A few days ago, I posted an article about headcovering on my Facebook wall. A reader had comment that caught my eye:
“Where is headcovering in the Torah? Is Paul adding to scripture in this case?”
That’s an excellent question, especially since YHVH commands us, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (Deuteronomy 12:32).
If Paul is adding to the Scripture, we’ve got a very serious problem indeed!
Back to the Beginning
When the writers of the New Testament wanted to quote Scripture, they didn’t use chapter-and-verse citations like we would today. Rather, they would simply use wording from that passage and assume two things:
- That the readers would be familiar with the Scriptures and know where the quotation was from.
- That the readers would be familiar with the context of the original passage and would go back to it to get a fuller understanding.
Let’s see how Paul does this in 1 Corinthians 11.
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Messiah. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Messiah, the head of woman is man, and the head of Messiah is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
“Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God” (1 Corinthians 11:1-17).
Paul takes us back to the very beginning of Torah, to the record of Creation.
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27-28).
It’s a rather heated question to ask in our feminist culture, but according to these verses, who was made in the image of God? The man (Adam) was made in the image of God.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him…”
And as Paul affirms, in whose image was the woman made? Woman was made in the image of Adam.
And Yehovah God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’ (Genesis 2:18).
You can read the entire story in Genesis 2:18-23, but Adam looked at all the animals, to see if he could find one that was made like he was, looking like himself. Later, we’ll read that his wife brought forth a son, and he was also in the image of his father.
“In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth” (Genesis 5:1-3).
This is just as Paul says:
“For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God” (1 Corinthians 11:8-12).
Just as Yeshua would prove his arguments by taking people straight back to the beginning of the Torah (Matthew 19:3-6), Paul does the same by taking us to the Creation of the world, to how things were originally supposed to be.
Headship and Order
Adam and Eve’s sin brought consequences. The serpent, Eve, and Adam were all “put in their place” by Yehovah. Adam was given the responsibility of ruling over his wife, in addition to the original intent of God, which was to only have mankind rule over the animals (Genesis 1:28).
“To the woman [Yehovah] said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you‘” (Genesis 3:16).
Paul repeats this in 1 Corinthians 11.
“I want you to know that the head of every man is Messiah, the head of woman is man, and the head of Messiah is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3).
There are actually so many amazing prophecies and pictures in this passage! At the moment of the curse, Yehovah promised that a chosen seed (a “Messiah”) would come, to crush the serpent’s head and to restore all things (Genesis 3:15).
However, this is where Yehovah instituted an authority structure that makes us chafe. The Messiah will rule with a rod of iron over mankind! He is the head of man, and whether we like it or not, this is when husbands became heads over their wives and families.
If this “instruction” (torah in Hebrew) is followed, a man and his family will be protected from deception by Satan.
“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control” (1 Timothy 2:11-15).
As a woman, I can tell you that this passage rubs me the wrong way. However, I’m trying to think biblically. I’m trying to see that my Creator instituted laws to protect me, not to harm me or to squash my rights.
However, just as these Scripture passages tend to make people upset, so does a piece of cloth covering my hair. As Paul says, it’s a symbol of authority to the messengers (Greek, angelos).
“For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels” (1 Corinthians 11:10).
Whether he means literal angels or the messengers of the people of God (Revelation 1:20-2:1), the way we live sends a clear symbol to everyone around us. Will we submit to God’s order of things, or will we throw off all restraint?
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the Torah” (Proverbs 29:18).
“There is no truth or mercy
Or knowledge of God in the land.
By swearing and lying,
Killing and stealing and committing adultery,
They break all restraint” (Hosea 4:2).
God’s order is marriage between a man and a woman, where they are one flesh. As a protection against deception and sin, God’s order is for a man to be the head of his wife, as he is in submission to Messiah.
“Then the rib which Yehovah God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
“And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:22-24).
In this week’s Torah portion (Numbers 5), we see that a wife’s covering is removed if marital unfaithfulness is suspected. In adultery, she has become one flesh with another, tearing apart her original union. If she has thrown off God’s order, her headcovering is to be removed.
“If any man’s wife goes astray and behaves unfaithfully toward him, and a man lies with her carnally… then the man shall bring his wife to the priest…. Then the priest shall stand the woman before Yehovah, and uncover the woman’s head” (Numbers 5:12-15, 18).
She has left the authority of her husband, so her headcovering is removed.
Covering Our Shame
It is only by seeing God’s original design that we can understand sin and the need for both Torah and a Savior.
