Ladies' Hair In Church

1Co 11:5, 10 ~~ "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 this cause
ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."

I've often wondered about the verses above: does it matter at all that Christian women wear
headdresses/coverings (like scarf or something of the sort) in church? Most people say the hair
is the covering; others contend that it is not the hair that is the covering and therefore they
should wear headdress or scarves. Oyibo churches and liberalism aside, what do serious Christian
ladies think about this?

    I really appreciate your answers. It's just that I wonder
if the HAIR is the covering for the HEAD (or scalp) according to I Cor. 11.

If that's the case, then maybe the men have been disobeying for ages,
because it clearly says that the men should not cover their head:

1Co 11:7 ~~ "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."

Em, . . . should we then ask our men to obey by removing their 'covering' -
because if the HAIR is the covering, then they should not cover.
Translation: "gori-makpa"??

Considering that a woman's head is her husband, it seems the passage is referring to married women.

The passage talks about praying, not going to church. We pray at home, on the road, in the bathroom, at all times. If you say we should wear headcovers, then we must put it on at all times. Plus, I believe that the covering isn't using hats and other kinds of headgears that leave parts of the hair showing. It would have to be like the muslim women use. No strand of hair should show, and it should be at all times not just to church.


When I was in the boarding house, we girls were on low-cut, and the principal allowed us go to church like that since we were "shaven". I don't cover my hair because I don't like it, and I don't think the church is sincere about it. They bring white women to preach with their heads uncovered, but they expect me to cover mine because i'm black. I don't like that.

Idollier, most people don't fully cover the hair and I believe that's what the bible must have been referring to. most of the time, people cover just the top of their heads.

also, except u cover ur head all day long, there's no how u can cover ur head everytime u pray. there are times, maybe on ur way to work, that u're faced with a difficult situation or u just feel like talking to God. do u start looking for a scarf first?

Hmmm. I really appreciate the latest replies. To cover, or not to cover?
And then how to cover - some parts, everything, and at all times, or
sometimes.

The way I see it: (a) the women are to cover ~ I Cor. 11:6
                          (b) the men are not to cover ~ I Cor. 11:7

Now if HAIR is the material for covering the HEAD, then the men who
have been standing in our pulpits with hair (especially jerrycurls) are
the ones disobeying that scripture  . I suggest they visit the
barbers kia-kia!

Okay, someone drew me by the collar and pointed out verse 14 ~
"Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair,
it is a shame unto him?"

Em. . . fine then. American liberal pastors, take heed! 
(especially those who promote the "new wave" rock n' roll kini).

I digressed. Seriously, there is a reason why the apostle would have
devoted a page to that concern. If it were not such a big deal, I don't
think it would have merited the several verses it did.

Uhm. . . donnie, I have a few things in regards to your input. You seem to have
done the same thing you cautioned idollier not to do - preach tradition. I wouldn't
think that Paul was referring to Eastern women or Muslims in stating what he did
in 1 Cor. 11. People are not all agreed as to what the interpretations are in the
verses, and then the apotle discouraged contentions that may brew from such
(verse 16).

I believe that the apostle had the whole church in mind when penning those
verses, because he had said that he applied the same teaching in every place
and every church where he ministered (1 Cor. 4:17). The matter of head covering
should be no different and applicable to us as well.

Therefore, I'm seeking the understanding of believers about this issue and have
outlined it thus:

     (a) if the HAIR is the material for covering and not 'a piece of cloth',
          - - then men should have no hair on their head:
              "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head" (vs. 7).

    (b) if a HEADDRESS is in view and not the hair as the covering material
          - - then men should not have a headdress; while the women should:
              "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head
               because of the angels" (verse 10).

It then follows through with food for thought in verse 13: "Judge in yourselves:
is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?"

The big question then is: what is the covering? Some say it is the hair in
allusion to verse 15 - "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her
hair is given her for a covering." If we take only this verse as proof text for the
woman not to have a HEADDRESS on her head, then we are ignoring the other
verses. The apostle says unequivocally:

"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" (verse 6).

Now picture this: my fiancée has short hair and loves God. She wouldn't like to
be shorn or shaven, so what she should do? The text says, "let her be covered."
Does that mean she should immediately grow long hair, or it means she should
be covered with a HEADDRESS, reason being for the sake of the angels (v. 10)?
Remember also that, the man is to have no covering (v. 7).

What I think is that when you consider the religious culture of the Corinthians
you're most likely to find men wearing HEADDRESS (Jewish caps for the men),
and women less likely to do so. It's not too difficult today - look at the Jews in
Israel today - you see the men with their hats and caps. That is one reason
why I believe that the apostle Paul was laying the foundation that men ought
not to cover their heads, as many Jewish men among them did. Yes, there were
Jewish converts among the Corinthians, and Paul noted that quite well (see
Acts 18:1-5 & 8 ). Today, we have expressions of Christianity where male
ministers wear HEADDRESS - like the Catholics, as a prime example. That is
what I am persuaded to believe that the apostle was referring - men ought
not to wear hats and caps while praying to God. So, hair is not what Paul was
focusing on as the covering for either men or women.

