Head Covering- Refuting The Arguments Against It

There seems to be much contention about ladies biblical head coverings (1 Corinthians 11) within mainstream/denominational/evangelical circles today. Many people are doing their very best to rule it out in one of these 3 (not limited to) ways:

1   The man is the covering.
2   Culture
3   Hair (or long hair)

We will briefly outline the facts against these arguments and if you would like more details please see our post HERE.


    1. The man is NOT the covering.
Some will argue that the meaning of these 16 verses is that the man is simply the covering for the woman.  This goes against scripture because it’s clearly shown that Paul is talking about having on a physical veil (katakaluptos). (To veil or cover one's self up.) Aside from that if a person takes that stand by saying that man is the covering for woman and if she doesn’t have a man to cover her, she can never pray.  On the other side, Christ is the head of man so man would have to take Christ off as the covering in order for him to pray uncovered.  It makes no sense. 

 2. Culture does not dictate the actions of Christians, God’s Word does.
This is not a cultural issue as we are to follow God’s Word not culture and Paul says in 

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord

and let me remind you again that he also states in 

1 Corinthians 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the ordinances just as I delivered them to you.  

Do you realize that the next ordinance or tradition that Paul reminds us in that same chapter is the Lord’s Supper?  If we toss out head covering then we must toss out the Lord’s Supper as well.

From Paul’s inspired teachings and for 1900 years from then, women who professed faith in Christ, wore a covering.  It wasn’t until just the last 100 years or so that feminism exploded and women sinfully tore off the headcovering in disobedience.   (Studies reveal pictures of the women in the catacombs wearing head coverings.)

   3. Hair (or long hair) is not the covering.
Verse 15 is not stating that a woman’s hair is her covering (veil) because all the verses prior to vs 15 use the Greek word katakaluptos (to veil or cover one's self up, to cover wholly, to hide).  This is a physical covering over the head/hair of a woman that hangs down.  In verse 15 Paul uses peribolaion which means: something thrown around one, that is, a mantle, veil

Peribolaion does not denote 'covering' of the head it means, thrown around.

 God has given women long hair as something that is thrown around such as the manner of a mantle or veil.  This (nature)  therefore shows us the example of what sort of covering Paul is referring to.

Let’s do an exercise with verse 4-6 using the word ‘hair’ for covering.

Verses 4-6 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head (with hair), dishonoureth his head.   But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head (bald/no hair) dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.  For if the woman (be bald, no hair), let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her (be not bald, have hair).

Ask yourself this: how can a woman shave a head that already has no hair?   Paul is saying that if you are going to shame yourself by not wearing a veil, then you also have no right to have the long (glory) of hair that was given to you.

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 every woman who prays or prophesies with short hair?” Also, why would the 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 about the unregenerated woman who has short hair when she comes to Christ and is born again.  If 'covering' means long hair, then this woman (as a new believer) cannot pray to God for a few years until her hair grows long.  This is foolishness.

None of these arguments line up with the Word of God and there has to be a lot of scripture twisting, opinion and man made philosophies of which we are warned against in Colossians 2:8.

Do you want to honor God by following in obedience?  Or do you want to be sinful and follow man's philosophies?

​Go HERE for teachings on these topics and many more to help you in the faith.  HERE is the biblical gospel and a 10 pt test for yourself and your religious body.