02/22/2008 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Tonight will be the final part of a 2 part study on the issue of head coverings.

Last week we discussed the topic of whether or not a man should cover his head while praying or prophesying. This week we will examine whether or not a woman should cover her head.

If you have not read or heard last week's study, this week's study may be difficult to understand. I would highly encourage everyone to read the first part before concluding anything as to whether or not the things shared in part 2 are scriptural.

Tonight's study will require some humility on the part of those who read it, especially for women.

Today, there is often a cultural stigma against head coverings for holy purposes, and a woman wearing a real head covering (and I don't mean the "bandanna" that seems to be in vogue lately) is often viewed as strange or unusual.

I realize that a woman's appearance is often a very touchy subject because of the societal focus on the fleshly appearances. This kind of societal focus has brought a lot of pain and problems into the lives of women and this should not be!

Proverbs 31:30 (ISR) Loveliness is deceptive And prettiness is vain, A woman who fears Yahweh is to be praised.

I would encourage everyone reading this section to mentally remove themselves from any concern about appearance and just let the holy scriptures to speak for themselves, asking Yahweh for guidance.

Concerning the head coverings for women, let's first look at the principles involved in 1 Corinthians. The backdrop to the entire chapter is the following verse:

1Corinthians 11:3 - But I would have you know, that the head of every man is the Messiah; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of the Messiah is YAHWEH.

Why is this even mentioned?

What does it have to do with the head covering?

We will examine this at length and seek to understand why scripture says a woman should wear a head covering.

We saw in the former section of this study that man is the image and glory of Yahweh because he has the righteousness of Yahushua the Messiah upon him. But what about woman?

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

This scripture says that the woman is the glory of man. What might this have to do with the head covering?

We know from Genesis that Chawah (Eve) was taken out of Adam.

Genesis 2:21 - And YAHWEH Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

Genesis 2:22 - And the rib, which YAHWEH Elohim had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Genesis 2:23 - And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Genesis 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

In light of the fact that woman was taken out of Adam, we can see why woman would be the glory of man.

The fact that woman was taken from man, and the fact that she was created for him, are the reasons given as to why she is the glory of man:

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

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

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

So the principle given here is that the image and glory of Elohim must not be covered, but the glory of man must be covered.

1Corinthians 11:3 - But I would have you know, that the head of every man is the Messiah; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of the Messiah is YAHWEH.

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

1Corinthians 11:5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.

1Corinthians 11:6 - For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.

1Corinthians 11:7 - For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of Elohim; but woman is the glory of man

Notice that if a woman were to pray with her head uncovered, it would dishonor the man. How would it dishonor a man if a woman were to pray without a head covering? Somehow honor and dishonor is connected to headship and authority.

And somehow the head covering are connected to both.

In the same way a man would dishonor the Messiah by wearing a head covering because he ignoring the fact that he needs the Messiah's image and glory within him, the woman would dishonor her head by ignoring the fact that she is not a man and "man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man."

She is not recognizing that she is Adam's glory and instead trying to act as if she is the one who is the "glory of Elohim."

This is why it says that if a woman prayed with her head uncovered, "that is one and the same as if her head were shaved." If her head were shaved, she would look more like a man.

Later in the chapter, it says:

1Corinthians 11:13 - Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto YAHWEH uncovered?

1Corinthians 11:14 - Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

1Corinthians 11:15 - But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

Here we see that Paul is further cementing his point that woman should cover her head while men should not cover their head by pointing out that even nature itself teaches the proper head covering principles.

Typically, women will grow their hair long but men keep their hair cut short. The long hair is given to a woman "for a covering."

The word translated "covering" is the Greek word "peribolaion." (#4018). This word is found in one other verse of the 'New Testament:'

Hebrews 1:10-12 - And: "You, Yahweh, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak ["peribolaion." (#4018)] you will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."

Since this verse in Hebrews is a quote from the book of Psalms, we can learn more about it by looking up this verse in the Psalms:Since this verse in Hebrews is a quote from the book of Psalms, we can learn more about it by looking up this verse in the Psalms:

Psalm 102:26 - They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.

So we gather from these scriptures that the long hair of a woman is is given to her for a cloak or garment.

