1 Corinthians 11:13

13 Deem ye yourselves; beseemeth it a woman not covered on the head to pray to God? [Ye yourselves deem; becometh, or beseemeth, it a woman not veiled, or covered, to pray to God?]

1 Corinthians 11:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 11:13

Judge in yourselves
The apostle having gone through a variety of reasoning and arguments, showing the superiority of the man to the woman, by which he would prove, that the one should be covered, and the other uncovered, returns to his subject again, and appeals to the common sense and understanding of the Corinthians, and makes them themselves judges of the matter; suggesting that the thing was so clear, and he so certain of what he had advanced being right, that he leaves it with them, not doubting but that they would, upon a little reflection within themselves, join with him in this point:

is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
in you judgment you can never think so, however pleasing and gratifying such a sight may be, to the lust of the flesh, and to the lust of the eye; he does not mention prophesying, only instances in praying; but it is to be understood of one, as of another; and his meaning is, that it is an uncomely thing in a woman to appear in public service with her head uncovered, whether it be in joining in the public prayers, or in singing of psalms, or in hearing the word expounded; and though the apostle does not put the case of the man's praying to God, or prophesying in his name with his head covered, yet his sense is the same of that, as of the woman's.

1 Corinthians 11:13 In-Context

11 Nevertheless neither the man is without the woman, neither the woman is without [the] man, in the Lord.
12 For why as the woman is of the man, so [and] the man is by the woman; but all things be of God.
13 Deem ye yourselves; beseemeth it a woman not covered on the head to pray to God? [Ye yourselves deem; becometh, or beseemeth, it a woman not veiled, or covered, to pray to God?]
14 Neither the nature itself teacheth us [that], for if a man nourish long hair, it is shame to him; [Neither the kind itself teacheth us that, for if a man nourish long hair, it is evil fame to him;]
15 but if a woman nourish long hair, it is glory to her, for hairs be given to her for covering.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.