Daily Bread

On Covering the Head in Worship

² I praise you^(A) for remembering me in everything^(B) and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.^{(C) 3} But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,^(D) and the head of the woman is man,^[a](E) and the head of Christ is God.^{(F) 4} Every man who prays or prophesies^(G) with his head covered dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies^(H) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.^{(I) 6} For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

⁷ A man ought not to cover his head,^[b] since he is the image^(J) and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;^{(K) 9} neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.^{(L) 10} It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own^[c] head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. ¹² For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.^(M)

¹³ Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, ¹⁵ but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.^(N)