1 corinthians 11-16

Yes the passage is stating that a woman has long hair as a head covering.. The passage was actually speaking against the need for cloth head coverings..

(1 Corinthians 11:13-16) "Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? {14} Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? {15} But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. {16} But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

What is the custom Paul is speaking of here? He is speaking of the custom of woman wearing cloth head coverings..

It's been a while since I studied that passage, but as best I can remember there's two different, and possibly 3 different words there being translated as "covering" (as well as "power" in v10). Some are a reference to hair, some to head covering.


Verse 10 is a reference to a Midrash based on Genesis chapter (5 or 6?, I'd have to look) where it says "sons of G-d saw the daughters of men...". According to the Midrash it was the women's hair that caused the "fallen angels" to go astray, so Paul is arguing that women should wear a head covering "because of the angels".


There's nothing in scripture that specifically forbids women cutting their hair. I am aware of denominations that interpret it that way, but the point Paul was making was more about women covering their hair rather than having long hair. Verse 8, as well as the last part of verse 7 is consistent with this, her hair is for her husband, not for the general public.

In Judaism it was and still is the custom (in Orthodox Judaism, less so in more liberal movements) for married women to cover their hair in public. This is one of those customs that was apparently present in early Christianity but was dropped a long time ago by most of Christianity.

Yes, hair itself is a covering according to the Bible. 🙂

Men getting all excited about sexualising women, creating absurd taboos so that they can be cruel towards vulnerable people (young people and women) that do not comply with their sick rules.

if "hair itself is a covering" then verse 6 uncovered means no hair but says to cut! so must add to hair.
but teachers have a different excuse lady can bare hair like men.

you are becoming a christian legalist...trying obey several hundred rules. you are headed in wrong direction

You're interested in the opinions of complete strangers on the internet as to what you should do with your own body?

This. This is what's wrong with Christianity, right here.