Some have suggested that a woman can cover her head by simply growing her hair long and a man can keep his head uncovered by keeping his hair cut short.

The reasoning is that since long hair is likened unto a garment, a woman only need to grow her hair long and she's has her head covered.

1. Long hair doesn't actually cover the head. It only covers the back of someone's neck and a part of their back at best. So whether one has short hair or long hair, their hair still covers the same region of their head. Long hair doesn't cover a woman's head any more than a man's short hair does.

2. If a man took a Nazirite vow (as Paul did in Acts 18:18 and four brethren did in Acts 21:23) then they would at some point not be permitted to pray because a Nazirite vow involved growing your hair long (Num 6:5). If a man prayed while having long hair as a result of taking a Nazirite vow, he would be dishonoring the Messiah because his long hair is supposedly a "covering."

3. Whether a man has short hair or long hair has nothing to do with him being the image and glory of Yahweh through Yahushua the Messiah.

4. If long hair were the head covering, consider the convoluted statement that would come out of verse 5 of 1 Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 11:5-6 - But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered (wears short hair) dishonors her head (the man), for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered (wears short hair), let her also be shorn.

We see here that shaven hair is not the same as short hair because (by this interpretation) it says if she wears short hair, "let her also be shorn." So they are not the same. But since they are different, why would Paul say they are 'one and the same'?

The truth is he's not comparing a woman with short hair to a woman with even shorter hair. He's comparing a woman with no head covering (trying to be a man by refusing to accept that she came from Adam) to a woman with shaved hair (again trying to look like a man).

5. Scripture says in 1Cor 11:10 that the covering is a "sign of authority because of the angels". How could a woman's hair length (her own glory) be a sign of authority? It doesn't make any sense.

6. If a woman's long hair were a proper "head covering" to cover the glory of Adam, why would she (the glory of Adam) need to be covered in the garden of Eden before sin ever came?

7. Even if the hair were given as a head covering to cover the glory of Adam, the hair itself is "a woman's glory." It is the glory of Elohim that should be manifest during prayer and prophesying, not our own glory.

So what was Paul talking about here? Let's read it again for clarification:

1 Corinthians 11:13-15 - Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to Elohim with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

So nature itself teaches the need for some kind of covering for a woman, but not for a man. A man doesn't have long hair so he doesn't have a natural garment attached to his head. A woman does have long hair and so she does have a natural garment attached to her head.

For the unconvinced, Paul used this illustration to demonstrate that even nature itself parallels the need for a woman to have a head covering attached to their head while men do not. He asked them the question of "Is it proper for a woman to pray to Elohim with her head uncovered?" and answered it with an illustration from nature.

We can even judge for ourselves that a woman praying with an uncovered head is improper because there is no shame in a woman having long hair but it is a shame for man to have long hair.

Nevertheless, Paul quickly points out in the next verse that a man having short hair and a woman having long hair is not necessarily a custom of the assembly:

1 Corinthians 11:16 - But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the assemblies of Elohim.

If it were an official custom of the assembly that men must have short hair and women must have long hair, Paul himself would have violated that himself it when he took the Nazirite vow (Acts 18:18, 21:23) which required one to let their hair grow long.

Paul was simply using the long hair/short hair illustration to further demonstrate that women should wear head coverings and men should not. Women naturally wear a type of garment but men naturally generally do not.

Some have suggested that the "custom" spoken of in this verse 16 refers to the head covering. In other words, the assembly doesn't actually teach that women should cover their head and men should keep their head uncovered so don't make it a matter of contention.

But remember what the scripture said earlier:

1 Corinthians 11:4 - Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

This is either true, or it isn't. I believe it is true.

So if it is really the head covering issue spoken of in verse 16, then Paul would basically be saying "If anyone chooses to dishonor Yahushua, don't contend with him because we have no such custom of honoring Yahushua, nor do the assemblies of Elohim."

Clearly, this would be double talk. It absolutely is a custom in the body of Messiah to honor the Messiah and refrain from dishonoring him. How could it ever be otherwise?

Keeping ourselves from dishonoring Yahushua is certainly an important issue, so the head covering cannot be what verse 16 was talking about.