“I would not have known sin except through the law” (Romans 7:7)
When Adam and Eve first sinned, the Torah says they felt shame.
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Genesis 3:6-7).
In their desperation, they tried to make clothes for themselves.
“…and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings” (Genesis 3:7).
And like small children who disobey their parents, they tried to hide.
“And they heard the sound of Yehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yehovah God among the trees of the garden.
“Then Yehovah God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’
“So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.'”
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul reminds us of that first sin and how an animal was slain, his blood spilled so that their shame could be covered.
“For Adam and his wife Yehovah God made tunics of skin, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).
Clothing is to be a reminder to us every day that we are sinners, under the death penalty and with no ability to stand in the presence of a Holy God. However, because blood was shed on our behalf, our sins can be covered.
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Romans 4:7).
Nakedness is a picture of shame, whether it’s a woman’s shaved head or a lack of clothing on our bodies.
“But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered” (1 Corinthians 11:5-6).
In fact, the prophet Isaiah gives us Yehovah’s definition of shame that was to come on the people of Babylon for their treatment of His people Israel.
“Come down and sit in the dust,
O virgin daughter of Babylon;
Sit on the ground without a throne,
O daughter of the Chaldeans!
For you shall no more be called
Tender and delicate.
Take the millstones and grind meal.
Remove your veil,
Take off the skirt,
Uncover the thigh,
Pass through the rivers.
Your nakedness shall be uncovered,
Yes, your shame will be seen” (Isaiah 47:1-3).
This very specific definition of nakedness and shame is so opposite of what we see in our culture that I have a hard time wrapping my head around it! Headcoverings are extremely rare, who wears a skirt, and thighs are uncovered so often that we think it’s normal!
Yehovah calls our nakedness shame, because it’s a reminder of the sin of Adam and Eve, the sin that brought a curse of death and destruction on our world.
Like rebellious teenagers, we flaunt our shame, revel in our wickedness, and call nakedness normal. We do that so we won’t be reminded of God.
However, when a woman comes around with modest clothing and a covered head, everyone is reminded again of a Creator to whom they are accountable. Rather than submit to their Creator’s instructions, his rules and commands, they say that these things are no longer for today, throwing off His authority and flaunting their own power.
It would be better for us to be like Adam and Eve, ashamed of our sin when we approach the presence of a Holy God and thankfully accepting the covering He has provided.
“Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?” (1 Corinthians 11:13).
Paul Upheld the Torah
So in my mind, the answer to this reader’s question is clear. Paul upheld the Torah, the instructions of God, by teaching the Gentile women to cover their heads.
As Paul said in his defense before Governor Felix,
“This I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:14-16).
Peter even defends Paul, by giving Paul’s words the weight of the other Scriptures and warning us to stay away from “lawless” men who would have us throw off the “restraints” of the Torah.
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position” (2 Peter 3:14-17, NIV).
Headcovering is a big deal to me, for several reasons. First of all, in these last days, I want to live a pure life, in submission to the order that my Creator set in place. It’s my statement that He is indeed the Creator!
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).
Secondly, headcovering is my statement that I am a follower of Yeshua, my Messiah and Master. Yes, I follow Him from a distance, 2000 years later, with only the writings of men like Paul to guide me. However, I have determined to take the instructions God providentially moved Paul to write down to Gentiles like me, and to obey with the same motivation I would any other Scripture.
“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions… But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them” (2 Timothy 3:10-14).
Finally, headcovering is my statement that all Scripture — even Paul! — has been given to me for my instruction and good. In a time when people conveniently ignore the Torah, have never read the prophets, and explain away the Apostles, I want to be different. I want to declare the authority of the Word of God, as His inerrant truth, unchanging from beginning to end.
“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yeshua. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
All so true! Thanks for posting this is such an encouragement to me! Shabbat Shalom!
Wonderful
I agree with you. I see that the ordinance in question here is not so much head covering but headship… order of creation. We wear the head covering as a demonstration of the reverence we have for the ordinance of headship illustrated in 1Cor. 11. This ordinance is of course in the Torah as we see in Genesis, where God from the beginning establishes it. … excellent article! Thank you.
Thank you for this. I was prompted by your post yesterday to start searching on this for myself. It is something that is just recently been put on my heart.
hi sister be blessed.i am convinced you should teach other women on how to be glorious in God’s eyes as this teaching purposed so successfully!
