with the Greek words included to show the distinction.
1. Paul Appeals to Divine Order (1 Corinthians 11:3)
– “But I want you to know that the head (κεφαλή, kephalē) of every man is Messiah, the head of woman is man, and the head of Messiah is Elohim.”
Paul establishes headship (kephalē), meaning authority or leadership, as the foundation for his teaching on coverings.
2. The Instruction on Head Coverings (1 Corinthians 11:4-6)
– “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered (κατακαλυπτόμενος, katakaluptomenos), dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered (ἀκατακάλυπτος, akatakaluptos) dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered (katakaluptetai), let her also be shorn (keirō). But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn (keirō) or shaved (xuraō), let her be covered (katakaluptesthō).”
Key Greek Words Here:
κατακαλύπτω (katakaluptō) – “to cover, to veil,” meaning an artificial covering like a veil or head covering.
ἀκατακάλυπτος (akatakaluptos) – “uncovered, unveiled,” meaning without the artificial covering.
κειράω (keirō) – “to shear, cut short,” referring to hair being cut very short.
ξυράω (xuraō) – “to shave,” meaning completely bald.
Paul explicitly states that a woman without a covering (katakaluptō) is like one who has her hair cut off (keirō) or shaved (xuraō). Since having a shaved head was a sign of disgrace, this reinforces that a woman should wear an actual head covering when praying or prophesying.
3. The Command to Remain Covered (1 Corinthians 11:10)
– “For this reason the woman ought to have authority (ἐξουσίαν, exousian) on her head, because of the angels.”
Paul states that a woman’s covering is a sign of authority, which aligns with the headship order in verse 3. The reference to angels implies that this is a matter of divine order, not just culture.
4. Paul’s Direct Challenge: Should a Woman Pray to Yahuah Uncovered? (1 Corinthians 11:13)
– “Judge among yourselves. Is it proper (πρέπον, prepon) for a woman to pray to Elohim with her head uncovered (akatakaluptos)?”
Paul asks a rhetorical question, expecting the obvious answer: No, it is not proper for a woman to pray to Yahuah with her head uncovered.
The word πρέπον (prepon) means “fitting, proper, appropriate.”
Again, he uses ἀκατακάλυπτος (akatakaluptos), meaning without a veil or artificial covering.
This verse strongly suggests that women should cover their heads whenever they pray or prophesy.
5. The Greek Word for “Covering” in Verse 15 is Different
– “But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering (peribolaion).”
περιβόλαιον (peribolaion) – “something thrown around, a mantle, a veil, a covering.”
This is NOT the same word as katakaluptō, which Paul used earlier for the required head covering.
Instead, peribolaion refers to something naturally draped around, like long hair.
This shows that Paul is not saying hair replaces a head covering. Instead, he is using hair as a natural example of why a covering is appropriate—just as long hair is a woman’s natural glory, so should she embrace wearing a physical covering as a sign of submission and authority on her head.
6. The Universal Church Practice (1 Corinthians 11:16)
– “But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the assemblies of Elohim.”
Some argue that Paul is saying “we have no such custom” of head coverings, but this contradicts everything he just said.
More accurately, this verse means: “We have no other custom”—meaning all the assemblies of Elohim follow this practice.
Conclusion:
1. Paul commands women to cover their heads (katakaluptō) when praying or prophesying.
2. Paul does NOT say hair alone is sufficient; he uses a different Greek word (peribolaion) for it.
3. An uncovered (akatakaluptos) woman is equated with one who has been shaved or shorn, which was shameful.
4. Paul directly asks if it is proper for a woman to pray to Yahuah uncovered, implying that it is not.
5. The instruction is rooted in divine order, not just culture.
6. This was the universal practice of all the assemblies of Elohim.
Thus, Scripture clearly teaches that women should wear an artificial head covering when they pray or prophesy—not just rely on their natural hair. – Tracie Myers
Author – Tracie Myers – Rathburn
