A biblical answer to why Apostolic women wear veils
1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered,G2596 G2776 dishonoureth his head.
G2596 κατά kata
Total KJV Occurrences: 378 ( Used only once of 378 as covered)
covered, 1
1Co_11:4
Thayer Definition:
1) down from, through out
2) according to, toward, along
The Main theme of
Corinthians 11 is about divine order in prayer and prophesying. How God wants obedience and subjection in contrast to rebellion and disorder. Just as Christ himself was subject to God so man should be subject to Christ. Not my will but thine be done. Man made in the image and glory of God has no other superior on this earth yet he subjects himself to Gods divine ordinances. God has put all things under his feet. Man must first take his place removing his head covering in respect to his superior when he approaches God or represents Him in prophesy(preaching). There can be nothing covering (kata-hanging down from) his head showing that he is being subject to anyone but God. This all refers back to
Gen. 3.15-16. When woman takes her place by being in subjection to her head, the fallen angels are not able to work through her as Satan did through Eve. Satans seed are the rebellious angels that followed him. The woman shows that she is subject to her spiritual authority by covering her head. Her curse was that he/man would rule over her.
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered G177 dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
G177 ἀκατακάλυπτος akatakaluptos
Total KJV Occurrences: 2
uncovered, 2
1Co_11:5, 1Co_11:13
unveiled: - uncovered. Strongs
Thayer Definition:
1) not covered, unveiled
Part of Speech: adjective
When a woman comes to pray without covering her head (akatakaluptos) she is showing insubordination. When she places a veil on her head she has power on her head and the ministering angels are able to operate seeing man and woman are following Gods order for them. If the woman doesn't cover her head in the spiritual sense it is such a shame as in the natural sense she were shorn or shaven. James gives us a picture of how satan can work if we are not humble and in subjection no matter what we say from our lips. We can pretend that everything is ok in the outward appearance but the spiritual unseen realm show strife (fighting) and envy (trying to be above another) and gives opening for confusion and evil to work.
Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
1Co 11:6 For if the woman be not covered G2619, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
G2619 κατακαλύπτω katakaluptō
Total KJV Occurrences: 3
covered, 2
1Co_11:6 (2)
cover, 1
1Co_11:7
to cover wholly, that is, veil: - cover, hide. Strongs
Thayer Definition:
1) to cover up
2) to veil or cover one’s self
It is either wear a veil/covering or shave your head. Paul is not saying that your hair is your veil. If it is a shame to be shorn then cover/veil (katakulupto- cover wholly) your head. He is not saying saying put hair on your head or dont cut your hair. He specifically says shave which means he realizes that she already has hair on her head. He is not mentioning at this point how long her hair is. He later references that it is natural for a woman to have long hair and for a man to have short hair. He does not mention that men should shave their heads because their hair is too long and it might be seen as if they had a covering on their heads. This is not referring to the hair as being a covering. It is an external object to the body that is placed over the head.
1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover G2619 his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
(See above for same definition of G2619)
Now this gives the reasoning why man is not to cover his head. Man you see carries the authority of God as he was made in his image. He is not to put on anything that shows he is in subjection any longer. This is in regards to a veil or covering (katakalupto) as a woman wears covering completely over her head. The Jewish males wear a Yamika covering only the back of the head showing that they are always subject to God, but not a veil, turban, or hat when they worship or pray. It cannot hang down to infer subjection. Especially now that the Christian has been made free from the law and sin. He previously willingly subjected himself to disobedience and caused sin to enter in. This separated him from God and gave him a death sentence. Through one man sin entered in and through one man Jesus it was abolished by the grace of God.
2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power G1849 on her head because of the angels.
G1849 ἐξουσία exousia
Total KJV Occurrences: 103
power, 61- authority, 28- powers, 8- right, 2- authorities, 1 -jurisdiction, 1 -liberty, 1-strength, 1
Thayer Definition:
4d) a sign of the husband’s authority over his wife
4d1) the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself
4e) the sign of regal authority, a crown
1Co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?G177 (See Above for Definition of G177)
Paul had used various arguments to show them the impropriety of their females speaking unveiled in public. He now appeals to their natural sense of what was decent and right, according to established and acknowledged customs and habits. Albert Barnes
a woman . . . unto God--By rejecting the emblem of subjection (the head-covering), she passes at one leap in praying publicly beyond both the man and angels [BENGEL]. Jamieson, Fausset, Brown JFB
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