I have come across your website while looking into the whole matter of head covering, which seems to have equally persuasive arguments both for and against it. I’ve found your explanation to be very interesting and thought-provoking. Personally, at this point, I believe it is a matter of what God is speaking to a woman about covering or not and certainly not a salvation issue. And right now God is speaking to me about it and I’m trying to discern just what He is saying.

In my study of this matter, I decided it was important to know just what ‘head’ Paul is talking about. I had a difficult time reasoning from your explanation that ‘head’ is meant figuratively when it comes to covering because according to my Strong’s Concordance, the same Greek word for head is used for each instance of head in vs 3-10: 2776, kephale, which is literally or figuratively ‘head’. So, if you can translate head either literally OR figuratively, how does one know which use of head is meant in each instance? If you replace head with authority, it makes sense in many places, but there are several places where that makes no sense at all. If someone can translate head to mean a literal or figurative head any way they wish, it seems they can make this passage fit either argument.

Also, in searching Strong’s regarding cover, as in vs 7 and also covered in vs 6, the Greek word there means “to cover wholly, i.e. veil: cover, hide”; and covering in vs 15 it means “something thrown around one, i.e. a mantle, veil: covering, vesture”…(vesture means clothing, apparel, something that covers or cloaks.) This would lead me to believe Paul is actually referring to something that literally covers the head, such as a cloth. Covered, in vs 4…I did not understand the entry in Strong’s for that one, but found it interesting that it “frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.” Certainly there is opposition to this, and both sides can present equally intense arguments for their respective cases!

I’m really not trying to be difficult here, only trying to understand what God’s Word says. I’m no biblical scholar, and the Strong’s is a new tool for me so I am learning how to use it. Can you enlighten me on how you (or anyone for that matter) decide when head is literal and when it is figurative in this passage? Also, can you provide insight on the Greek translations of the various forms of cover used, such as how a form of cover that means a literal piece of clothing or apparel is interchangeable with a woman’s hair, which is a part of her physical body? Thank you so much for writing this, and for any insight you can give me on this matter. I only desire to follow God’s leading, and He seems to be leading me to cover, at least for a season. I don’t understand why, other than perhaps to help me learn more about submission, but if this is truly what He wants me to do, I want to be obedient. This is a personal matter for me, not one that is being forced upon me by my husband or church.

The paramount is love. Love builds, knowledge puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). I may know the truth about covering of head, and in turn condemn a fellow brother/sister who believes that one should use a physical veil. Paul’s instruction in 1 Cor 8-10 and Romans 14 gives us the right attitude to such menial issues: one person believes it is physical head covering, another believes its not. But how do things change if you wear a veil? (Not that I believe in wearing a physical veil)

My mother, though she knows the truth about “head” covering. When she’s in a group that believes that women should cover their head with a veil, she does so. Because whats more important is love.

Thanks again for your comment.

Sidharth

So, if we do anything before God in honor to Him, is good. I want to always keep in true doctrinal message. Sid, you have. Yes ,we can debate whether these verses are refering to the married or nonmarried, But in the end, we must always , as you words led me to believe you are, keep focused on solid doctrinal truths.

Again let me make it very clear to you…the passage in 1 Cor 11 is not referring to women in general, but a husband-wife relationship.

You asked me who a single woman should be submissive to, and I explained in my previous comment that that is not the focus in this passage. However, if the single woman is under some authority she should be submissive to it. The same applies to men who are under some authority.

Paul in this passage, however, is not dealing with single women or men. He has focused his instructions on husbands and wives.

I think it is wise not to deviate from it for the time being.

Sidharth

I’m not intentionally being picky here, but the point in your post was about the woman being submissive to her husband which equates covering her head (with his authority) as she is under the lordship of her husband.

That’s where I have an issue reconciling your explanation on the head covering with its application across the board for all women in the Corinthian church.

Shalom Aleichem.

The Corinthian Church was a Church known for lack of order. Paul’s main concern in this mail was to restore order to the church [the church was divided over many issues- leaders, minor doctrinal issues, authorities, the Lord's supper, the use of spiritual gifts, resurrection etc.].

So our concern is not who is above a single woman. It could be her father or mother, it could be her uncle or aunt or her Rabbi, that’s not the issue. The issue is, whoever is above her, she should be submissive to them.

Sidharth

It’s insignificant to know if Jesus had long hair or not, but I’m under the impression He didn’t. He was not a Nazarite since He did not go by the Nazarite vow of not drinking wine, vinegar or touching a corpse.

Sidharth