1 Corinthians 11 15

1 Corinthians 11:15 kjv

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

1 Corinthians 11:15 nkjv

But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

1 Corinthians 11:15 niv

but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

1 Corinthians 11:15 esv

but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

1 Corinthians 11:15 nlt

And isn't long hair a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.

1 Corinthians 11 verses

1 Corinthians 11 15 meaning

First Corinthians 11:15 explains that if a woman has long hair, it is a source of honor and beauty for her. This is because long hair is naturally given to her to function as a form of covering or adornment, signifying a created distinctiveness and reflecting her inherent glory.

1 Corinthians 11 15 Context

First Corinthians 11:15 is part of a broader discussion (1 Cor 11:2-16) regarding appropriate behavior for men and women during corporate worship, particularly concerning head coverings. Paul establishes a hierarchical order: God is head of Christ, Christ is head of man, and man is head of woman. He then argues that a man praying or prophesying with a covered head dishonors his own head, while a woman doing so with an uncovered head dishonors hers. The core argument rests on men being the image and glory of God, and women being the glory of man. Shaving a woman's head or cutting her hair short was considered a public shame, equating her to a shaven slave or prostitute in the cultural context of Corinth. Verses 14-15 present an argument from "nature itself" to underscore the natural distinctiveness of men and women, with hair length serving as a visible manifestation. The overall aim is to promote proper conduct, honor, and recognition of established roles within the church in light of both creation order and cultural sensitivities.

1 Corinthians 11 15 Word analysis

• But (δὲ - de): A mild adversative or connective conjunction, marking a slight contrast or continuation of the thought. It shifts from the prior verse about men's hair.
• if (εἰ - ei): A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical or given situation, often translated "if" or "in case."
• a woman (γυνή - gynē): Refers specifically to a female human being, capable of meaning 'wife' or 'woman.' In this context, it generally denotes a female, consistent with earlier mentions in the chapter.
• has (ἔχει - echei): Present active indicative verb, meaning "she has" or "she holds."
• long hair (κόμῃ - komē): Refers to luxurious, flowing, unshorn, abundant hair. It's distinguished from shorter or cut hair. Its natural state in women in the ancient world was typically long.
• it is (ἐστὶν - estin): Third person singular present indicative of 'to be,' serving as a linking verb.
• her (αὐτῇ - autē): Dative feminine singular pronoun, meaning "to her" or "for her."
• glory (δόξα - doxa): Meaning splendor, honor, praise, reputation, or brilliance. Here it denotes something that brings credit, dignity, or admiration. In contrast to 1 Cor 11:7 where man is the glory of God and woman is the glory of man, this verse specifies long hair is her glory, identifying an aspect of feminine identity as glorious in itself.
• for (γὰρ - gar): A causal conjunction, providing the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
• long hair (κόμη - komē): Repetition of the noun emphasizes the subject and its significance.
• is given (δέδοται - dedotai): Perfect passive indicative verb, meaning "it has been given." The passive voice implies a divine agent (God), suggesting a gift by creation or divine design.
• her (αὐτῇ - autē): Dative feminine singular pronoun, meaning "to her" or "for her."
• as a covering (ἀντὶ περιβολαίου - anti peribolaiou): This phrase is key.
  • ἀντὶ (anti): Preposition meaning "instead of," "in place of," "as," or "corresponding to." It indicates substitution or equivalence in function.
  • περιβολαίου (peribolaiou): A noun meaning "that which is thrown around," "a cloak," "a mantle," "a wrap," or "a veil."
    • Together, anti peribolaiou means "as a veil" or "in place of a covering." This implies that the woman's long hair serves a natural covering function, inherent to her creation, and visually signifies her honor and distinction. This contrasts with the external veil or covering (κατακαλύπτεσθαι - katakalyptesthai) mentioned earlier in the chapter, suggesting that her natural hair provides a similar purpose from a "nature" perspective.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory": This clause sets up a clear declaration about women's hair. Unlike men's long hair which is dishonorable (v. 14), a woman's long hair is positively affirmed as her 'doxa' or glory. This establishes a gender distinction based on nature.
• "for long hair is given her as a covering": This second clause provides the reason for the first. The divine giving of long hair as a covering explains why it is her glory. It speaks to God's created order and purposeful design, where her natural long hair functionally serves the same purpose as a covering or a veil. This connects the aesthetic of hair to a theological understanding of created order and visual modesty.

1 Corinthians 11 15 Bonus section

The appeal to "nature" (physis) in verse 14-15, where distinct hair length for genders is presented as "natural," bridges biological observation with moral and social appropriateness. This suggests that certain cultural practices aligned with the observable patterns of creation carry moral weight, or at least propriety within the Christian community. While modern cultural norms regarding hair length have varied drastically, the underlying principle of recognizing and respecting God's created distinction between men and women through appropriate appearance and behavior in worship remains. The verse highlights an inherent "glory" (doxa) bestowed upon women, offering a divine affirmation of her identity distinct from man's glory as the "image and glory of God" (1 Cor 11:7). The natural "covering" provided by long hair signifies not suppression, but a beautifully intended aspect of feminine distinction that carries its own honor.

1 Corinthians 11 15 Commentary

Verse 15 acts as a pivotal conclusion to Paul's argument from nature concerning hair length and gender distinctiveness in Corinth. He highlights the inherent dignity and beauty (glory) of a woman's long hair. This "glory" is not merely an aesthetic preference but is rooted in God's purposeful design, as indicated by the passive voice "is given," implying a divine act of provision. The phrase "as a covering" (ἀντὶ περιβολαίου) is significant. It implies that a woman's natural long hair functions as a God-given visual sign of her created identity and perhaps even her glory within the created order. This natural "covering" resonates with the principles of honor, modesty, and appropriate gender distinctions that Paul addresses in the chapter. While this verse speaks to a woman's natural covering (her hair), it also forms the background for understanding why an external symbolic covering might have been culturally or religiously deemed appropriate in the broader context of showing respect for headship. It affirms that God has already bestowed upon women a natural sign of her glory and distinction.