Long Hair is Not a Covering

Many people think that long hair is the covering that Paul is speaking of in 1 Corinthians 11 but we can prove from scripture, this is not so.  Scripture commands women to cover their heads / hair and we will show you how.  
In verses 4-6 we see that women are to pray with their head covered.  This refers to an actual covering of the head, not hair.

Verses 4-6 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.  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.  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.

The Greek work for covered is katakalupto
kata meaning ‘down’
kalupto meaning: to cover wholly, that is, veil:- to veil, or cover one's self up.


This shows that a woman is to veil, cover her head.  
So let’s use the word veil (as Paul is saying) in this verse instead of the word ‘covered’.
Verses 4-6 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered dishonoureth his head.  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head (unveiled) dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.  For if the woman be not (veiled), let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be (veiled).

Paul is showing us women how disgraceful it is for a woman to be shaved or shorn and thus saying that being unveiled is the equivalent of that disgrace.  To be disobedient in this area is a shame and disgrace to our head (authority).  If a woman refuses to wear the outer covering, she should have both (covering and hair) taken away.  


Long hair is not a covering.
If Paul was talking about long hair in verses 4-7, why didn't he say 'Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head and every woman who prays or prophesies with short hair?" Also, why would length of hair be an issue only when praying or prophesying?  How could a woman only have long hair when praying or prophesying?

What is long?  Do we really think God will leave it up to women to decide a relative word such as that?  What of the unregenerated woman who has short hair when she comes to Christ and is born again?  If 'covering' means long hair then this woman (a new believer) cannot pray to God for a many years until her hair grows long.  What of the woman who has lost her hair to chemo?  This is foolishness.


A woman is to cover her glory, 
vs 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.  Verse 15 says a woman’s hair is her glory.  

Only Jesus’ glory (man) is to be uncovered.  If a man covers his head while praying or prophesying he would be symbolically abandoning his God given authority and therefore would dishonor his head, Christ.  Therefore a man’s glory (woman) is to be covered, and if man's glory is to be covered then it would stand to reason that a woman’s glory (hair) is to be covered as well.  An unveiled woman dishonors her husband to God because that which is a glory to man should be covered before God's so that God receives the glory.  We see all over in the Old Testament how God's Glory was covered, so just as man's glory is to be covered (woman) her glory is to be covered (hair).
The old testament shows in various scriptures that women were covering their heads and Paul continued that tradition and command.  We have indepth articles HERE on this subject and many more encourage you to do a deep study on it.

This is a topic for those who are truly seeking to obey the Lord Jesus  Christ and you will clearly see the command for women to cover their heads / glory with a veil.
To God be the glory.


HERE is the biblical gospel.