18
2009
Head Coverings?
To veil (cover) or not to veil. That is the question, or is it? I don’t think so, or at least, it’s not the only question. While whether or not covering is required is important, an equally important and often ignored question is who is supposed to cover. The section of the Bible that talks about head coverings is 1 Corinthians 11:1-16:
1 try to imitate me, even as I myself try to imitate the Messiah.
2 Now I praise you because you have remembered everything I told you and observe the traditions just the way I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is the Messiah, and the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of the Messiah is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies wearing something down over his head brings shame to his head, 5 but every woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame to her head – there is no difference between her and a woman who has had her head shaved. 6 For if a woman is not veiled, let her also have her hair cut short; but if it is shameful for a woman to wear her hair cut short or to have her head shaved, then let her be veiled. 7 For a man indeed should not have his head veiled, because he is the image and glory of God, and the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man; 9 and indeed man was not created for the sake of the woman but woman for the sake of the man. 10 The reason a woman should show by veiling her head that she is under authority has to do with the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in union with the Lord neither is woman independent of man nor is man independent of woman; 12 for as the woman was made from the man, so also the man is now born through the woman. But everything is from God. 13 Decide for yourselves: is it appropriate for a woman to pray to God when she is unveiled? 14 Doesn’t the nature of things itself teach you that a man who wears his hair long degrades himself? 15 But a woman who wears her hair long enhances her appearance, because her hair has been given to her as a covering. 16 However, if anyone wants to argue about it, the fact remains that we have no such custom, nor do the Messianic communities of God.
I think that this passage refers to a separate head covering/veil that is not the hair. Substituting long hair in verse 6 is one reason why I don’t see it being the hair. The verse would then read “For if a woman does not have long hair, let her also have her hair cut short…” If the woman already has short hair, it doesn’t make sense to cut it short since it’s already short.
Other reasons include the fact that when taking a Nazarene (?) vow, a man would be required not to cut his hair, and therefore have long hair. Again, if long hair was the covering and men were to be uncovered, this wouldn’t make much sense. And finally, one does not have to be a believer to have long hair (it is given by nature), and not all believing women are able to have long hair. (Plus, there is also the debate of what is considered long hair.)
Another thing to note is that verse 16 probably only refers to verse 15, not everything previous to it. If it really was about everything previous to it, why would it have been included in the letter at all? So, (not just because of this), I would have to conclude that the passage is speaking about a separate head covering/veil to be worn over the hair.
The bigger question, for me is exactly who this verse is referring to. It’s pretty apparent that it is talking about, at least, married women (verse 3). So, married women are to cover. The CJB switches from using wife to woman after verse 3, while other translations use woman throughout. I would think, reading the book it is talking to married women, but I’m not really sure about that.
Regardless, there isn’t anything wrong (so far as I can tell) with being an unmarried woman and wearing a head covering, even if it isn’t required. So, if you’re looking for head coverings, or just want to try some, Miss Rachel at A City On a Hill is having a Cover Your Hair giveaway. Cover Your Hair has a wide variety of head coverings, including tichels, wide headbands, snoods, hats, and headbands with tails. You can visit coveryourhair.com to see their selection. There’s really something there for everyone.
Anyway, your thoughts on head coverings? Who is required to wear them?
It’s funny, but I too am exploring this topic right now. I just read an excellent e-book titled “The Biblical Headcovering: Scarf of Hidden Power” which did an excellent job of explaining the whole concept using scripture, history, and real life testimonies. I recommend you read through it. At this point, I am convinced that the headcovering is indeed a good thing. However, I hesistate to wear it because I already know the amount of opposition and hostility I will receive from my family.
Even though most women who cover are married, I can see how an unmarried daughter would choose to cover. It’s a beautiful picture of submission and set-apartness. Not only that, but it increases your chance to witness. As a shy introvert, that’s another reason why I hesistate to wear one myself.
Well, I hope that helps! I too wrote a few blog posts on the subject in the past.
Blessings and shalom,
Lina
Here’s the link to the free e-book on headcoverings:
http://www.homeschoolhowtos.com/store/detail/biblical_headcovering_scarf_of_hidden_power/
Hm. I started reading that book. It should be interesting. (Thanks for the link!)
I’m in a similar position to you with regards to whether or not to cover. (My dad would certainly not approve, and I’m not sure the rest of my family would be happy about it either.) I’m considering doing it “part-time” like on the Sabbath and when I’m doing Bible study and praying (well, like the time set aside to pray, not the spontaneous kind…). I suppose the other thing for me too is people asking questions about it. (Again for the same reason…)
I certainly think it is a beautiful picture of submission and set-apartness, but I also think there is something special about it just being for married women. I think the second commenter (not the reply) on the Fathers and Daughters article on Feelin’ Feminine makes a good point (http://feelinfeminine.com/?p=2277) about fathers having the same authority over children, not a different kind over daughters, but then, I’m still not sure. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with wearing a head covering for any reason, just that it’s not a commandment for unmarried women (if that is the case).
I have read and enjoyed your articles on head covering. I think I may have commented on one of them, but I’m not sure. I don’t comment much. (It’s the introvert thing, and I don’t like saying nothing if I have nothing to say…).
Shalom,
Lisa
Wearing a covering is a sign of submission. If your parents don’t want you do wear it, then it really wouldn’t make sense to wear it. Think about it….“I’m wearing this to show that I am obeying you…but I am disobeying you so I can wear it to show that I am obedient.”
I myself cover…but my family does too.
I would agree, but it is worth finding out why your parents don’t want you to cover. If it’s simply because they are worried about you looking weird, for example, that can be addressed by wearing less “obvious” coverings such as wide headbands.
Just a thought, but why is this such a controversial issue, especially among those of us who are returning to Torah? If it’s not in Torah, then is it really even an issue? I’m not saying it’s not worth exploring; this seems to be the only passage that addresses such an issue which doesn’t give us much to work with and basically means it all boils down to opinion and preference. My only opinion on the subject is if it is something a person wants to do, then do it but do it for that reason and that reason only.
I think it’s so controversial because of our society, and the fact that we have next to no knowledge about how it was originally practiced. Just because something isn’t in Torah doesn’t mean it’s not an issue. It’s in the Bible, and therefore is an issue. This may be the only passage that directly addresses the issue, but there are several instances where head coverings (veils) are referenced in other parts of the Bible. (I can think of two in Torah and one in the Prophets.)
Thank you for your thoughts.
Lisa
The who is to cover question is the hard one to answer.The article at this link http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/HeadCovering.html mentions that the greek word Paul used can mean female or married woman.It also quotes some early church leaders on who should cover.
The church I attend does support headcovering-usually a hat worn during services though only about 40% cover.
I like the idea of a cloth covering which makes more of a statement of belief than a hat.
The people that oppose headcovering don’t realize that until the 1950′s covering in church was practised by most Christian churches.
Thanks for the link. It’s something to think about.
Paulina, ‘Biblical Scarf of Hidden Power’ is an excellent e-book.
I find it amazing that so many Christian women do not even think about the issue of whether covering is a NT teaching. They just ignore the issue.
I would love to see more women wearing headcoverings.