Why does the bible say that a woman should wear a head covering?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
P

pjharrison

Guest
Longer hair for a woman is natural in most societies, her hair is usually longer. The subject matter is really not the length of hair so much as it is hair given as a glory to a woman . Woman is given to man as his glory. and the man unconverted head represents the glory of Christ not seen . The new ceremonial law which included the breaking of the bread as one new ceremonial ordinance is all about representative glories used to represent the glory of God not seen.

In Revelation we can see the father of lies coming in full counterfeit glory, stealing the glory of God . The face of a man and the hair of a woman( a false glory)

Revelation 9:6-8 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
I don't know what to say, no one can understand the hair part of the scripture. I don't know any other way to explain it.
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
It's a nice thought, but one can still find plenty of women who remain "uncovered". What of the woman whose husband is an unbeliever? Or of one who is alone without family?

The reality is that any view that has loopholes cannot be the true interpretation. For the passage to be applicable to everyone, it must account for people in every situation.
There is always a male. An uncle, brother, father brother in law, Friend.
Here is an example. If there was a lady at the store she was minding her own business. A strange man came over to her and started getting in her face, asking for her number and really coming on strong. All of a sudden her husband walks up , who is a Godly man. He looks the strange man in the eyes. The man looks into the husbands eyes and says nothing and turns and walk away.
The strange man had a lust demon. When the demon look into the Godly husbands eyes, he saw the spirit of God.
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
What if there is no Godly man at all in the woman's life? The bible does state however that the woman should ask her husband questions at home. It does not state what the woman should do if she has no husband. I believe that most women can look after their own best interests quite well without any help from a man.
They can do whatever they want. If they start having to fight with demons because they are prophesying without a covering, nobody will have to tell them to stop. The demons are real, and invisible, we cant see them. We can hear them talk if they manifest inside someone's body. There are all kinds. They are out to steal kill and destroy.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,366
13,728
113
There is always a male. An uncle, brother, father brother in law, Friend.
Friends, uncles, and brothers-in-law have no spiritual authority in a woman's life. You're grasping at straws to hold on to your position.

The reality is that we are each covered by Christ.
 
P

pjharrison

Guest
Friends, uncles, and brothers-in-law have no spiritual authority in a woman's life. You're grasping at straws to hold on to your position.

The reality is that we are each covered by Christ.[/QUOTE
Ok, I'm tired of this circle we're on. I'm bailing out.
 
Jul 10, 2018
90
68
18
31
You might be interested in Michael Heiser's lecture on the subject (look it up on YouTube). It is quite a radical view, but because he is a deep-thinking scholar and I respect his view on other passages, I find his view on this worthy at least of a hearing. Even then he's not pushing it, but only submitting the possibility.
I'm very familiar with Dr. Michael Heiser, I'll check it out.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
Friends, uncles, and brothers-in-law have no spiritual authority in a woman's life. You're grasping at straws to hold on to your position.

The reality is that we are each covered by Christ.

Yes each covered as a representative glory of God not seen .Christ not seen represented by the uncovered head of man , woman covers man as the visual head and woman not left without a representative glory of her own, her hair must be cover it as if it was all one covering of veil anticipating the coming wedding consummation is heaven as a foreshadow of good things to come.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,121
2,151
113
Scripture explicitly explains in ! Corinthians 11:10 saying, "For this reason..." and the general rule for pronoun antecedent agreement, as 'this' is used here, should refer to a clear noun (phrase) that agrees in number. Although it is easy to use a pronoun without a clear, unmistakable antecedent,
'this' along with reason' appears to be referring to the reality that woman came from man and that woman was created for man. So then, that 'a woman should have authority on her head" (while she prays and prophesies) might be explain in that what shows inherently in men, having been made in the image and glory of God, must needs be 'signified' in order to remind others (and angel, which probably fall at least a little short of the discernment of God) and most likely in particularly men, that she is not to be thought of as operating in any otherwise characteristic female design.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,121
2,151
113
Darned, I missed my edit window....

In summary, women should wear head coverings because of the pervs and/or simply those irreverent do not think of the praying woman in any sense that might otherwise come 'naturally' to them as she is operating in the spirit.
 

birdie

Senior Member
Sep 16, 2014
531
102
43
"Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. "

"Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah "

Above are two verses which speak of those who are saved. They have their sins covered because Christ died for them, taking their sins upon himself. All believers who are saved are a 'woman' in Bible lingo, meaning they are set apart to be Christ's bride. This is true whether they are male or female. They are still a woman in that sense, which is simply parable language.

On the other hand, Christ is the 'man' in that relationship. Because he is without sin, he does not need his sins to be covered. In fact, calling him a sinner in need of a covering for his sins would be wrong. It would be like calling him a sinner in need of having his sins covered in order to talk to God or to share the gospel. Yet he is without sin and can do those things without a covering.

