The issue of the head covering, when studying I Corinthians 11:1-16, is not a matter of mere conscience.   This issue is about doing what God requires.  This text is not dealing with just a custom of a time.  Verses 1-3 are just as binding today as the remainder of the chapter, which includes instructions about the Lord’s Supper.  This text is part of the word of God and we must teach on it (Acts 20:26-27).

    We will find that those who teach an artificial covering from this text are teaching more than this text allows.  Such is sinful (Deuteronomy 12:32 and II John 9).  This context deals with the roles of authority and the covering (of which type will be defined in our context) as a sign of subjection for the woman.  YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR BIBLE OPEN TO EXAMINE EACH VERSE IN THIS CONTEXT AS THEY ARE DISCUSSED THROUGHOUT THIS ARTICLE.

• katakalupto?  (Strong’s # 2619) “Verb: to cover up; to veil or cover one’s self.”  Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (page 331)
• akatakaluptos (Strong’s # 177) “not covered, unveiled.”  Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (page 21)
• kata (Strong’s # 2596) “down from.”  This Greek term is part of and a prefix to the two terms defined above.  Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (page 326)
• peribolaion (Strong’s # 4018) “a veil.”  Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (page 502)
• kalupto (Strong’s # 2572) “to hide, veil” is also used as of waves as a covering: “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered[2572] with the waves: but he was asleep” (Matthew 8:24).  Kalupto is used as hills being a covering: “Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover [2572] us” (Luke 23:30).   The point; the context has to define what the covering is.  If you will notice in the first two the Greek terms quoted above, “kalupto” is part of those terms significant in our study of what covering is in place in I Corinthians chapter eleven.

V.1 - Follow Paul as he follows Christ (I Corinthians 2:9-13 and II Thessalonians 3:14).

V.2 – Paul praises them for keeping the ordinances [Strong’s # 3862 - traditions; substance of teachings] he delivered to them (II Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6).
 

• Were these traditions likened unto what men teach today?   NO (Galatians 1:11-12)!

V.4 – Every man that prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head (Christ).
 

• Kata kephale? (2596; 2776) “Hanging down from head”.  What is hanging down (hat, scarf, hair)?  We need to let the context define the covering the man is NOT to have.
• “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him” (John 5:23).

V.5 – Any woman that prays or prophesies with her head UNCOVERED dishonors her head (Man).
 

• The text does not mention this to be only in the assembly as some think.  Woman should pray everywhere as we all should (I Timothy 2:8 and I Thessalonians 5:17).  A woman was not allowed to prophesy in a mixed assembly (I Corinthians 14:34-35), so this is more evidence that this context applies to more than just the assembly.
• “Uncovered” is akatakaluptos (Strong’s # 177) “not covered, unveiled.”  A “alpha” thus “un”.  Kata “down from” thus whatever covering we are talking of would hang down (cannot be a fashion cap, ball cap, short hair, etc.).  Kalupto is to “hide or veil” what (?) – her head.  What veil is used (napkin, hair, etc.)?  We need to let the context define it.  As we learned earlier, this Greek term has described things like the covering of hills and waves.

V.6 – If the woman is not covered she might as well cut her hair really short or even bald and altogether bring shame upon herself.  (I.E. You’re wearing a bikini – you might as well be naked).  By the way, what does shorn and shaven hair have to do with an artificial covering?  Have you ever seen a shorn or shaven artificial covering?

V.7-8 – A man should not cover his head for he is the image of God, the woman however came from the man.
 

• “For Adam was first formed, then Eve” (I Timothy 2:13).   This is one reason why a woman is not to teach or usurp authority over a man (I Timothy 2:11-12).
• Genesis 1:26
• Genesis 2:21-23

V. 10 – For this cause (the fact that woman was created for man) a woman ought to have power (a symbol of her subjection to authority) on her head.
 

• Why, because of the angels?  The angels witness what we do (I Timothy 5:21).
• Is this the only reason?  NO!  Why else?  How about because God said so.

V.11 – We are all one in the Lord (Galatians 3:28), even though not in authority or creation.

V.12 – Woman is of the man, but now in childbirth so is man of woman.  However, all are of God (Genesis 2:7).

V.13 – Is God saying that it is up to them to judge whether or not it is proper for a woman to pray uncovered?  Does God leave matters of faith up to man to judge (Acts 4:19-20; 5:29, and Galatians 1:10)?  NO! Paul tells them to determine for themselves as he has already said it is wrong for a woman to pray uncovered (11:5).  This is like someone showing that it is sinful to drink alcohol (I Peter 4:3) and then saying “now see it for yourself”.

V.14 – Nature teaches us, according to the inspired Apostle Paul, that a man with long hair is dishonorable.  This is the covering the man is not to have (vs. 4; 7).  It has always been wrong for a man to appear as a woman and for a woman to appear as a man (Deuteronomy 22:5).

V.15 – Finally, the covering the woman is to have (v. 5), is CLEARLY defined for us.
 

• If a woman has long hair (that which the man should not), it is a glory for her as this is given as her veil (peribolaion).  This fits the fact that the covering she is to wear is to “be down from, a covering hanging down” (v. 5).

V.16 - But, if anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice.
 

• For an issue that should not cause contention, the covering issue sure has.  Strife is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:20).  Division is wrong (I Corinthians 1:10).  The Lord hates those whom sow discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:19).  This custom (practice), of the covering of hair, should not be a bone of contention.  It is natural for a man to have short hair and a woman to have hair “hanging down”.
• Paul is issuing a warning to those contentious brethren, as there were some in Corinth (1:11), for there is no other practice in Corinth or in other churches.

    This text is just as clear as believe and be baptized (Mark 16:15-16).  It has taken men years to pervert what is so easy to understand.  Men ought not to have long hair and women ought to.  It is that simple.