What Does the Bible Say about Head Coverings?

One of the struggles Christians have historically faced is figuring out how to be in the world without being of the world. While the Jews had historical customs, dress, a unique language, and other cultural hallmarks that distinguished them as God’s people, as gentiles put their faith in Jesus Christ, they found themselves called to a new way of living in their communities. For some people, there was confusion and concern, while others experienced newfound freedom they misunderstood.

The Church in Corinth was full of people who believed, but their Greek background led to early misinterpretations and outright bad behavior, including women shaving their heads in the manner of pagan temple prostitutes. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church admonishing them for several issues, including the behavior of some of the women, stating, “For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head” (1 Corinthians 11:6).

Over time, outside of the specific context in which Paul wrote this letter, some have interpreted this verse to mean all Christian women should cover their heads. Understanding the context, as well as what freedom in Christ really means, reveals that Paul was writing to those women that they needed to dress appropriately for their culture, not dictating that all believing women needed to cover their heads.

Does the Bible Mention Head Coverings?

In the Book of 1 Corinthians, Paul was addressing a church consisting of gentiles, which at the time had multiple issues within it. There was adultery, bad doctrine, and many concerning behaviors.

As he addressed those behaviors, he writes, “For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head” (1 Corinthians 11:6).

This verse occurs as part of the broader conversation. Paul discussed the importance of understanding, “‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Just because there are things Christians can do, that doesn’t mean it is edifying for the believer or glorifying to God.  In that light, he addresses the question of whether or not the women of Corinth, who culturally would have been expected to wear a head covering, should continue to do so.

Should Christian Women Wear Head Coverings?

Like many questions of should Christians do something that falls outside a sin issue, ultimately it will come down to the personal conviction of the believer. In many countries, it is still considered modest, or sometimes even practical, for a woman to cover her head. In others, men cover their heads. Not doing so sends a signal that a woman is immodest, perhaps in a certain scandalous profession, or that she is sexually available. In these cases, Paul would probably encourage the women in these cultures to cover their heads, since that is appropriate for their context.

Paul gave general recommendations for Christian behavior, including how men and women were to conduct themselves, in several other letters to other churches. However, he never brings up head coverings again. He addresses marital relationships more than once, appropriate conduct amongst brethren and out in the world, proper doctrine, and other topics regularly. If it were truly a mandate of Christian womanhood to wear a head covering, it can be safely assumed he would have addressed it.

Some of this debate is brought on by theologians who remove the original cultural context in which Paul’s letter was written. Where was Paul from? Who were the people he was writing to? What was the common attire for their regions?

Part of the concern of women going uncovered was that it sent cultural signals of moral degradation. In the middle east, where Paul was from, it was common for women to wear head coverings. In both Israel and Corinth, women usually kept their hair long. In Greece, women would shave their heads to indicate they were temple prostitutes. So when a Christian woman threw off her head covering and shaved her hair, it was a provocative thing to do in Corinth, and did not send a signal to the non-believing Greeks that she was a Christian. Instead, she was signaling something very different.

When someone only looks at the command for the women Paul was addressing to cover their heads, they are forgetting that head coverings exist across different cultures for different purposes. Another important piece of cultural context is that in Corinth, women wore head coverings to show they were married, and submitted to their husbands. A woman going out without her head covered would have indicated she wasn’t married, or that she was not submitted, possibly even unfaithful, in her marriage.

Another key verse that contributes to the idea that Christian women do not need to wear head coverings, either in worship or out in the world, is a verse later in that same passage.

“Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering” (1 Corinthians 11:13-15).

A woman’s hair is her covering, not a piece of cloth. Paul even called on his audience to look around them and see that women have a tendency to grow their hair long as a general rule, though not as an absolute. Head coverings in some cultures symbolize modesty, but if it is not culturally dictated, the head covering is not serving to protect a woman’s modesty, or her virtue, or her marital status. Just as men can approach God in any state of need, so can a woman. In her time of joy or distress, in worship or contemplation, she can cry out to God without her head being covered.

What Denominations and Sects within Christianity Wear Head Coverings?

There are some denominations and sects within Christianity that believe this statement from Paul is prescriptive to all churches across time, and not just specific to the situation in Corinth. Some denominations that encourage women to cover their heads full time, not just in worship include those of an Anabaptist tradition such as the Mennonites, the Amish, and the Plymouth Brethren.

Some more conservative Catholic and Orthodox families cover their heads as well full time, while others only cover during the worship service, called the liturgy. Depending on how conservative the individual church is, they may or may not require the covering, or leave it up to the person.

How Should We React to Christians Who Feel Differently about This?

Anytime there is a sincere disagreement with regards to conviction, or something in which the Bible is silent or vague, it is not a reason to begin arguing, disliking one another, or assuming that someone who feels differently is not saved. Rather, believers should be respectful of one another’s differences. In his letter to the Church in Rome Paul presents the solution:

"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:1-4).

Every person has their own struggles, their own conscience, and their own conviction about how to carry out their relationship with God. Ultimately, every man and woman will stand before God and give an account, even believers – though they will not be judged for their sins as a nonbeliever. It is down to the conscience of each Christian woman. Though some disagree, most theologians and denominations agree that Paul addressed head coverings as an element of the culture.

Sources

Clouse, Bonnidell. Women in Ministry Four Views. eBook: InterVarsity Press, 2010.

Grudem, Wayne. Evangelical Feminism & Bibilical Truth. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.

Phillips, Davis. Headcovering Throughout Christian History. eBook: 2014. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/KARRASTOCK

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.