So well written! Thank you! When I returned to walking with the Lord, the FIRST thing I thought about doing was returning to covering my head! I know this was of God…and I love reading things like this that confirm it for me, thanks!
The ‘head covering’ issue that Paul is addressing seems confusing. He states that ‘men’ should not cover their head when they ‘pray’ or ‘prophesy’….and yet, Jewish and Messianic men often wear a kippa or even drape their tallit over heads while praying. Were they breaking Torah? As for women and head covering, is this really stating the women should wear some type of cloth over their head while ‘praying’ or ‘prophesying’? Verse 15 states that a woman’s ‘hair’ IS her covering. It ‘appears’ to me that the context of these verses is regarding the ‘shaved’ head as that was the ‘practice’ of pagan worshipers to their pagan gods, rather than a piece of cloth/apparel.
Also, this text specifically addresses ‘during’ prayer or prophesying….I don’t see where it is a command to wear a head covering at ‘all’ or ‘any’ other time IF this is strictly relating to apparel. And there, once again, Paul states that the woman’s ‘hair’ is her covering so why would added apparel/cloth be necessary.
I wonder if Paul is emphasizing that we must shun any resemblance in our ‘traditions’ to those of unbelievers?
Whew! LOL! I’ll do my best to answer, okay, keeping in mind that I don’t have all the answers.
Let’s talk about the Jewish custom for men to wear a kippah or tallit while praying. From my own research, the kippah didn’t become part of Orthodox tradition until the 2nd century (source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Kippah.html) I think that’s interesting because Christianity also started as a sect of Judaism (called “the Way” in the book of Acts and known in history as the Nazarim, or Nazarenes). All branches of Judaism follow certain rabbis and their teachings, and my “branch” follows Rabbi Yeshua and his disciples, including Paul. So “traditions” such as headcovering often identify us with our rabbis. Since Paul specifically says he was teaching a tradition he had received from Messiah (1 Cor. 11:1), I do not personally think his followers should wear a kippah, for all the reasons Paul gives in 1 Cor. 11. 🙂
Well, that was controversial!
You also mentioned that maybe Paul was referencing Pagan practices. I suppose that’s possible since he does this elsewhere in 1 Corinthians. However, since his comments keep referring back to statements in Genesis 1-3 of the Torah, it seems more to me like he was making an application of the Torah. However, I’m sure Paul would agree that we should avoid the traditions of unbelievers around us.
As for the hair being a covering, I don’t think hair can be a covering, because just as the man is to remove his covering to pray or prophesy (and it’s rather hard to take his hair off 🙂 ), how can a woman put her hair on for prayer and prophesying?
Furthermore, it can’t be a sin for a man to ever cover his head. Think of someone in winter conditions, or out in the dessert or hot sun, needing protection. In the same way also, it can’t be a sin for a woman to have her hair uncovered at times.
I think it’s a *symbol* of authority, so she needs it on often probably, as a symbol to herself and to others. In prayer, she needs to be covered, just as Eve was covered when Yehovah came to meet with them in the garden. In prophesying (or speaking the Word to edify, exhort, or comfort, 1 Cor. 14:3), she needs to be under the authority of her husband, so that she isn’t deceived or deceiving others. You’re right that it doesn’t make sense that we would need one 24/7, just as pajamas and comfy clothes around the house are just fine when we’re wanting to be casual. The only thing that gives me pause is the definition of “nakedness” in Isaiah 47:1-3. I’m not exactly sure how to apply this myself. I’m still praying about it, and I appreciate your comments.
And I would just add that the scripture that after Paul told us to cover when praying and prophecying in I Cor 11, he said to pray without ceasing in I Thess 5:16-18. If we are to cover when we pray and we are to pray without ceasing, then I better cover all the time! Just a thought. ☺️
My thoughts too!
According to 1Corinthians 11: 15, a woman’s hair is given to her for her covering and it is her glory .ThereforeI believe if her hair is cut short she should cover it until it grows out( growing out meaning as long as your hair grows naturally or you could use extensions)but I do not belive this verse calls for any type of cloth covering, unless you choose to do so in reverence.Also, long hair on a man is a effeminate disgrace in Our Lord God JEHOVAH’S eyes.
I personally covered for public worship when I was young, as it was still taught in our denomination. Then I moved away from it when I had persons in authority in the church telling me it was not relevant for today. Personally, I believe the newer commentators have misinterpreted this scripture for us. Gail Rip lingers you tube talks and her written material show us that there has been an attempt to change scripture, starting with the texts underlying scriptures, then moving to the resources we turn to define biblical terms etc.