It makes much more sense if we understand that he is speaking of long/short hair not being a custom in the assembly, for Paul himself took a Nazirite vow which would require him to grow his hair long. There were also situations where even a woman might need to shave their head, such as for the cleansing of leprosy (Lev 14:9).

"Because of the Angels?"

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

Concerning this phrase "Because of the angels", there have been many interpretations.

It seems to come out of nowhere and has caused much conjecture as to its meaning.

Of course, this is where the belief that a woman's hair is an adequate covering starts to really fall apart. How could a woman's hair give her the authority to come to Yahweh in prayer?

One interpretation states that the angels would again 'see that the daughters of men were fair' and would be tempted to sin like the fallen angels of old (Gen. 6:2).

One problem with this is that the angels are present at any given time, not just praying and prophesying. What if she's in the shower?

Obviously this could be a problem at any time.

Another interpretation says that the angels of Yahweh would be shocked at the conduct of the women when they are uncovering their heads in prayer or prophesying.

But it seems to me that there are a lot of behaviors more shocking than a woman not covering their head, and there aren't any other verses in scripture saying "Don't do ____ because of the angels."

The fact that it says women ought to have the 'sign of authority on her head BECAUSE of the angels' seems to indicate that the whole purpose of the head covering is because of them.

But this doesn't really line up with the reasoning given in rest of the chapter.

So what might it mean? It is important to understand that unlike the English language where "angel" always refers to a spiritual being, in both Hebrew and Greek there is a dual meaning.

The Greek word used for 'angel' (#32 angelos) here is most often translated 'angel' but it is also translated 'messenger' 7 times in the KJV. In each case it is translated 'messenger,' it is referring to a person, not an angelic being. Here is an example:

Luke 7:24 When the messengers (#32 angelos) of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

The word 'messengers' here is the word in question. It is the Greek word most often translated "Angel" (angelos, #32).

So we can see that in Greek, this word has a dual meaning. What about Hebrew?

In Hebrew, the word has the same basic dual meaning only with even greater variation. The Hebrew word "Malak" (#4397) is translated "angel" 111 times and "messenger" 98 times. Here is a great example of this:

Malachi 2:7 "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger ("Malak" #4397) of Yahweh of hosts.

So Yahweh calls the priest a "malak" because from his mouth the people would learn the instruction and teaching of Yahweh.

In the body of Messiah, men have been given this responsibility. As it is written:

1Timothy 2:12 - But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

1Timothy 2:13 - For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

We often refer to a scripture study as a "message." Messages are given by messengers.

So with this in mind, let's read the verse in question again. This time we will insert the alternative translation:

1 Corinthians 11:10 - For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the messengers.

It makes far more sense to me for one to say that a woman wears a head covering "because of the men/messengers." This is more in line with the other scriptures in this chapter such as:

1 Corinthians 11:5 - But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head

1 Corinthians 11:5 - But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head

It is because a woman should not dishonor her head that she is told to wear a head covering. Therefore, it makes more sense that she is wearing the head covering "because of the men (messengers)."

A husband is the teacher of his wife and is commanded to "cleanse her with the washing of water by the word" in Ephesians 5:26.

The word translated "authority" in verse 10 is #1849 "exousia" and means "Power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases" in the Thayer's Greek lexicon and "(in the sense of ability); privilege" in the Strong's Greek Lexicon.

So with a head covering, a woman has the ability, liberty and privilege of coming to Yahweh in prayer.

Therefore the head covering is referred to as an "exousia" on her head, which she wears "because of the messengers" (men) who will be dishonored if she chooses not to wear it.

1 Corinthians 11: Verse by verse

Up to this point in the study I have chosen to address each of the verses in an order that I believe will best help to explain the principles given in each verse.

For instance, I desired to address the men's and women's head coverings separately even though Paul mentions both of them together.

I felt this was needful in order to understand the reasons given in scripture as to why a man should not cover his head but a woman should.

But now that we have carefully examined each principle in detail, let's now go through each of these verses in 1 Corinthians 11, in their original order.

1Corinthians 11:1 - Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of the Messiah.

1Corinthians 11:2 - Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

1Corinthians 11:3 - But I would have you know, that the head of every man is the Messiah; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of the Messiah is YAHWEH.

1Corinthians 11:4 - Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

Men do not cover their heads because man was created in the image and glory of Yahweh. Even though man was created in His image and glory, we have all fallen short of the glory of Yahweh.

