Head Covering - Context To The Passage

[pitbull]

I. CONTEXT TO THE PASSAGE

What Does This Verse Mean In Context To The Passage That It Is Found?
3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6For 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.
7For 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.
8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:3-16

This passage is dealing with male/female relationships, especially within the context of worship. The next part of the same passage deals with the rules and regulations pertaining to the Lord¡¦s Supper.

Context Of The Original Greek:
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
ƒÆ The Greek word for covered used in 1 Corinthians 11:4 is katav. The definition is ¡§down from, through out; according to, toward, along¡¨.

6For 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.
7For 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.
ƒÆ The Greek word for covered used in 1 Corinthians 11:6, 7 is katakaluvptw. The definition is ¡§to cover up; to veil or cover one's self¡¨.

15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
ƒÆ The Greek word for covering used in 1 Corinthians 11:15 is peribovlaion. The definition is ¡§a covering thrown around, a wrapper; a mantle; a veil¡¨.

When attempting to say that this only refers to long hair, attempt to put the word hair in each location that the word ¡§covering¡¨ or ¡§covered] is used.
3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head unHAIRED dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6For if the woman be not WITH HAIR, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be WITH HAIR.
7For 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.
8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God unHAIRED?
14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:3-16

It doesn¡¦t make any sense to try to impose upon this passage that the only form of covering being mentioned is the long hair. Hence besides the covering of long hair in verse 15, there is another covering being mentioned in this passage and it is to be worn. Otherwise, the passage does not make any sense.

Another thing that needs to be considered is the three glories mentioned in this passage.
1. In verse 7, man is the glory of God. God¡¦s glory is never to be concealed or covered. Man is supposed to be the representation of the glory of God. As a sign of submission to this, man is not supposed to wear a covering while praying or preaching.
2. In verse 7, woman is the glory of man. Man¡¦s glory is not to be revealed or promoted. Instead, it is to be covered. That is why the long hair is given to a woman ¡V to cover man¡¦s glory. It is sign of submission, not inferiority, to the authority of the man.
3. In verse 15, a woman¡¦s glory is her hair. Just as man¡¦s glory is not to be revealed or promoted, neither is a woman¡¦s. Hence, this is one of the reasons given for a woman to wear a covering over her hair.

This corresponds with the headship/authority taught in Ephesians 5:21-33.

Also, this is used by God as an object lesson for the angels, as mentioned in verse 10.
Į For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
This demonstrates for the angels the proper authority hierarchy is being obeyed and is a rebuke to the angels [i.e. demons/devils] that did not submit to the proper authority of God. This is a great honor that God would use us to teach a lesson to the angels.