The word for covering in this passage when referring to the hair and covering when referring to a physical covering are two different root words. Therefore it cannot follow that Paul is referring only to the women’s hair for her covering as I had personally been taught to believe. Also, in this chapter, Paul is writing telling them of the ordnances they are to follow, and this passage on head covering is sandwiched in-between two passages on the Lord’s super and communion, which we are not to abandon. We have not thrown out communion.
Until the turn of the century, this passage was always interpreted as a physical head covering. The more conservative Study Bibles still do ( the common man’s study Bible, the Geneva 1599 study bible, Dake’s annotated study bible). Most others have changed to the position that the head covering he is referring to is her hair and that it was simply a cultural thing, but based on the fact that two different root words are used, I don’t believe this is accurate. Is it possible the enemy wants to deceive us?
If this teaching protects us women ( we wear it to show our respect for God’s authority and our husbands and for our own protection, as the angels recognize it), Satan is definitely happy about us not following it today. It is not a popular teaching, especially in a culture so focused on beauty and the body. Let’s face it, it is hard to be different.
There are simple ways to follow this teaching, and I agree with Anne, that I see this as something that Paul was referring to public worship in the passage, but if we are to pray without ceasing and we cover to remind ourselves of God’s authority when I pray, then the 24/7 thing makes sense.
There are many ways that we can cover….there are little boho bandanas, there are fascinators, and hats. So, we can find a way to follow through on this in a way we are comfortable with. I personally do believe this teaching is still for today. I started headcovering 24/7 again last week, and each time I put something on my head whether a scarf or a hat, it is reminding me of my husbands authority and it is reminding me of God’s authority in my life. This is a reminder I need as I think many women struggle to usurp this God given authority, by being in control with our husbands and in church situations.
Is there a scripture reference that long hair is a disgrace in the LORD’s eyes? I’m just wondering how that reconciles with the nazarite vow of Numbers 6 where neither the man nor woman is to cut their hair until their vow is complete… and with Samson who was commanded to never let his hair be cut because he was a Nazarite. In fact, it was in the cutting of his hair that the LORD “left” him.
This is a very good video to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4veA7w2uQE It’s brief, to the point and correct. Everyone needs to go the Greek root word to find out what Rav Sha’ul was truly talking about and not rely on the interpreters translation. An interlinear bible and concordance does the trick. Sha’ul was absolutely talking about a physical headcovering and not the hair and this short video explains it. As for the “not wearing it all the time” issue, why wouldn’t a woman do so. I talk to God so often during the day, it would be a nuisance to keep on covering and uncovering….? Thank-you to the writer of this article, very well written!
Hi sis. I so enjoyed your thorough research . Excellent
I agree
I agree with you. I have been concerned about this because frankly I just see the covering outside of prayer and prophesying as another way of controlling women.
The word translated “cover” in regard to men is mistranslated, it should say “veil”. Men are to cover their heads as all born-again men are Priests after the order of Melchizedek and priest cover their heads.
If one desires to wear a headcovering, that is fine there is no command in the Torah to do so. Implied B’rit Chdasha commandments can not stand equal to Torah commands. It’s either in the Torah or it is not, and I do not see it there.
Oh my goodness, Anne. Your insight never ceases to amaze me, really! As you already know, I’ve been covering for almost 2 months now and am still reading and asking YHWH for His divine revelation on this. I am so blessed by reading this today, so timely and encouraging. THANK YOU, dear sister!
A great resource is www,headcoveringmovement.com Remember head covering could be a hat, a fascinator, or headband of sorts, a scarf , a kippah or veil.
He made mankind in the image of God according to his likeness, not male persons. If male was indicated, a different word would have been used. Make no mistake, male and female were make in the image of God, according to his likeness. If not, we’d have to revisit Gal 3:23, for example. God created through Jesus, and in him there is neither male nor female.
Wow what a topic. Yes indeed, a very controversial subject. I have been looking into this for the past 10 years. I have heard this debate before, time and time again and to be honest, nothing so far has convicted me one way or the other.
Paul seems to make statements that fly in the face of Torah, and most of us know that our translations are full of biases.
We have no idea what the original questions were that paul was writing about. And as you mentioned Anne, even Peter says that Paul’s letters are hard to understand. This is one section that I find downright confusing. not just hard ? and
For the most part, we still look at the scriptures through our greek western mindsets. It will take our lifetime to renew our minds.
