Let Her be Covered 1 Corinthians 11:6

Paul the apostle continued to share about how a man “praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head”, and he added to his observation as he told the church members in Corinth, “every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven”. In chapter eleven and verse six of First Corinthians, Paul shared with the Corinthian church members how, “if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven”, “let her be covered”, where we read:

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.

The verse begins, “For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn:”. Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “if the woman” or “whether the female of any age who is a virgin, married or a widow” “be not covered” or “is unveiled”, “let her also” which means “allow and permit that she even and therefore” “be shorn” or “sheared or cut short the hair of the head”. Paul used the example of the “shearing like a sheep” to demonstrate the importance of a “woman” being “veiled” when she “prays and prophecies”.

The verse continues, “but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.” Paul added the words, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “if it be a shame” which means “whether it is base and dishonorable” “for a woman” which refers to “that a female of any age who is a virgin, married or a widow” “to be shorn” or “sheared or cut short the hair of the head” “or shaven” which means “to have the head shaved”, “let her” which refers to “allow, permit and see that the woman” “be covered” or “is veiled”. Paul referred to the “shame” that was associated with a “woman” who would be “shorn” or “shaven”, and he related it to the woman who “prayed and prophesied” “unveiled.

When we consider these words from Paul, it might be easy to be caught up in the custom of “veiling” one's face at that time rather than understanding the importance of aligning with God's authority. The idea was “respect and honor” for the position given by God that a “woman” held, and in an outward demonstration of a willingness to comply with God's order, a “woman” who “prayed or prophesied” would wear a “veil”. We shall see in Paul's next few verses how this in no way “devalues” a “woman” or a “man” for that matter, but rather allows for “order” and “compliance” to God's way for people. Resistance and rebellion against authority seems to be a natural part of our lives whether male or female, and because God desires that we all “submit” to Jesus Christ as “Lord”, even something as simple as a “veil” reveals what is often within us.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “a man indeed ought not to cover his head”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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