1 Corinthians 11:13 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
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 11:3 | But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. | Establishes hierarchy of headship. |
| 1 Cor 11:4 | Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. | Counterpart: Man should not cover his head. |
| 1 Cor 11:5 | but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head... | Immediate context, reinforcing the core idea. |
| 1 Cor 11:14-15 | Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? | Appeals to "nature"/cultural norm as an illustration. |
| 1 Tim 2:9 | likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control... | Modesty in appearance for women in worship. |
| 1 Tim 2:11-12 | Let a woman learn quietly in all submissiveness... | Reflects ordered roles and conduct in church. |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart. | Focus on inner beauty, but within proper external conduct. |
| Titus 2:3-5 | Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good... | Exhortation for reverent and self-controlled behavior for women. |
| Gen 1:27 | So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. | Foundation of male/female distinction. |
| Gen 2:18-24 | ...I will make him a helper fit for him. | Creation account informing relational roles. |
| Eph 5:22-24 | Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church... | New Testament reiteration of headship principle. |
| Col 3:18 | Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. | Emphasizes what is "fitting" (πρέπον - prepon). |
| 1 Cor 10:15 | I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. | Paul appeals to their judgment elsewhere. |
| 1 Thess 5:21 | but test everything; hold fast what is good. | Principle of spiritual discernment. |
| Rom 14:5 | One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. | Exercise of conscience within Christian freedom. |
| Phil 1:9-10 | And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more... so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless... | Prayer for discerning what is proper. |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. | Overarching principle of glorifying God in all actions. |
| 1 Cor 10:32-33 | Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do... | Importance of avoiding causing offense. |
| Rom 12:12 | Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. | Exhortation to continuous prayer. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | The act of approaching God in prayer. |
| Mal 1:6 | “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? | Old Testament concept of honoring God. |
| Isa 60:7 | All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house. | Emphasizes proper worship pleasing to God. |
| Jer 2:27 | They say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to me... | Contrasts with proper reverence and seeking God. |
| Luke 18:1 | And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. | Encouragement for women (and all believers) to pray consistently. |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 13 meaning
The apostle Paul appeals directly to the Corinthian believers' own spiritual and practical discernment. He asks them to weigh whether it is seemly or fitting, according to their understanding of decorum and the divine order, for a woman to engage in public prayer to God with her head uncovered. This rhetorical question is posed to lead them to the conclusion that such an action would indeed be improper or inappropriate, challenging any practices in their community that might disregard established customs of modesty, honor, and the symbolism of headship within the church. It underscores the importance of public conduct aligning with theological principles and cultural understanding of reverence.
1 Corinthians 11 13 Context
This verse is situated within Paul's instruction regarding head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, where he addresses proper conduct during worship in the Corinthian church. The overall chapter speaks to the spiritual authority and order within the community, connecting actions during prayer and prophecy to fundamental truths about creation, the glory of God, and societal distinctions. The city of Corinth was known for its diverse and often morally permissive culture, which meant believers faced challenges in distinguishing Christian practice from surrounding pagan customs and ensuring that their public witness was above reproach. For a woman to pray or prophesy with an uncovered head could have been seen as rebellious against her "head" (man) according to God's order, or could have sent a signal of immodesty or affiliation with cult prostitutes in the broader Greco-Roman society. Paul seeks to uphold decorum, avoid scandal, and reflect divine order through external, culturally sensitive practices.
1 Corinthians 11 13 Word analysis
- Judge (Κρίνετε - Krinete): This is an imperative verb, meaning "you (plural) judge, discern, decide." Paul is not issuing an absolute, unchallengeable command but appealing to the Corinthian believers' own rational and spiritual judgment. He expects them to arrive at the same conclusion he is presenting by thinking critically about the issue, implying that the answer should be self-evident to discerning individuals.
- for yourselves (ἐν ἑαυτοῖς - en heautois): Literally "among yourselves" or "within yourselves." This reinforces the call to internal reflection and shared deliberation. It suggests personal and communal responsibility in arriving at a judgment that aligns with spiritual truth and community propriety.
- Is it proper (πρέπον ἐστὶν - prepon estin): The Greek word "πρέπον" (prepon) means "fitting," "suitable," "appropriate," or "seemly." It highlights decorum and what is befitting. It implies adherence to standards of good taste, propriety, and respect. This isn't strictly about an eternal moral law but what is suitable for a given context and audience, rooted in underlying theological principles.
- a woman (γυναῖκα - gunaika): In this context, it refers generally to any female participant in the worship gathering, although in ancient society, "woman" often implicitly referred to an adult female, particularly a married one who had a recognized "head" (husband).
- to pray (προσεύχεσθαι - proseuchesthai): Refers to the specific religious act of communicating with God. Paul connects the outward action (head covering) directly to this sacred act, emphasizing the importance of reverent and ordered conduct during worship.
- to God (τῷ Θεῷ - tō Theō): The recipient of the prayer. This underscores the sacredness of the act and the gravity of how one appears before the divine, which includes considerations of respect, honor, and order.
- with her head uncovered (ἀκατακαλύπτῳ - akatakalyptō): This describes the state of not having the head "covered down." The prefix 'a-' denotes absence, 'kata' means 'down', and 'kalypto' means 'to cover.' Therefore, it signifies being openly unveiled. The specific cultural custom this refers to is debated (a literal piece of cloth, or long flowing hair, or simply the appearance of her unbound hair). The crucial point is the symbolism of a woman's public presentation in worship as it relates to honor, modesty, and the visual representation of submission to God's created order.
- "Judge for yourselves": This phrase shows Paul's pastoral approach, inviting intellectual and spiritual engagement rather than simply dictating. It calls the Corinthian believers to a collective and informed discernment, suggesting the truth of his argument should be evident from their shared understanding of Christian values and local social norms.
- "Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?": This is a rhetorical question, designed to evoke a "No" answer. It appeals to a common sense of propriety, cultural sensibility, and understanding of divine order. The question subtly links the act of prayer, its divine recipient, and the specific appearance of the woman to a universal sense of "rightness."
1 Corinthians 11 13 Bonus section
Paul's argument in this passage interweaves several layers:
- Creation Order: He anchors the discussion in the created order of man and woman, not merely cultural fashion. The woman's covering visually represents her honor to her "head," the man, who himself images God.
- Glory: Paul links covering to the concept of glory (v.7). Man is the glory of God and should not cover his head; woman is the glory of man and therefore, in her public appearance in a context displaying divine glory (worship), should wear a covering as a symbol of her distinct glory and its derivation.
- Angelic Witness: Verse 10 adds a cosmic dimension, stating a woman should have "authority on her head, because of the angels." This suggests angels observe human worship and the order (or disorder) maintained within it, which has implications for the spiritual realm.
- "Nature Itself": Paul bolsters his argument (v.14-15) by appealing to what is considered "natural" or universally recognized about gender distinctions regarding hair length, connecting outward appearance to God's design embedded in creation and society.
1 Corinthians 11 13 Commentary
In 1 Corinthians 11:13, Paul challenges the Corinthian church to use its own sense of propriety concerning women's head coverings during prayer. By asking "Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?" he aims to lead them to a clear negative conclusion, thereby reaffirming the cultural and theological necessity for women to express appropriate submission and honor within public worship. This instruction is deeply rooted in both God's creation order (male and female distinctions) and the prevailing cultural norms of modesty and respect, which were especially vital in a city like Corinth to avoid misrepresentation and dishonoring God or men. The focus is on outward expression symbolizing inner submission and maintaining decorum that glorifies God.