Yes, we want to be women who walk in obedience to Yahweh, we want our lives to bring glory to Him. I am sure that as we stay yoked to Him through Yeshua , all things will become clearer in the right timing.
There are 2 verses that are comforting through this part of our journey. …phil 2:12 and rms 14:5
May Yahweh bless us all with wisdom and insight. Much shalom ♡ and thank you Anne for your wonderful sharing ❤ x0x
One thing to consider in almost all previous centuries Christian women head covered in all cultures. Look at the art work and you will see covering. Look at our western culture where it was still a practice for women to wear a hat or veil in church until about 30 years ago. Most women in the past centuries in other cultures were not nearly all approaching this with a Greek Western mind. I personally think it is possible that our Greek Western mind that doesn’t want to follow this that makes us explain it away, in a culture so obsessed with beauty. Look at the root words for covering, there are different root words for covering when referring to the hair and covering when referring to covering the head in public worship. I don’t want to miss out on the blessing of being obedient to him, because I don’t completely understand it or it is not widely followed by others.
Upon further reflection. this has certainty provoked me to re open my thoughts. ?
I have been pondering on the fact that Yahweh is using the “hunters ” those ruthless people of the desert to bring judgment.
The world at large is so full of immorality, not to mention what is happening in the so called “church “. Woman flaunt their nakedness, ………so the judgment of Yah will force them to cover up under the “laws” of the desert people – selah!
Soooo, my thoughts are. is this also a means of judgment on us…..we won’t wear a head covering so the end result is that we may be forced to? ?????
These are the ramblings of an older woman,☺ but I would be interested to hear from you Anne on your thoughts on this? And if anyone else. has had thoughts like these?
Like us all. I want to be convinced in my own mind (phil 2:12), because it is not clearly laid out in Torah .
Much shalom ♡
sorry for they typo, should be Gal 3:28
Shalom lovely lady. I have learned so much from you and the Torah. God is working on me to cast off old teaching that is not from God but from men. I now have to learn how to put on the scarf.!
This was very refreshing and encouraging. Thank you, Anne!
Thanks Anne, for yet another insightful post! the Isaiah verse also touches on another “controversial” point, modesty, and what God calls nakedness….(gasp) 🙂
That said, I wanted to add that, the head covering cannot be hair, as Paul in 1cor11:14 says, paraphrased:
“After all I have just said as to the reasons for a woman to cover her head in the spritual context of praying and prophesying…. Doesn’t even nature show that a female’s head is covered by God in the natural by hair. So the same principle of covering the head should be done spiritually.”
He is saying that an additional covering should be used in this context. Just like hair is used in the natural context. That is why as nature teaches that it is a shame for a man to have long hair. So it is a shame for him to take on a spiritual covering. His head should be uncovered, just in the same way as in the natural (his head should be uncovered by not having long hair).
He makes the same comparison in vs 5. Where he said if a women doesn’t cover her head, its even the same AS IF, she was shorn. And that in fact (vs6) if she wont cover, let her shorn her head! (Which indicates that there is hair there in the first place, so that cannot be the covering he is talking about)…. He goes on to say, if (paraphrased) there will be an objection!because its a shame for the hair to be shorn or shaved, then let her wear a covering. As not wearing a covering is the same symbolically as if one was shorn or shaved! It carries the same shame…. so solution is.. cover the head (which by extension covers the hair aswell)
Hoping my explanation is not hard to follow! 🙂
Every Blessings in Christ
Clare
Thank you! Very clear! 🙂
Clear and spot on.
Headcoverings are not commanded in Torah or the Prophets. That is Paul’s own gospel , as are other things. We can’t prove truth by quoting Paul with Paul as people often do.
If I can’t find it anywhere in scripture ( Paul is not scripture) then no.
I’ve covered off and on over the years, and it seems that it always comes back to “pray without ceasing.” If we are to cover our heads when we pray AND we are to pray without ceasing, then I can’t ever take my cover off, not with four sons (teenage and above, and heaven knows they get worse rather than better). As a quick illustration: I have three volunteer firefighters, and when I drop the two younger ones off for calls or firehouse night or whatever, I usually am praying most of the way home. I was praying one evening as I was driving back to the house, and I said, “this is probably where I should have my cover on, right?” 😉
Not wearing it is a total heart issue for me. I don’t WANT to wear one. I don’t LIKE the ones I have. I am mad at the boys so WHY should I pray for them today? It is positively amazing how rebellious (and without restraint) you can be when you want to be! Maybe that’s why I’ve been avoiding them like the plague lately, ’cause I don’t WANT to be obedient. My teenagers don’t have to be, so why does their mother??? Hmmm, maybe that’s precisely why I need to.