Therefore, we all need to receive the good news of Yahushua the Messiah, cleave to the new covenant promises, and be "crucified/impaled with Messiah" so that He might live in us:

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of Elohim, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

We need Yahushua in us as the "brightness of the glory of Yahweh" and the "express image of His person" (Heb 1:3).

If we, who receive the heavenly High Priest (Hebrews 7:21) as the One dwelling within us, choose to cover our heads in prayer, then we are in essence doubting that "Yahushua dwelling in us" is adequate as the glory needed to approach the Father.

Over and over again (particularly in Hebrews) it is written that the priesthood of Yahushua the Messiah is a heavenly and spiritual one.

The sacrifices are spiritual, the temple is spiritual, everything is spiritual. This why men also only need the spiritual covering of Yahushua the Messiah upon their head when we spiritually come into the presence of Yahweh.

In Him, we have the veil needed to appear righteous unto Yahweh while in His presence.

When Yahweh sees us...He must see Yahushua and His righteousness in us. We dishonor our head (Yahushua) by not recognizing that it is He who dwells in us through the promises in the new covenant, a covenant we receive by faith.

There is nothing about this that changes any of the laws given in the old covenant.

The laws of the old covenant are silent about whether or not one should be baptized in Yahushua's name, and whether the common people needed to wear a head covering or not.

Both baptism and the head covering issue are interconnected because baptism represents the death of the old man (Adam) and the new man (Yahushua) dwelling in us. Therefore we ought not cover the glory of the new man and we ought to cover the glory of the old man (woman).

1 Corinthians 11:5-6 - But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.

1 Corinthians 11:7-9 - For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of Elohim; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.

Because woman was created for man (Adam) she ought to cover the glory of Adam. Our glory is a lesser glory...and an unworthy glory. The only glory that should be uncovered is Yahushua the Messiah, the glory of Yahweh!

If a woman were to uncover her glory, then it would dishonor her head (the man) because she is trying to bypass him and act as a male. Man was not created for the woman but the woman was created for the man. This concept is what is behind the principles of authority in this chapter and in the other scriptures as well.

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

Since we must come to Yahweh in reverence for authority, it is the head covering that gives the woman the ability/privilege/authority to come to Yahweh. Without the glory of man (Adam) man being covered, she should not come to Yahweh because she is not respecting Yahweh's order.

1 Corinthians 11:11 - Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in Yahweh' 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of Yahweh.

This acknowledges that although woman is from the man, man cannot now exist without the woman for she gives birth to the man in childbearing....however all things are of Yahweh.

1 Corinthians 11:13 - Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto Yahweh uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the assemblies of Yahweh.

For the unconvinced, Paul used this illustration to demonstrate that even nature itself parallels the need for a woman to have a head covering attached to their head while men do not.

He asked them the question of "Is it proper for a woman to pray to Elohim with her head uncovered?" and answered it with an illustration from nature.

We can even judge for ourselves that a woman praying with an uncovered head is improper because there is no shame in a woman having long hair but it is a shame for man to have long hair. Since the long hair functions as a type of garment for covering, the natural thing would be for a woman to be covered and a man uncovered.

Nevertheless, there are exceptions to this so it is not an official custom of the assembly.

But it is always a custom and principle in the assembly that we ought to honor Yahushua!

Respect and honor for authority is very important in the eyes of Yahweh. He included the principle of honoring our Father and Mother in the Ten Commandments.

We must inherently honor the one who took part in bringing us life. Were it not for our parents, we would have no life, therefore we must honor them.

Woman was taken from man, therefore woman must honor the man.

Were it not for Yahushua, none of us would have eternal life abiding in us, therefore we must all honor Him.

And it is the Heavenly Father who is the giver of all life, therefore all (including Messiah) must honor Him.

So as a token of honor, let's heed the principles of the head covering given in this chapter of scripture.

When we examine the reasonings given for the head covering in 1 Corinthians, and compare it to the rest of the holy scriptures, it all lines up and makes perfect sense.

Let's set aside societal pressures and efforts to justify Jewish traditions, and let's pick up the scriptures and learn to accept whatever it has to teach us, no matter where it says it.

May Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!!