1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Head Coverings

2 Now I commend you 1because you remember me in everything and 2maintain the traditions 3even as I delivered them to you.
3 But I want you to understand that 4the head of every man is Christ, 5the head of a wife[a] is her husband, and 6the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
5 but every wife[b] who prays or 7prophesies 8with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same 9as if her head were shaven.
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since 10he is the image and glory of God, but 11woman is the glory of man.
8 For 12man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
9 Neither was man created for woman, but 13woman for man.
10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[c]
11 Nevertheless, 14in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And 15all things are from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 16If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do 17the churches of God.

Cross References 17

  • 1. [1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:6]
  • 2. 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:6
  • 3. [1 Thessalonians 4:1, 2]
  • 4. Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18
  • 5. See Genesis 3:16
  • 6. [1 Corinthians 3:23]
  • 7. Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9; [1 Corinthians 14:34]
  • 8. [Numbers 5:18]
  • 9. Deuteronomy 21:12
  • 10. See Genesis 1:26
  • 11. [Proverbs 12:4]
  • 12. Genesis 2:21-23; [1 Timothy 2:13]
  • 13. Genesis 2:18
  • 14. Galatians 3:28
  • 15. See Romans 11:36
  • 16. 1 Timothy 6:3, 4
  • 17. 2 Thessalonians 1:4; [1 Thessalonians 2:14]; See 1 Corinthians 7:17; 1 Corinthians 10:32

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Greek gune. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context
  • [b]. In verses 5-13, the Greek word gune is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture
  • [c]. Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.