1 Corinthians 11:6
in 1 Corinthians 11If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 11
Commentary
11 notes on this verseIf they are so weak in their hearing as not to be able to hear through a covering, I pity them. Let them know that the whole head constitutes "the woman." Its limits and boundaries reach as far as the place where the robe begins. The region of the veil is co-extensive with the space covered by the hair when unbound; in order that the necks too may be encircled. For it is they which must be subjected, for the sake of which "power" ought to be "had on the head:" the veil is their yoke.
This site's exposition
Every man who prays or
on 1 Corinthians 11:4-6
The words every woman who prays or prophesies assume that women, like men, speak under inspiration in the assembly, and only the manner is regulated. Most have read her head uncovered as lacking the customary veil, a sign at Corinth of a husband's or father's protection.
This site's exposition
have her hair cut off
Paul reasons from a shame the Corinthians already felt: the same logic that removes the covering would have her hair cut off or shaved. The Greek names two degrees of that disgrace, keiro for hair cut with shears and xurao for a head shaved with a razor.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"But if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled." Thus, in the beginning he simply requires that the head be not bare: but as he proceeds he intimates both the continuance of the rule, saying, "for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven," and the keeping of it with all care and diligence. For he said not merely covered, but "covered over," meaning that she be carefully wrapped up on every side. And by reducing it to an absurdity, he appeals to their shame, saying by way of severe reprimand, "but if she be not covered, let her also be shorn." As if he had said, "If thou cast away the covering appointed by the law of God, cast away likewise that appointed by nature." But if any say, "Nay, how can this be a shame to the woman, if she mount up to the glory of the man?" we might make this answer; "She doth not mount up, but rather falls from her own proper honor." Since not to abide within our own limits and the laws ordained of God, but to go beyond, is not an addition but a diminution. For as he that desireth other men's goods and seizeth what is not his own, hath not gained any thing more, but is diminished, having lost even that which he had, (which kind of thing also happened in paradise:) so likewise the woman acquireth not the man's dignity, but loseth even the woman's decency which she had. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
He continues to prove that being uncovered is the same as being shorn; and as the latter is shameful, so too is the former. By all this he expresses that it is always shameful for a woman to be uncovered.
Secondly, he leads to something unacceptable, saying: For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair. As if to say: If she throws aside the artificial covering, let her for the same reason cast aside the natural covering; which …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Therefore if a woman is not covered - If she will throw off the badge of subjection, let her appear with her hair cut like a man's. But if it be shameful far a woman to appear thus in public, especially in a religious assembly, let her, for the same reason, keep on her veil.
For if the woman be not covered,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
A woman would not like to be "shorn" or (what is worse) "shaven"; but if she chooses to be uncovered (unveiled) in front, let her be so also behind, that is, "shorn." a shame--an unbecoming thing (compare 1Co 11:13-15). Thus the shaving of nuns is "a shame."
For if the woman be not covered - If she will not wear a veil in the public assemblies, let her be shorn - let her carry a public badge of infamy: but if it be a shame - if to be shorn or shaven would appear, as it must, a badge of infamy, then let her be covered - let her by all means wear a veil.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For if the woman be not covered - If her head be not covered with a veil. Let her also be shorn - Let her long hair be cut off. Let her lay aside all the usual and proper indications of her sex and rank in life. If it is done in one respect, it may with the same propriety be done in all. But if it be a shame ... - If custom, nature, and habit; if the common and usual feelings and views among people would pronounce this to be a shame, the other would be pronounced to be a shame also by the same custom and common sense of people. Let her be covered - With a veil. Let her wear the customary attire indicative of modesty and a sense of subordination. Let her not lay this aside even on any pretence of religion.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| κατακαλύπτεται | katakaluptetai | covers her head | G2619 → | 3 times |
| γυνή, | gune | a woman, | G1135 → | 211 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κειράσθω· | keirastho | she should be shorn; | G2751 → | |
| εἰ | ei | If [it is] | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| αἰσχρὸν | aischron | disgraceful | G150 → | |
| γυναικὶ | gunaiki | to a woman | G1135 → | 211 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κείρασθαι | keirasthai | to be shorn | G2751 → | |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ξυρᾶσθαι, | xurasthai | to be shaven, | G3587 → | |
| κατακαλυπτέσθω.¶ | katakaluptestho | she should cover her head. | G2619 → | 3 times |
εἰIf
eiG1487 →508 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
κατακαλύπτεταιcovers her head
katakaluptetaiG2619 →3 times
γυνή,a woman,
guneG1135 →211 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κειράσθω·she should be shorn;
keirasthoG2751 →
εἰIf [it is]
eiG1487 →508 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
αἰσχρὸνdisgraceful
aischronG150 →
γυναικὶto a woman
gunaikiG1135 →211 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
κείρασθαιto be shorn
keirasthaiG2751 →
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ξυρᾶσθαι,to be shaven,
xurasthaiG3587 →
κατακαλυπτέσθω.¶she should cover her head.
katakaluptesthoG2619 →3 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
7 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Deuteronomy 22:5A woman must not wear men’s clothing, and a man must not wear women’s clothing, for whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD your God.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 11:4–15
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
- Deuteronomy 18:12
For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.
- 1 Corinthians 11:4–15
Through
Numbers 5:18After the priest has the woman stand before the LORD, he is to let down her hair and place in her hands the grain offering of memorial, which is the grain offering for jealousy.…
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
- Proverbs 5:4
in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.
- Deuteronomy 29:18
Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure…
- Numbers 5:24–26
He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and cause her bitter suffering.
- Numbers 5:15
then he is to bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over…
- Hebrews 13:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 26; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Tertullian, On the Veiling of Virgins; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.