As someone pointed out to me not long ago, it doesn’t matter to some of us whether or not headcovering is “Biblically ordered.” For some of us, God has clearly put the need and guidance directly on our hearts to be covered–believe me, you don’t miss it when he tells you to do it. Following through and being obedient? Well that’s the whole issue, isn’t it?
I want very much to be that wonderful woman of God who gets up, puts on her cover, reads her Bible and prays over her family, and then walks joyfully down stairs to tend my home. I’ve asked God time after time why it seems to be so hard for me to just do the simplest things–wear my cover and read my Bible, for instance. (I sorta figure the rest will follow.) But morning after morning, I get up and go down stairs, head bare, and then I have a long list of excuses why I can’t go back up “right now”. Like, right now. Instead of responding to this, I could take five seconds (literally) to run up and grab one and put it on. But it’s so much easier to pretend I’m busy.
The devil has my number. He knows he can trip me up when I crawl blearily out of bed in the morning if I forget to put my cover on right away. “Coffee’s downstairs. Did you remember to…” And all my brilliant plans go out the window as I rush into the day. And when I realize I’ve forgotten again, I toss the whole day ’cause I’ve blown the first two hours! It’s ridiculous, and I need to find a way to get ahead of him.
I know this has gotten rambling, and I’m sorry. I wanted to make the point that “just because it’s NOT in the Bible” (or even if it is), there are those of us who cover because God wants us to. I wonder sometimes if other women who cover for this reason are as rebellious and disobedient at heart as I am and, if so, that would make sense. It gives us a tangible object to remember whose we are. When I am under my cover, it’s very hard to have a rebellious spirit!
One last thing–I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all your hard work on the Biblical feasts and whatnot. That’s the other area I’ve been feeling drawn strongly to for a long while now, but I had no idea how to study them. I cannot wait to dig into your ebook and learn some more! Thanks so much!
Dearest Stacey, I am blown away by your response to Anne’s post! Really! You said it better (and most honestly, quite frankly) than I ever could, and I know that YHWH is using you to speak encouragement to many of us on this journey. It’s so interesting to see the amount of time and effort many women (and men, too) put into arguing about this, when really it’s a heart issue. Isn’t that how YHWH works, though? He may ask us to do something the He knows is uncomfortable for us, but really it’s not about that at all. He’s reaching into the depths of our hearts and wants to remove the gunk that has been there way too long. I love Him, and I’m so thankful to read your story today. Shalom, dear sister! 🙂
I too am blown away and I literally feel like I could write this post myself. There is a reason yah brought my heart and mind to covering. I agree wholeheartedly! And yes, I too have a rebel heart but an absolute fire for God!
Don’t we all wrestle with obedience? I think the enemy wants to put in our minds all the things we could be doing, and then all those reasons why we shouldn’t and rationale that if we missed it a few hours, why do it the rest of the day. It is just not easy to follow the head covering thing, unless we just view it as an obedience thing. Then this idea of not wanting to follow it does reveal to us our heart issues that need to be dealt with. So like God. He definitely doesn’t want us to be using this, does he? If it is so hard to wrestle with, it makes me wonder why he would go to so much trouble to undermine the traditional teaching of head covering that was there in all Christian churches until this last century. The key for me is it says a women should cover her head because of the angels. The head covering I believe must serve in the spiritual realm as a protection to us. Thank you for providing that to us Jeshua
Well said, Brenda! I wholeheartedly agree. 🙂
YES!!!! I have always been rebellious!!!!! Whether it was with following rules, my parents or God. Who knew that simply putting on a headcovering could help control me. Well God did of course! And can you believe that I still try to not do it?! I push the envelope. I myself in awkward situations will wear a ball cap, but I feel as though that tje reasonings behind it are to hide the fact I am called to be set apart. Lots of people wear ball caps. Lol. He knows my reasoning for it, I think that’s why I feel convicted wearing them. When I wear a scarf, I seem to walk more with him..because I do pray more. Whether it is from the anxiety of looking different, or worried about what people are going to say. I’m such a people pleaser!! I talk to other people from different countries and a lot of Christians wear them, I also love to think about how many women in the past used to wear them, I love history and it makes me feel connected. 🙂 sorry for the typos, my phone is cracked. Thanks for this article!!
