1 Corinthians 11:5 BSB

1 Corinthians 11:5

And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.

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.

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Commentary

5 voices

Tertullian

On Prayer (220)

For they who allow to virgins immunity from head-covering, appear to rest on this; that the apostle has not defined "virgins" by name, but "women," as "to be veiled; "nor the sex generally, so as to say "females," but a class of the sex, by saying "women: "for if he had named the sex by saying "females," he would have made his limit absolute for every woman; but while he names one class of the sex, he separates another class by being silent.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth,.... Not that a woman was allowed to pray publicly in the congregation, and much less to preach or explain the word, for these things were not permitted them: see 1Co 14:34 but it designs any woman that joins in public worship with the minister in prayer, and attends on the hearing of the word preached, or sings the praises of God with the congregation, as we have seen, the word prophesying signifies, with her head uncovered.

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

But every woman - Who, under an immediate impulse of the Spirit, (for then only was a woman suffered to speak in the church,) prays or prophesies without a veil on her face, as it were disclaims subjection, and reflects dishonour on man, her head. For it is the same, in effect, as if she cut her hair short, and wore it in the distinguishing form of the men.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Or, though she might not preach even by inspiration (because teaching is the business of a superior), yet she might pray or utter hymns by inspiration, even in the public assembly. She did not show any affectation of superiority over the man by such acts of public worship. It is plain the apostle does not in this place prohibit the thing, but reprehend the manner of doing it.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth - In the Old Testament prophetesses are not unfrequently mentioned. Thus, Miriam is mentioned Exo 15:20; Deborah Jdg 4:4; Huldah 2Ki 22:14; Noadiah Neh 6:14. So also in the New Testament Anna is mentioned as a prophetess; Luk 2:36. That there were females in the early Christian church who corresponded to those known among the Jews in some measure as endowed with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, cannot be doubted.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

21 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
πᾶσα	pasa	Every	G3956 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
γυνὴ	gunē	woman	G1135 →
προσευχομένη	proseuchomenē	praying	G4336 →
ἢ	ē	or	G2228 →
προφητεύουσα	prophēteuousa	prophesying	G4395 →
ἀκατακαλύπτῳ	akatakaluptō	uncovered	G177 →
τῇ	tēa	with the	G3588 →
κεφαλῇ	kephalēa	head	G2776 →
καταισχύνει	kataischunei	dishonors	G2617 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
κεφαλὴν	kephalēn	head	G2776 →
αὐτῆς·	autēs	of her;	G846 →
ἓν	hen	one	G1520 →
γάρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ἐστιν	estin	it is	G1510 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
τὸ	to	the	G3588 →
αὐτὸ	auto	same	G846 →
τῇ	tēa	with which	G3588 →
ἐξυρημένῃ.	exurēmenē	shaven.	G3587 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Acts 2:17
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
leads to
- Joel 2:28–32
  And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
- Isaiah 44:3
  For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Titus 3:4–6
  But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
- Acts 10:45
  All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
Through
1 Corinthians 14:34
Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
leads to
- 1 Timothy 2:11–12
  A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.
- Genesis 3:16
  To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
- Numbers 30:3–13
  And if a woman in her father’s house during her youth makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge,
- 1 Corinthians 14:35
  If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.

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On 1 Corinthians 11:5

Head Coverings, MannaFest

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About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 11 →The featured study →

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01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 1 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 1 Corinthians