1 Corinthians 11:13

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

1 Corinthians 11:13 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
English Standard Version (ESV)
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
New Living Translation (NLT)
13 Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head?
The Message Bible (MSG)
13 Don't you agree there is something naturally powerful in the symbolism - a woman, her beautiful hair reminiscent of angels, praying in adoration; a man, his head bared in reverence, praying in submission?
American Standard Version (ASV)
13 Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
13 Judge your own situation. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
13 You be the judge. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God without covering her head?

1 Corinthians 11:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 11:13

Judge in yourselves
The apostle having gone through a variety of reasoning and arguments, showing the superiority of the man to the woman, by which he would prove, that the one should be covered, and the other uncovered, returns to his subject again, and appeals to the common sense and understanding of the Corinthians, and makes them themselves judges of the matter; suggesting that the thing was so clear, and he so certain of what he had advanced being right, that he leaves it with them, not doubting but that they would, upon a little reflection within themselves, join with him in this point:

is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
in you judgment you can never think so, however pleasing and gratifying such a sight may be, to the lust of the flesh, and to the lust of the eye; he does not mention prophesying, only instances in praying; but it is to be understood of one, as of another; and his meaning is, that it is an uncomely thing in a woman to appear in public service with her head uncovered, whether it be in joining in the public prayers, or in singing of psalms, or in hearing the word expounded; and though the apostle does not put the case of the man's praying to God, or prophesying in his name with his head covered, yet his sense is the same of that, as of the woman's.

1 Corinthians 11:13 In-Context

11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.
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