1 Corinthians 11:5 kjv
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1 Corinthians 11:5 nkjv
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.
1 Corinthians 11:5 niv
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head?it is the same as having her head shaved.
1 Corinthians 11:5 esv
but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
1 Corinthians 11:5 nlt
But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.
1 Corinthians 11 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 11:6 | For if a wife does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off. | Covering, shame |
| 1 Corinthians 11:10 | For this reason a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. | Authority, angels, headship |
| 1 Corinthians 11:13 | Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? | Propriety, prayer, women |
| 1 Corinthians 11:14 | Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him, | Nature, decency, man |
| 1 Corinthians 11:15 | but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? Indeed, long hair is given her as a covering. | Glory, hair, covering |
| Romans 1:26 | …exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. | Nature, unnatural acts |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. | Weakness, shame, divine wisdom |
| Genesis 1:27 | God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. | Image of God, male and female |
| Genesis 3:16 | To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” | Dominion, relationship, woman's role |
| Ephesians 5:22-24 | Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church… | Submission, headship, Christ's headship |
| Colossians 3:18 | Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. | Submission, marital conduct |
| 1 Timothy 2:11-12 | Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. | Authority, teaching, women's roles |
| Galatians 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ, spiritual equality |
| 1 Corinthians 7:39 | A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must marry in the Lord. | Marriage, freedom, death |
| Revelation 21:3-4 | And he said: “Look! God’s tabernacle is with mankind, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them… | God dwelling with people, future hope |
| Proverbs 31:10-31 | The wife of noble character— who can find her? ... Praise her for the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. | Noble wife, virtuous deeds, praise |
| Acts 2:17-18 | ‘“And in the last days it will be,” God says, “that I will pour out of my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy…”' | Prophecy, Holy Spirit, last days |
| 1 Samuel 10:5-6 | After that you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played… The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them… | Prophecy, Spirit's power, corporate worship |
| Zechariah 8:5 | and the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing. | Joy, children, future restoration |
| John 4:23 | Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. | True worship, Spirit and truth |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 5 Meaning
This verse describes women praying or prophesying in the public worship of the church. It states that if a woman prays or prophesies with her head uncovered, she dishonors her head. This action is presented as equivalent to having her head shaved.
1 Corinthians 11 5 Context
This chapter of 1 Corinthians addresses issues of worship practices in the Corinthian church. Paul is specifically dealing with disorders related to both men and women in worship services, particularly concerning their appearance and conduct. Previous verses in this chapter have discussed the head covering for men and the principle of not discrediting Christ. This verse continues the discussion on the behavior expected of women when they participate in public worship by praying or prophesying. The Corinthian culture, influenced by Greco-Roman customs, had varying views on women's public roles, and Paul aims to establish order and decency in the church's collective worship, ensuring it reflected Christian principles.
1 Corinthians 11 5 Word Analysis
- "Gune" (γυνή): This is the Greek word for "woman" or "wife." The meaning here is gender-specific, referring to a female person.
- "proseuchesthai" (προσεύχεσθαι): This is the Greek verb meaning "to pray." It signifies direct address to God in supplication or communion.
- "propheteuein" (προφητεύειν): This is the Greek verb meaning "to prophesy." In the New Testament, it refers to speaking forth God's message, often revealing His will, which could include forth-telling (speaking for God) rather than just foretelling (predicting future events).
- "kephalē" (κεφαλῇ): This is the Greek word for "head." In this context, it likely refers to both the literal head and as a symbol of "headship" or authority/source.
- "akatakalyptō" (ἀκαταλύπτῳ): This adjective means "uncovered" or "unveiled." It relates to not having something covering the head.
- "katekálypsen" (κατεκάλυψεν): This is the past tense of the verb "to cover." It emphasizes the action of covering the head.
- "autē" (αὐτῇ): This is the feminine pronoun "she." It refers back to the woman.
- "katēscōrysato" (κατησχύμθη): This Greek verb means "to dishonor," "to shame," or "to disgrace." It describes the consequence of the uncovered head.
- "autēs" (αὐτῆς): This is the possessive pronoun "her." It refers to the woman's head.
- "kefalē" (κεφαλῇ): Again, the Greek word for "head."
Word Group Analysis:
- "Ean gunē proseuchesthai ē propheteuein akatakalyptō": This phrase signifies a woman engaging in either prayer or prophecy in a public worship setting while her head is uncovered. This combination of prayer and prophecy indicates women's active participation in worship beyond passive listening.
- "kataskalyptō tēn autēs kefalēn": This phrase describes the direct action of uncovering her head. The lack of covering is seen as the offending action.
- "kataskalyptō autes kaitis kataskalypses tēn autes kefalēn": This reiterates the disgrace incurred by the woman who uncovers her head, linking it to dishonoring her own head, which could imply a disrespect towards the source or authority she represents, or simply a cultural sign of shame.
1 Corinthians 11 5 Bonus Section
The practice of "covering the head" by women during worship has varied interpretations throughout church history. Some see it as a universal, timeless principle tied to God's creation order or spiritual symbolism related to modesty and authority. Others view it as a culturally specific injunction that applied to the first-century Corinthian context due to their unique social norms and the need to avoid compromising the gospel's presentation. Scholars point to archaeological evidence and literary sources that suggest head coverings were common for married women or respectable women in Roman and Greek society as a sign of modesty and social standing, while prostitutes or slaves might not have worn them. Paul's mention of "angels" in verse 10 suggests a spiritual dimension, possibly indicating that their conduct in worship should be decorous in the unseen spiritual realm as well, or perhaps reflecting the presence of angelic observers. The reference to "nature" in verse 14 further complicates the issue, with differing views on whether Paul is referring to natural law, common custom, or inherent biological characteristics.
1 Corinthians 11 5 Commentary
Paul here addresses the specific practice of women praying and prophesying in church with their heads uncovered. The text equates this act to having her head shaved, a culturally recognized sign of shame and dishonor. The implication is that a woman's uncovered head in this context is improper and offensive within the framework of public worship and cultural understanding of the time. This is often interpreted in relation to established social structures of headship and covering, reflecting Paul's concern for orderly conduct and a respect for established norms, all within the broader context of Christian freedom and unity in Christ.
- Consider how worship practices should be sensitive to both biblical principles and the cultural context to avoid causing offense or disunity.
- The emphasis on "headship" in this passage has led to various interpretations regarding male and female roles in the church and home.