1 Corinthians 11:13 kjv
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1 Corinthians 11:13 nkjv
Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
1 Corinthians 11:13 niv
Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
1 Corinthians 11:13 esv
Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
1 Corinthians 11:13 nlt
Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head?
1 Corinthians 11 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 11:10 | For this cause ought the woman to have a covering on her head because of the angels. | Angels and God's order |
| 1 Cor 11:3-16 | Extended discussion on head coverings. | Headship and appearance in worship |
| 1 Tim 2:9-12 | Women's modest apparel and silence in church. | Women's role in church |
| 1 Cor 14:34-35 | Women keeping silent in the churches. | Women speaking in church |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ, yet with roles |
| Rom 12:6-8 | Gifts differ, exercise them according to grace. | Spiritual gifts and their use |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | That ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. | Church unity and order |
| John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. | Christ's glory and truth |
| Acts 2:17-18 | Joel's prophecy of the Spirit upon all flesh, including women. | Spirit's work and prophesying |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. | Christ's example of humility |
| Eph 5:22-24 | Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. | Husband and wife relationship |
| 1 Peter 3:1-6 | Wives' submission and adornment. | Inner beauty and submission |
| Matt 5:16 | Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. | Public testimony |
| 1 Thess 5:22 | Abstain from all appearance of evil. | Avoiding what looks wrong |
| Heb 12:14 | Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. | Holiness and peace in the church |
| Ex 34:30 | Aaron saw Moses; behold, the skin of his face shone: and Moses put a vail on his face until he had done speaking with them. | Moses' shining face covered |
| Deut 21:11-14 | Israelite women captured in war, to cover heads as sign of mourning/humiliation. | Mourning and modesty customs |
| Prov 31:10-31 | The virtuous wife. | Woman's character and praise |
| 1 Cor 7:14 | For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. | Holiness within mixed households |
| Titus 2:3-5 | Older women teaching younger women self-control and love. | Women's roles and character |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 13 Meaning
This verse questions the appropriateness of a woman praying or prophesying (speaking forth God's message) in the church assembly with her head uncovered. It suggests a societal and spiritual impropriety associated with such an action within the worship context.
1 Corinthians 11 13 Context
This verse is found within the eleventh chapter of First Corinthians, which addresses various issues within the Corinthian church. Specifically, this passage (verses 2-16) deals with questions of worship and order, focusing on the practice of prayer and prophecy during gatherings and the symbolism of head coverings for men and women. The Corinthian church, located in a diverse and often morally ambiguous Hellenistic city, faced challenges in maintaining godly conduct and understanding apostolic teachings. Paul's instructions here are aimed at ensuring proper conduct that reflects Christian order, respect, and acknowledges distinct roles within the community and in relation to spiritual beings.
1 Corinthians 11 13 Word Analysis
- "Doth": An archaic third-person singular form of the verb "do."
- "any": Signifies "any person," or in this context, specifically refers to "any woman."
- "woman" (Gk: gunē): This term can refer to "woman" or "wife." In this context, it likely encompasses both meanings as it relates to her conduct in the community and potential family dynamics.
- "pray": (Gk: proseuchomai): Means to address God in supplication or adoration.
- "prophesy": (Gk: propheteuō): To speak forth under divine inspiration, to convey a message from God, not necessarily predicting the future but proclaiming truth.
- "dishonoureth": (Gk: ataimázō): To disgrace, to bring contempt upon, to dishonor or insult.
- "head": (Gk: kephalē): This refers literally to the physical head, but Paul uses it here also symbolically in the context of headship, authority, and glory. It signifies a source or covering.
- "it": Refers back to "her head."
- "her": Possessive pronoun, indicating the woman's head.
- "even": Adds emphasis, meaning "indeed" or "certainly."
- "as": Introduces a comparison or cause.
- "that which": Denotes something; here, it refers to her "head covering" or the state of her head.
- "is it": A rhetorical question structure.
Words Group Analysis:
- "pray or prophesy": These were public activities of ministry and worship. Prophesying involved public utterance of divine truth.
- "dishonoureth her head": This phrase links the act of praying or prophesying uncovered with bringing disgrace upon her head, which symbolically relates to her husband, Christ, or God, depending on the interpretation of "head."
- "a covering on her head": The object of contention – an actual physical covering, symbolic of authority or reverence.
- "even as that which is shaven": The comparison draws a parallel between an uncovered head and the appearance of a woman who has had her hair shaven off, a state of shame or disgrace in many ancient cultures.
1 Corinthians 11 13 Bonus Section
The symbolism of the "head" in this context is multifaceted, with interpretations often linking it to natural (male authority over female), spiritual (Christ's authority over the church and believers), and even governmental authority. The reference to shaving one's head in verse 13 as dishonorable for women contrasts with the positive association of natural hair for women in verse 15, presented as a "covering" and "glory." This points to a nuanced understanding where the natural covering of hair was also divinely intended. The practice and interpretation of head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11 remain a topic of considerable discussion and varying application among Christian denominations today.
1 Corinthians 11 13 Commentary
Paul is posing a direct challenge to the Corinthian women about the established norms during public worship. He implies that to engage in spiritual activities like praying or prophesying without a head covering is to insult a source of her glory or authority. This is not about outward show but about maintaining a sense of order and respect that aligns with God’s design and societal understanding, which at the time involved women covering their heads as a symbol of their distinct place. This practice reflected a mutual recognition of order and reverence within the worship gathering, perhaps also an acknowledgment of angelic presence (as mentioned in verse 10). It emphasizes that Christian conduct should be decorous and not cause scandal or confusion.