Yes!! I am VERY rebellious. Covering does help me remember who’s authority I am under. And believe me, there are days I still fight it!!
This is why I read the comments. The article was well written, and I really enjoyed reading it. But, this comment really hit home. For years I have felt that I am in rebellion by not covering my head. I understand the scripture, old and new, to say we should be covered.
I could have written this comment. Thank you for letting me know I am not the only one who is struggling with this heart issue, and ultimately, struggling in submission to my creator.
I too am mad at the boys and have been deeply hurt. I also have a great fear of rejection. It seems my walk in Torah has completely alienated me from everyone. I have no family, except my children, and my church friends pushed me out the door and never looked back. I know we are to be set apart, but sometimes I fear it.
I was convicted about head coverings pre-Torah. I read it over, looked at the Greek words for covering (hair vs. head ) and saw they were different words and if they were the same, the text simply would not make sense as others have pointed out. And since Paul laid out spiritual (not cultural) reasons for covering, I knew it was applicable for all times and places. So I was fully convinced, but…I still didn’t do it.
I had several ‘reasons why’ (aka excuses). Maybe some of you ladies can relate?
1) I was afraid my husband would not be pleased and I didn’t want to be an embarrassment to him
2) I was afraid of what the people at church would think
3) I didn’t know what to cover with and didn’t have money to buy anything
4) I didn’t want to look weird or draw attention to myself.
All my excuses revealed a few things about my heart.
1) I put my husband above my Father
2) I feared man more than Elohim
3) I didn’t trust He would provide for my needs
4) I was prideful and vain about my appearance.
Ouch!
But years later, when He brought me to my knees, I began to obey and have been blessed. Since following this, YHWH has blessed me with more insight to my spiritual condition and His Word. He made me more aware of my dress and conduct. I quickly realized that I was not dressing very modestly and also that I had some work to do in the area of submission to Him and my husband.
And He was even so gracious as to provide some pretty and inexpensive scarves and hats.
When he gives us a little light and we obey it, it seems He reveals more.
Thank you for this article and encouragement:)
Wow! Marie this sounds so much like my walk! I started covering after exhaustive research and a heart pulling from the Father. It. Just. Wouldn’t. Go. Away! Eventually I stopped making excuses and decided to take His Scriptures, all the Scriptures, as His divinely inspired, Yah breathed word. What a door was opened. Not only was I blessed with a stronger prayer life, a closer relationship with my husband, boldness in my walk but… My eyes were opened to Torah. If I could take the Father at His word for the end of the Book, surely I could follow the Beginning as well. And suddenly… obedience meant something new. Obedience became a way of life and of gratitude to my God and my Savior. What a beautiful thing. Thanks for your share.
Hi Gretchen, Ah, so neat how similar different details of our walk with Messiah into an understanding of His Torah are! And what a blessing it is when we chose to walk in obedience and find unexpected blessing in doing so! Yes, beautiful is the perfect word for it! Thank you for sharing also:) Shalom!
P.S, This is the same Marie, I just noticed there is actually another ‘Marie’ that has comments on Anne’s blogs, so I figured I should go by Marie B. to avoid confusion!
LITV 1Co 11:10 because of this, the woman ought to have authority on the head, because of the angels.
What you are doing is using a translation that adds words to the text according to their understanding of what Paul is saying, but the Greek does not have “a symbol of” that is a human addition.
What Paul is really writing is that a woman can choose what to do in the 1st century, whether she should do the “head thing” or not, as she has authority over her own physical head. If a woman in the 1st century can choose to use a head covering or not, how much more is this true in the 21st century.
I know that this post was from quite awhile ago, but I just wanted to leave this link here. This is a very well written paper with a lot of research citations. I know this wasn’t written to specifically address this issue, but this article really brought me peace and understanding about what Paul was really trying to say in this passage. It gives wonderful Hebraic insight into the background thoughts of Paul and links it back to the Torah. I am not trying to bring this up to bring controversy just to help with increasing our understanding. I believe this is one of those things that whether you cover or you don’t as long as you are completely convinced in your own mind that you are doing the will of the Father that is all that matters. This is the document https://www.torahresource.com/EnglishArticles/1Cor11_Kippah_Final.pdf
I really liked reading your blog! This has been on my heart for some time. Questions though:
Where in the Torah does it reference the head covering for women praying and where does it say that if you’re married you should wear a sign/ covering on your head? I’d like to reference and reconcile with 1 Corinth 11. Thank you!
