Do Women Need to Wear Headcovers?

1Co 11:4  Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

1Co 11:5  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.

Uncovered = G 177 – akatakaluptos (ak-at-ak-al’-oop-tos) unveiled: – uncovered.

1Co 11:6  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

Covered – 1. a. Having a cover, covering, or lid.

Covered = G 2619 – katakaluptō (kat-ak-al-oop’-to) to cover wholly, that is, veil: – cover, hide.

1Co 11:7  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Cover – v. I. 1. trans. To put or lay something over (an object), with the effect of hiding from view, protecting, or enclosing; to overlay, overspread with.

Cover = G 2619 – katakaluptō (kat-ak-al-oop’-to) to cover wholly, that is, veil: – cover, hide.

1Co 11:8  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

1Co 11:9  Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

1Co 11:10  For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

1Co 11:11  Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

1Co 11:12  For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

1Co 11:13  Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

Uncovered = G 177 – akatakaluptos (ak-at-ak-al’-oop-tos) unveiled: – uncovered.

1Co 11:14  Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

Men are not supposed to have long hair.

1Co 11:15  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering (G 4018).

Women are supposed to have long hair.

Covering – n. 2. concr.  a. That which covers or is adapted to cover, whether for protection, shelter, concealment, or adornment; a cover; a cloth to spread over; clothing; the outer coating or integument.

Covering = G4018 – peribolaion (per-ib-ol’-ah-yon) – something thrown around one, that is, a mantle, veil: – covering, vesture.

Cover = G 2619 – katakaluptō (kat-ak-al-oop’-to) to cover wholly, that is, veil: – cover, hide.

These two Greek words mean the same thing.

A woman’s HAIR is given to her for a veil to cover her head.

1Co 11:16  But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

How long is “long” and how short is “short”?  That’s another topic for another time. 

Suffice it to say that women’s hair should be longer than men’s hair. 

Long hair must obviously cover more of the head than the hair line does, as hair of any length covers that much.