August 6
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WHY WOMEN NEED HEAD COVERING
6 For if a woman does not cover her head, have her also cut her hair off; however, if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, have her cover her head. 7 For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9 for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. – 1 Corinthians 11:6-9
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Wikipedia that says that until at least the 18th century, the wearing of a head covering, both in the public and while attending church, was regarded as customary for Christian women in Mediterranean, European, Middle Eastern, and African cultures. A woman who did not wear a head covering was interpreted to be “a prostitute or adulteress.” In Europe, law stipulated that married women who uncovered their hair in public was evidence of her infidelity. A veil or “mantilla” was worn by Christian women in Spain, Latin America, the Philippines, Eastern Europe and Russia. I remember wearing them in the Roman Catholic church as a child up until my teen years. “Dupatta” was worn by Christian women in India and Pakistan. “Net’ela” was worn by Christian women in Ethiopia and Eritrea. In the U.S., bonnet was among the Anabaptists and Conservative Quakers while wide brim hats would be worn by Christian women in the Southern U.S. Another commentary says that having a woman’s head short or shaved meant different things in different cultures. In Jewish law, it was the mark of adultery (Numbers 5:11-31). In the Greek world, it could be the mark of a prostitute or lesbian.
So, why is Paul addressing this issue of head covering for women? Earlier in this letter, he addressed the order of headship in verses 1-5. Was Paul following the Jewish law? He clarifies the reason in this part of his letter. In verse 7, Paul refers to the creation story in Genesis 1 where man was made in the image of God and woman was created to be the helper of the man and for his glory. In verse 8, he reminds the Corinthian believers that since woman was created from man and not vice-versa. So, the woman’s head covering signifies that she is under the headship of a man and when she doesn’t wear a head covering, she is defiled. There must be a deeper meaning to the physical wearing of the head covering. It is a reminder for women to submit to men who is their head so she doesn’t go wayward and unprotected. The modern women won’t agree with this concept.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for women to remember that they must submit to their head?