Great questions… but I can’t answer! I sometimes feel like we’re hearing half of a conversation Paul was having with his first-century friends, but we don’t know what they were asking either. I can only go on the arguments he has in this chapter, and the only section in the Torah that it references is Genesis 1 and 2. So we just do our best! 🙂 Because I view Paul’s writings as Scripture, and because he upholds the Torah in his writings and uses it to defend what he taught, I wear a headcovering. (((hugs)))
I know this is an old post. I read all of it but yet I saw no reference as yo where the lord commanded womwn to cover themselves on mans preference. When Adam and Eve covered their nakedness Eve did not cover her head nor did the lord when he made tbem cloths out of animal skin. Head covering was a preference of specific men and became a practice. The lord did not order this which is why it is up for so much debate.
Beautifully put! Thank you for this sister. I am now very interested to read more of your blog! You have a gift. Praises to the King!
Wow. Praise Yah. What a lovely topic on head coverings. I will share this with my Wife as we are trying to follow the Torah that Yeshua instituted from the beginning! make us your Dwelling place Oh YHWH.
An old post, but so interesting! Here’s my question: I am willing to wear a head covering, but my husband says that I look ‘goofy’ in hats, scarves, headbands, etc. He says “That’s O.T. You’re just going to look strange and draw attention to yourself.” So, there you have it! Comments? suggestions?
Not all of you should be teachers…
Adam in Hebrew means mankind – male and female He created THEM. Easy to skim over that?
Sin is transgression of Torah. YHVH saw the importance to tell us things that seem like they would be understood by those coming out of Egypt as well as us today (what to do regarding bodily discharges, who you are allowed to have sexual relations or not and to wear tzitzit so that we remember to keep His Torah) but somehow didn’t give clear command for a woman to cover her head to honor her husband? I must be missing something.
In all seriousness, some are accused of twisting scripture, but that’s what I see in this article. Forcing certain scriptures to “mean” women should wear a headcovering to align with Paul. I see this no differently than the pharisees commanding people to wash their hands. Cultures have different dress and that’s the bottom line.
If my Father instructed me to do something, I will do it. There is no command in Torah to cover ones head. If you are convicted or have a desire to so, do it. However, to say with all certainty this is commanded in Torah and women should be subjected to your understanding is dangerous.
I have covered off and on over the years since meeting a dear friend in the Church of Christ who covered. She was the only one. I covered as well for a bit, but it was a back and forth journey. I quit until a month ago when I studied the topic again. Scriptures do not specify the covering only in public. I looked and looked and I don’t see it. It says when a woman prays and prophesies. In my thoughts, if I am always praying, or if I do not know when I may pray, should I not make sure I am always equipped to be in prayer? That was the biggest move toward this. Is it an inconvenience? Maybe, just a bit…especially when those layers of fabric press my glasses and hurt my ears, but it is not burdensome. You found the very same scriptures I did. You pointed out the very same conclusions I came to.
Anne,
I having been covering for a couple of years now, and I believe that Scripture supports it. Besides, my husband asks this of me, so I will do it if only in submission to his askance.
In Torah, we are also commanded not to mix fabric. I have been sewing clothing for myself and my family in order to follow this commandment. However, I have had the most difficult time finding headcoverings/scarves/fabric that are not mixed with synthetics, or other fibers. Do you take this into consideration for your own coverings? If so, any idea what works best, or where to purchase coverings that are of natural fibers?
Hello Heather,
Torah commands that we do not mix linen and wool. Saying “mixed fabrics” is the translators doing.
Hello Anne,
Your posts are so wonderfully written, thank you!
I am curious what your thoughts are on unmarried women wearing head coverings?
My study and research has brought me to the tentative conclusion that a woman should start covering once she is no longer “of the age of innocence”, since Tamar covered her head after she was violated (2 Samuel 13:19).
Although,
Rebekah had a veil on before getting married to Isaac. But that could be because she was technically engaged at that time?
&
I do not see any indication that Mary, who had the perfume and wiped Yeshua’s feet with her tears, had a covering on.
It does seem like clothing is a way to communicate throughout the bible (praise the Lord for not being a God of Confusion!). There is clothing for men and women, but we also see that people use sackcloth and ashes when mourning, and Judah’s daughter in law, Tamar, wore Widows garments (Gen. 38:14).
As a 30 year old woman, I feel caught in between and uncertain as to how I should dress. Thank you for your thoughts regarding the matter! *Hugs*