Praying and Prophesying (which is a word meaning to share the gospel) is for those who are in relationship with God correctly, meaning for those who are saved and who have their sins covered. They have been given God's spirit so they can call to their father and so they can share the gospel correctly. It is a shame for an unsaved person to do those things because they would not be in correct position with God, not having their sins covered, and not having his Spirit.

The woman came from the man, meaning Christ died on the cross and rose again so that true believers could come into being. Woman came from man in that sense.

Believers must have their sins covered because of the angels. The word angels means 'messengers'. The angels being spoken of are other believers who have the gospel. This is equivalent to saying a true believer must have their sins covered because of the gospel. The gospel speaks of a covenant that requires sins to be covered by the blood of Christ.

You can see a good relationship between Christ and the true believers as far as sins being covered in this verse:
"O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. "
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,314
1,442
113
1 Corinthians 11: 4 - 5 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.
Wondering why American Christians do not do this?

In some countries the Christian women do cover their heads while praying and prophesying. And in America here a few obscure sects and groups follow this teaching, but most of the church ignores it. Why?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,366
13,728
113
Wondering why American Christians do not do this?

In some countries the Christian women do cover their heads while praying and prophesying. And in America here a few obscure sects and groups follow this teaching, but most of the church ignores it. Why?
Probably because they have an understanding of cultural context.
 
Apr 15, 2017
2,867
653
113
1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

The covering is speaking of hair on a man and a woman.

1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

If a man has long hair it is a shame unto him, and what did they do in the counterculture movement that was against authority, they grew their hair long.

1Co 11:7 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.

The man should cut his hair, for he ought not to cover his head, for he is in the image of God.

Jesus came in the image of God, so the man Christ Jesus would of had short hair.

And for people who would say Samson had long hair, but he was not in the image of God, for nobody was in the image of God after Adam and Eve fell until Jesus came.

Even nature teaches that a man should not have long hair, the way that God created the world to operate, the natural realm.

1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
1Co 11:5 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.
1Co 11:6 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.

Men should have short hair, and should cut it if it gets too long, and a woman should have long hair, and if she cuts it, even an inch, it is the same as if she is shaven.

God wants a distinction between a man and a woman according to their hair, and some might have a hard time with that for they do not understand, but God has a reason, and that is because the man is the head of the woman, although the woman is equal to a man in the Lord, which this pertains to the Church, the preacher, not the saints in general.

1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

Women should have uncut hair because of the angels, for the angels are last in the authority structure of God on earth, and they are ministering spirits, but creation was all for people.

The Bible plainly states that the covering is hair, and not a cloth..

And I am not making this a salvation issue, but it is plain that the covering is hair, which cannot be ignored, why, because the Bible says it is hair.

It is strange that they came up with cloth as if nobody read the chapter far enough.

It is like Paul stating having food, and clothing, be content, and if a person preaches God blesses them with money, and material things for their wants, withdraw yourselves, but there are people who come across as great theologians, and studied the word, and preached for 20 years, that believe God blesses them with money for their wants, and that the covering is a cloth, or something similar.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,550
17,022
113
69
Tennessee
Wondering why American Christians do not do this?

In some countries the Christian women do cover their heads while praying and prophesying. And in America here a few obscure sects and groups follow this teaching, but most of the church ignores it. Why?
.
Perhaps because they don't find it scripturally relevant to do so. Not entirely sure what you mean by prophesying. It is God who calls a person to be a prophet and anything said must be strictly only what God said to speak. A person claiming to be a prophet of God must be 100% accurate in what they say is going to happen otherwise they are just speaking for themselves and not for God.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
4,994
1,264
113
Wondering why American Christians do not do this?

In some countries the Christian women do cover their heads while praying and prophesying. And in America here a few obscure sects and groups follow this teaching, but most of the church ignores it. Why?

It's just cultural. Back then men wore identical to skirts but not we wear pants and so do women.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
I don't understand how long does the hair have to be....?
does that mean all men ought to shave their hair while praying.

Im confused. It seems related to how men and women pray.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
Is it related to acts 18:18
After all its Paul writing here. Any christian hairdressers here can tell us?
 
M

Miri

Guest
Is it related to acts 18:18
After all its Paul writing here. Any christian hairdressers here can tell us?

Probably had to cover up to to cut down on lice and fleas!
 

Demi777

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2014
6,889
1,958
113
Germany
It relates to the nephilim. Thats why women were or are supposed to do it.
Ive covered my hair at times when praying or prophesying. It gives a kind of prayer closet feeling. Not in a bad way.
May ppl do what they wanna do