I'm quizzed anytime I visit some churches who have no qualms with women
having no head covering in church, and then in prayer the minister would be
very concerned that "the men should please take off their hats and caps".
That's sheer inbalance - because them women should wear them when the
men take them off - that's what the Bible says. I've a few friends who are
rascally: they quite often go to church with hoods and face caps. One of them
has a reason for wearing his hats - he's fast becoming bald and has his eyes
on the babes. But you know that's not a good enough reason to do so.

In any case, in the spirit of 1 Cor. 11: 16, I've no right to force my views on any
believer, and hope that by sharing the above, some might be helped. I believe
idollier has very good reasons in her inputs for what she does; and GL as well.
But it wouldn't seem to me that Paul had the Eastern culture of women in any
connection to Muslim women who did not even exist in his day.

whether the passage is adressing women from east or not, it did not say so. But remember that women from africa do cover their heads too. so no one should tell me that it is justifiable that christians here in africa will not cover their heads in prayer like their european or american counterparts.



after reading some views here it amazed me how people interpret  the Bible to suit their needs but at the same time attack other people of different denomination when they don't agree with their own version of interpretations on ther issues still from the Bible.
If the catholics were the ones not covering their heads, i know that it must be a some real issue with pentecostals. and this forum must have been filled with such antagonisms.

Hair covered or not - the prayers will still be answered. He doesn't look at our outsides so it can't be that important to God

Covering hair or not is is all about religion, there's a difference between having a relationship with your God and religion, for me it doesn't matter whether you cover your hair or you don't even have a head! its whats on the inside that counts, I mean how many people observe the Sabbath, isn't that in the bible? Know your God and hold on tight! 

@Shagari,

How do you ”hold on tight" to God if you have no interest in what
He says? It may not suit you at all to know Him through His word,
but your comments have not helped address the topic. Yes, it’s very
important to God, otherwise it would not appear in His word.

@Rev.,

It’s okay for you to pick offence in issues that shouldn’t be such
a bother to you, because more often than not your reactions put
you on spot. Don’t you think your advice is best suited to you –
“live and let live”? Why should this topic be offensive/annoying
to you if you don’t believe in the Bible anyway?

Shagari, what has sabbath got to do with the present topic? And
how do you get "the Word" if not from the "Book"? The whole
essence and basis of Christ's teaching is that you obey what He
has commanded - and that includes what the apostles taught. At
least, I know that if a woman does not cover her head in church,
she is dishonouring her head - which is precisely what the apostle
taught in I Cor. 11:5.

Shagari2, you are the politician by skillfully dodging my question:

       "What has sabbath got to do with the present topic?"

As soon as you let me know about that, I guarantee you I'll
answer your question.

The present topic is referenced on I Corinthians 11:1-16, and if
you find the subject of sabbath there, let me know. If you want
to discuss the sabbath, you can do either of two things:

     (a) post your concerns on any one of the existing threads       
      on Sabbath concerns, and I'D be glad to meet you there
      (for easy reference, click on the following links):

        The Sabbath - What day is this?

        What Is The Right Day To Go To Church: Saturday or Sunday?

    (b) or, you can open a new thread if you so wish, and I'D be
     equally glad to meet you there with any other question you
     may have.

I'm not a politician nor am I dodging your question, but I simply don't
have the interest of losing focus on the present topic and therefore
don't want it to degenerate into something else. This is about Ladies'
Hair In Church, and it stays that way, thank you.

As it turns out, when you've lost steam and can't face your own
issues, reason gives way to rascality. I didn't expect anything
better from you, and I've always made it my aim to iggy any and
all invectives - from politician to pharisee - and instead, keep to
a present topic. Welcome back anytime if you care.

@elampiro, I 'preciate your food for thought and understand that women
are not to teach or be leading speakers in church (which is different from
the general understanding of 'talking' or saying something in church).  At
least, they're not denied praying, singing and even teaching other women
and taking other leadership roles like what we call Sunday School classes,
I suppose. But I'm also of the view that God's concern for covering and/or
exposing the head is directed to both men and women.

It's significant that all twelve apostles chosen were men, but it is quite a
remarkable thing to note that there were many women of faith who were
mightily used of God in the Church. We can praise Him for the examples
we read of in His Word and hope that many of us would find grace to
apply ourselves to everything He says.

TV01, yes I indeed agree with elampiro.

Okay, I hear you. Question: so what happens when someone who does not
cover head goes to church with their mind filled with evil - does that matter?

I'm amused with the view that some things "don't matter" when they are as
clearly stated in God's Word in black and white. If they never mattered, can
someone please explain why the inspired apostle dealt with the issue in his
epistle to the Corinthians? So, he probably must have been joking to ask in
verse 13 of that chapter -

"Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?"

Or, what was he all about when earlier he said -

"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." [verse 6].

If one doesn't matter (covering or not covering the head), then other should
not matter (a mind filled with evil). If the latter matters, then the former does
as well. QED.