4149 — Covering for the Head
Ought a woman to have a special cover on her head when she prays? Please explain 1 Cor. 11:4-16. Many Dunkards would like to have this explained, for they wear a cap which they call a spiritual covering. If we could understand all about the outside customs which existed in the days of the apostle, it would make some of these instructions which he gives us much clearer. There were certain fashions among the idolaters, and the Lord did not want His people to pattern after idolaters. There was not that variety among His children that exists at the present time. Man, He tells us, ought to pray or prophesy with his head uncovered, but the woman ought to have her head covered. But He tells us in the 14th and 15th verses that while it is a shame for a man to have long hair, it is a glory for a woman to have long hair, for that hair is given her for a covering. So it would seem that if a woman had long hair, that of itself would be sufficient. Bengel says that “man should wear no covering, while the woman should wear a covering, because Christ, to whom the man is subject, is not seen, while the man, for whom the woman has regard, is seen. So the covering of him who is under Christ is not seen, and of her who is under the man is seen.” The thought is that in being uncovered, she acts against the divine ordinance and the “modest propriety that becomes her. Moreover, as the head covering was the emblem of maiden modesty before man (Gen. 24:65) and conjugal chastity (Gen. 20:16), so, to uncover the head indicated withdrawal from the power of the husband, whence a suspected wife had her head uncovered by the priest.” “The Critical and Explanatory Commentary” says: “As woman's hair is given her by nature, as her covering, to cut it off like a man, all admit would be indecorous; therefore, to put away the head covering, too, like a man, would be similarly indecorous. It is natural to her to have long hair for her covering; she ought, therefore, to add the other (the wearing of a head covering) to show that she does of her own will that which nature itself teaches she ought to do, in token of her subjection to man.” It is admitted, however, by the commentators, that the custom of the dress of both men and women was different in Grecian cities from what it was in Judea, for it was the custom in Judea for the men themselves to be covered. The apostle seems clearly to have reference to customs that were proper for that time and place. Note in this that the apostle does not appeal to any particular law, only just what would be decent and proper, and reverent on such an occasion as that at that time. Note what he says in verse 16: “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” He is not laying down hard and fast laws, concerning such things, to proper and decent members in the church of God. It may be manifest in an altogether different way in those days, but in all ages there should be simplicity and modesty and reverence in the house of God.