1 Corinthians 11:14

14 Even nature itself teaches you that wearing long hair is shameful for a man.

1 Corinthians 11:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 11:14

Doth not even nature itself teach you
By nature is either meant, the law and light of nature, reason in man, common sense, or rather custom, which is second nature; and which, in this case, must be restrained to the Greeks and Jews; for though among the Grecians the men cut their hair, and did not suffer it to grow long, as also did the Jews, yet there were many nations F11 who did not, even at that time, observe such a rule or custom; but as the Jews and Greeks were the persons chiefly, if not solely, known to the Corinthians, the apostle signifies, that the usages of these people might direct and inform them in this matter:

that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him;
he looks unmanly and womanish, and exposes himself to ridicule and contempt.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Alex. ab. Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 5. c. 18. Servius in Virgil. Aeneid. l. 10. prope finem.

1 Corinthians 11:14 In-Context

12 This is true because woman came from man, but also man is born from woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Decide this for yourselves: Is it right for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Even nature itself teaches you that wearing long hair is shameful for a man.
15 But long hair is a woman's glory. Long hair is given to her as a covering.
16 Some people may still want to argue about this, but I would add that neither we nor the churches of God have any other practice.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.